As you know, cooler weather will soon be upon us.

Many of you may have plants outdoors in containers that you would like to bring in.  Before you do so, let me suggest you do the following:

Carefully inspect each plant for the presence of any pests.  This includes checking the upper and lower leaf surfaces, all stems/branches, buds etc.  If any are found, treat accordingly, and if possible, soak any container plants in a large bucket of water for at least 5 minutes to flush out any pests that might be in the potting mix.

Typically, I quarantine my plants at least two weeks before bringing them in, to make certain that I’m not bringing anything into my home; which could also affect any other plants that I may already have indoors.  This also allows me time to prune, fertilize, or repot any plants.  Don’t wait till a freeze is forecast to do these tasks.