Get your tropicals ready for winter!

October (or when temperatures begin to head towards 40ºF) is the the time to move your tropicals inside for the winter. There are two different ways that you can overwinter most tropicals such as tropical hibiscus, lantana, mandevilla, Bougainvillea, fuchsia, bananas, palms, and Dracena. You can even overwinter tender perennials like geraniums, begonias, Impatiens, and Torenia.

First Things First - Clean Them Up

Before you bring your tropicals in for the winter, rinse them off and treat them to make sure that you don't bring any bugs inside with them!

• Hose them down with water and spray them with insecticidal soap. Be sure to spray all sides of the foliage and stems.
• If you currently have insect problems, spray with Bonide Eight before bringing the plants inside. Always read and follow the label directions.
• For added protection through the overwintering period, insert Bayer Advanced 2 in 1 Insect Control plus Fertilizer plant spikes into your containers. Always read and follow the label directions!

Should I Prune Them Back or Not?

Under ideal circumstances, it is best to wait until spring to prune tropicals such as hibiscus, lantana, and mandevilla. That being said, sometimes you may have to do some pruning to create a plant of manageable size that you can move indoors!

Two ways to Overwinter Tropicals

Frost-free Garage or Basement

• These plants will be maintained in a dormant or semi-dormant state.
• Water sparingly to keep them on the dry side watering only every 3-5 weeks to keep the roots from drying out.

Overwintering in the House

• These plants are kept actively growing in the warmth of the house. They may continue to bloom throughout the winter.
• Keep them in a bright window
• Water when the upper 2 inches of the soil becomes dry. Do not over-water.
• Mist the foliage twice a week or so to maintain humidity around the plant.
• Feed once a month with a half strength dose of soluble fertilizer at every fourth watering.

• Overwintering Mandevilla