As a Lobelia plant, I feel the days growing shorter and the air turning crisp. My vibrant blue, purple, or white blossoms, which once cascaded so cheerfully from my container, are beginning to fade. My human is considering bringing me indoors for the winter, a prospect that is both daunting and hopeful. From my perspective, a successful transition from the garden to the hearth requires careful attention to my fundamental needs. Here is what I would wish for my caretaker to know.
Before my big move indoors, I need a significant trim. This might seem drastic, but my summer growth is often leggy and potentially harboring pests or diseases. Please cut my stems back to about three to four inches above the soil line. This serves two vital purposes for me. First, it reduces the overall leaf mass that I need to sustain with my root system, which will be under stress from the change in environment. Second, it encourages me to put my energy into establishing strong roots indoors rather than trying to support tired, old foliage. It’s a fresh start that allows me to focus on survival and prepares me for a burst of new growth when spring returns.
Life outdoors is full of tiny creatures, some of which see my leaves as a delicious home. Aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies are common stowaways. Before I join any other indoor plants, my human must give me a thorough examination. They should check the undersides of my remaining leaves and the junctions where stems meet. A gentle spray of water or an application of insecticidal soap can help evict any unwanted guests. It is crucial that I am kept separate from other houseplants for at least one to two weeks. This quarantine period acts as a safety measure, ensuring I don’t introduce any pests that could infest the entire indoor plant collection.
I do not expect to continue flowering profusely through the winter. Instead, I am entering a period of semi-dormancy. My ideal indoor location is cool, with temperatures consistently between 50-65°F (10-18°C). A bright, unheated sunroom, a cool garage with a window, or even a bright basement stairwell are perfect. I need abundant bright, indirect light to photosynthesize enough to stay alive, but direct, hot sun through a window can be harsh on my freshly pruned form. The goal is to keep me alive, not necessarily thriving, until the longer days of spring signal it's time to grow again.
My water needs change dramatically indoors. With cooler temperatures and reduced growth, my soil will take much longer to dry out. Overwatering is now the greatest threat to my survival. My human should allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out completely before giving me a thorough but careful drink. The goal is to keep my roots from completely drying out, but never to let them sit in soggy soil, which would quickly lead to fatal root rot. As for fertilizer, I need none during the winter. My system is largely shut down, and feeding me would only cause a weak, spindly growth that I cannot properly support.
As daylight increases in late winter, my human will notice new, green shoots emerging from my base. This is my signal that I am ready to resume active growth. At this point, they can begin to water me a bit more regularly. Once the danger of frost has passed in spring, I will need to be gradually re-acclimated to the outdoors—a process called hardening off. This involves placing me in a sheltered, shady spot for a few hours each day, gradually increasing my exposure to sun and wind over a week to ten days. After this, I can be replanted in a container or garden bed, ready to reward my caretaker’s winter efforts with a new season of vibrant color.
