Yes, we can survive the winter indoors, but it requires a significant shift from our normal outdoor lifestyle. We are tender perennials, meaning our true nature is to live for multiple years, but we are not equipped to handle freezing temperatures. Moving us inside is a welcome rescue from certain death by frost. However, our success indoors depends entirely on how well you understand and meet our specific seasonal needs.
Please do not abruptly dig us up and bring us inside on a whim. The sudden change in environment from a bright, humid outdoor space to a potentially dim, dry home is a massive shock to our systems. To prepare us, you should gradually acclimate us about a week or two before the first expected frost. Move our containers to a shadier, more sheltered outdoor spot to reduce light intensity and wind exposure. This process, called hardening off, helps us slowly adjust to lower light levels, making the eventual move indoors less stressful. A stressed plant is a vulnerable plant, more susceptible to dropping leaves and pests.
Our needs indoors are quite specific. We crave bright, indirect light. A south or east-facing window is ideal. Without sufficient light, we become leggy, stretching out with weak stems and sparse leaves as we desperately search for a sunbeam. We also thrive in high humidity, which is often lacking in heated homes. Placing our pot on a pebble tray filled with water (ensuring the pot sits above the waterline) or grouping us with other plants can create a more humid microclimate. Keep the temperature consistently between 60-75°F (15-24°C) and protect us from cold drafts from windows or hot, dry air from heating vents.
It is crucial to understand that we enter a period of semi-dormancy in winter. Our growth will slow down dramatically, or may even appear to stop altogether. This is a normal rest period for us. Because we are not actively growing, our water and nutritional needs change drastically. You must adjust your care routine to match our dormant state to prevent root rot and other issues.
Overwatering is the single greatest threat to us indoors in winter. Please water us deeply only when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. We despise having our roots sit in constantly soggy soil, which will quickly lead to rot. Furthermore, you should stop fertilizing us entirely during the winter months. Since we are not growing, we cannot use the nutrients, and the salts in fertilizer will simply build up in the soil and can chemically burn our delicate roots.
The warm, dry indoor air makes us a prime target for sap-sucking pests like spider mites and aphids. These pests weaken us by piercing our leaves and stems to feed. Please inspect our leaves (especially the undersides) and stems regularly. A strong spray of lukewarm water in the shower or using an insecticidal soap can help manage infestations. Also, do not be alarmed if we drop some leaves after moving inside; this is a common reaction to the environmental change. As long as new growth is healthy, we will be okay.
