At this point in the year most of us have put away our gardening tools and packed up our lawn mowers for the winter. But that doesn’t mean that gardening has ended, it’s just moved locations.
With the impending winter, many gardeners have brought their plants inside where growing conditions can be much more difficult.
Because our homes have less light and less humidity, gardening expert Melinda Myers says, plants will drop leaves when they are first introduced to their new spot. That is healthy, as new leaves will replace the old ones and help the plant adapt, she explains.
To help the transition, try to match the light conditions as best as possible when moving indoors. “If it can’t stay there, then gradually after a couple of weeks, move it to a little bit less light and a little bit lower light until it reaches its final destination,” Myers explains.
Watering frequently is important, especially for gardeners who bring herb plans inside. Myers says she sees people who allow the soil to get so dry it begins to separate from the pot — this means water will not absorb as evenly when you do water.
If this happens, she recommends setting the pot in a wet saucer to allow the soil to rewet and then remember to water more frequently.
And, temperature control is important. Myers says most plants handle room temperature just fine but hot or cold air drafts can hurt.
“You may have to set things back a foot or two from the windows, you’d normally place them even though they’ve got great sunlight,” she says.
To learn more about indoor gardening, check out Myer's upcoming webinars.
