November 8, 2021
By Julie Weisenhorn and Adam Austing, University of Minnesota extension
We had a very nice and long autumn with warm days and cool nights. If you're like me, your houseplants will spend the summer outdoors. By now you've probably brought her inside for the winter.
Indoor plants that spend the growing season outdoors usually have seeds, leaves, and sometimes weeds in and around branches and stems. Also, the pots can get dirty from rain and algae, and the plant may need to shower. It is also common for insects to hitchhike on plants.
Taking the time now to give your houseplants good control and cleaning will result in fewer pest problems and healthier, more beautiful plants in the long run.
Transplant your plants
If your plant has outgrown its current container, now is a good time to transplant and start winter with a clean plant, soil, and pot. Have a nice day transplanting outside to minimize clutter indoors.
With the plant out of the pot, examine its roots (they should be creamy white and firm) and look under the leaves for signs of insects. Choose a slightly larger pot (2 "+) and repot with fresh, sterile potting compost. Do not use garden compost or potting compost that has been left out all summer as both contain pests and weeds that will not go in.
Examine plants for insects
Insects hide under leaves, in knots, under flowers, where they feel protected.
Spend time examining your plants, especially under the plant parts. A magnifying glass or loop and a small LED flashlight are really useful tools when looking for pests. If you find insects, cobwebs, egg sacs, etc., remove them or clean them with a cotton swab.
Clean up any plant debris that may have accumulated on the surface of the earth.
Insects love to perch on plant debris. Make yourself comfortable in your plant and collect dead seeds, leaves and flowers by hand from under the leaves and from the surface of the soil. If you have a large plant, consider using the hose on a vacuum cleaner equipped with the sharp tool to reach corners and pick up large amounts of debris.
Consider showering your plant
Small plants can be placed in a kitchen sink or kitchen sink and washed with the spray nozzle. Larger plants can be washed in the shower.
Place a strainer over the drain to prevent soil and plant debris from flowing down the drain. Allow the plant to dry out a bit and make sure to drain before putting it back in place for the winter.
Clean the pot, including the bottom and saucers.
Can collect insect eggs, nests, cobwebs, algae, etc. in containers and saucers. Start the winter right with clean pots.
Finally, check each plant for any damaged parts and prune them back. Use a clean lawn mower. Residents of Wright County can get more information by them aausting@umn.edu or 763-682-7381 Contact .
For more information on the U of M extension, visit www.extension.umn.edu/news or contact Extension Communications at extnews@umn.edu .
This news release was prepared by the Wright County government . The opinions expressed here are those of the author.
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