It is hard to let go of those beautiful summer annuals. They have filled the gardens with wonderful colors all summer long. And some of them cost quite a bit too! So which flowers can be saved by bringing indoors? Well I'm sure more than I usually preserve! I usually let the less expensive annuals fade down naturally, since some of those don't adapt well indoors. But I have two annuals in my garden that I’ve decided to bring inside this year. One is a Mandevilla (pictured below on the left ) and the other is a Hibiscus (pictured below on the right). I'm hoping these will survive the cooler weather with the following care I listed below.
Basic Instructions for Bringing a Mandevilla and Hibiscus Inside:
Note these are suggestions, so please do your research before moving your own plants!
First, the Mandevilla and Hibiscus should be brought inside before the temperature goes near 45F (around October where I live). Also these plants are susceptible to spider mites. So before bringing them in, it’s best to spray them with insecticide soap. Homemade insecticide soap directions are at the bottom of this post. If you prefer not to use insecticide soap, you could try showering the plant with a strong blast of lukewarm water once a week.
Cut the Mandevilla back moderately (about 12 inches). Keep it in a warm sunny room and water it once a week. In the spring some of the old growth may be pruned back and when new tendrils develop, pinch the new growth to get a bushier plant. Repot in fresh soil and set outside when danger of frost has passed.
Trim the Hibiscus. Some people aggressively cut their hibiscus plants in the spring. The Hibiscus can adapt well indoors, and may continue to bloom if kept it in a warm and sunny room. Water it once a week. Hibiscuses grow slowly in winter, so you may not see any new growth. Repot in fresh soil and set outside when danger of frost has passed.
If you do not have a sunny room, you could still bring the Mandevillas and Hibiscuses inside and let them go dormant. Just water them when the soil is dry. Do not over water, or you could drown the root system! Allow the soil to dry between watering, but feel free to mist daily. Just keep an eye on it for any signs of stress.
Homemade insecticidal Soap Recipe: Mix two Tablespoons of Dawn dish washing detergent with one gallon of water. Pour into a spray bottle and spray plants.
*** When using insecticide soap, do a test spot before applying to whole plant. In other words, spray only one small branch and wait a couple days to insure the insecticide doesn’t harm your type of plant! It may also be best to apply this solution to plants in the evening, since it shouldn’t be applied on a sizzling hot or humid dayWhat do you do with your annuals in the Fall? Do you bring any inside? Or do you live in a warmer climate where your flowers bloom all year round? What is your favorite flower? Do you have any suggestions for bringing outdoor plants inside?
1 comment:
Living in Washington state our annuals last pretty long. Usually by winter mine are all dead anyway and I just pull them out and toss them in the compost! I would probably save them if I had a greenhouse...
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