Once the sunny days of summer are behind us and we begin to adjust to lower light all around (goodbye, daylight saving time), it’s time to bring our outdoor plants inside.

If you brought your sun-loving plants outside, you already know that there are factors to keep in mind to successfully transition your plants’ environment. When bringing your plants back inside, there are a few steps to make sure your plants stay happy and healthy, and that you protect your already happy indoor plants.

Inspection

Before bringing any houseplants back indoors, be sure to thoroughly inspect them. When plants are left outdoors, they become more susceptible to pests and disease, so you want to make sure to remove the risk of spreading those to the rest of your plants! Check the stems, the tops and undersides of the leaves, as well as the nooks and crevices of certain plants, since that’s where pests like to hide.

Prune and Treat

If you do find that your plant has pests, remove any heavily infested material, and treat the plant as needed based on the pest at hand. To determine which pest you have and follow specific treatment plans for each type, head to our pests identification blog.

If you notice a fungal infection, we recommend removing any infected leaves to prevent it from spreading, and sterilize any tools that come into contact with the plants.

Any lackluster or damaged foliage that has succumbed to heavy wind drag or unfavorable conditions can be pruned off the plant to enhance the appearance, and help the plant focus energy on new growth. Leaf cleaning will also be beneficial if there are hard mineral deposits, dust, or debris on the foliage, which block the chlorophyll from absorbing light.

Quarantine

Once your plants are inspected, pruned, and groomed, you can integrate them back into your home. We recommend quarantining them for a period of 1-2 weeks inside and away from the rest of your collection because pests can be very small (sometimes even microscopic), so at times even after treatment then can pop up again shortly after treatment. Even if you don’t notice pests initially, their eggs could be dormant in the soil and hatch indoors.

Inspect Again

After the plants have quarantined and acclimated to your home, you should inspect the plants one last time to ensure pests or disease haven’t resurfaced. Prune and treat again if needed. For plants that are good to go, consider refreshing the soil and upgrade in container size if needed.

Assimilate Plants

Once your plants are cleared from quarantine and are looking refreshed, you can assimilate them into the rest of your indoor jungle! Be sure to follow up with the proper care, including its preferred sunlight and watering conditions.