Plant SOS · Season & weather
When to bring your indoor plants
indoors before the cold?
After a lovely summer spent outdoors, the time always comes to bring your plants indoors before the cold sets in. Waiting too long exposes your tropical plants to thermal shock that can sometimes be irreversible; bringing them in too quickly deprives them of a few beautiful weeks of natural light. The right timing often comes down to a window of just a few days.
This guide helps you identify the right moment, check that you aren't bringing any unwanted surprises indoors with your plants, and gently re-acclimate them to indoor life.
When is the right time to bring your plants indoors?
Anticipate before the first cool night
Bring your tropical plants indoors as soon as nighttime temperatures consistently drop below 12-13°C (54-55°F), usually around mid-September in France, depending on the region. Don't wait for the first frost: even before that, cold nights can seriously stress a plant accustomed to warmth.
Check for pests before bringing them in
Inspect each plant before bringing it inside
A stay outdoors exposes your plants to new pests that can easily go unnoticed. Before bringing each plant in, carefully inspect the undersides of leaves and stems for insects or spider mites, which proliferate especially in late summer. A simple spray of water on the foliage before bringing them in can often dislodge the most visible unwanted guests.
"Bringing a plant indoors without inspecting it,
is sometimes inviting an entire ecosystem with it."
Re-acclimate your plants indoors
Adjust watering and expect some adjustments
Indoor light is almost always weaker than outdoors, even near a window. Don't be surprised if your plant loses a few leaves or slows its growth in the first few weeks: this is a normal adaptation reaction. Reduce watering slightly compared to summer, as water consumption decreases with lower light and temperature.
⚠ Mistakes to avoid when bringing plants indoors
A few simple precautions can prevent many inconveniences:
- Do not immediately place the newly indoor plant next to a switched-on radiator — the temperature difference should remain gradual.
- Avoid repotting a plant right after bringing it indoors; the adjustment period is already enough of a change for it.
- Do not neglect the anti-pest inspection, even on a plant that seems perfectly healthy.
- Do not continue summer watering once the plant is indoors, at the risk of promoting root rot.
| Step | Indicative Period | Vigilance Point |
|---|---|---|
| Weather monitoring | Late August – early September | Nights below 12-13°C (54-55°F) |
| Pest inspection | Just before bringing indoors | Undersides of leaves, stems |
| Final move indoors | Mid-September | Before the first cold nights |
| Re-acclimation | 2 to 4 weeks | Reduced watering, tolerate slight leaf drop |
With a well-anticipated move indoors and thorough inspection, your plants usually find their indoor bearings within a few weeks, ready to spend another winter in good condition.
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