Fall Tune-up For Houseplants

The coming winter months can be particularly tough on houseplants. As indoor heaters come on, the air dries out and plants are subject to a variety of stresses from a lack of humidity, less light, cold drafts and insect pests. And all this comes right after spending a long, hot summer indoors. But fear not, here are some things you can do now to make sure your houseplants make it through winter healthy and happy.

Move plants outdoors for a breath of fresh air. Take all your plants outdoors to a shady area on a patio, porch, deck or driveway. Daytime temperatures over 40 degrees are best and there shouldn't be any threat of frost. Unless you live in milder southern areas, you'll want to bring your plants back inside at night so its best to start early in the day. This way pots will have time to drain and foliage will be dry before you come back indoors.

Wash-off the leaves. After a long summer indoors, most plants will have a layer of dust on the leaves. Use a hose to thoroughly rinse off the foliage; both upper and lower leaf surfaces. With delicate plants like African violets, you can clean the foliage with a gentle spray from a watering can or mister.

Flush salts from the soil. Frequent watering often leads to salt build-up in container soils and excess salts can burn foliage. To leach salts, fill the pots with water, then let them drain thoroughly. Repeat this process at least five times.

Fertilize and control pests. Examine your plants carefully for insect pestsand apply a liquid plant food according to labeled instructions.

If necessary, transplant. If any of your plants have been in the same pot for a long time and aren't growing as well as you'd like, transplant them into a slightly bigger container. To insure healthy growth all winter, fill the new pot with Bayer Advanced™ Multi-Purpose Potting Mix Potting Mix (product discontinued). It includes timed release fertilizer, systemic insect control and a moisture release system that promotes strong root growth - everything your houseplants need in one convenient package (not available in all states).

Once you have given your houseplants this new lease on life, move them back inside to a well-lit location protected from drafts. Keep the plants moist and do everything you can to increase humidity (mist plants often, run a humidifier, or place plants on pebble-lined trays filled with water).