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Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,139
Registered: ‎04-16-2010

Bringing in plants for winter but getting rid of bugs; HOW?!+++

I have a gorgeous tropical hibiscus tree that I am going to bring in house over the winter. I read somewhere to spray a mixture of soap and water all over it, rinse and that kills the bugs but what about those living in the soil?

 

Has anyone done this and how did you do it? Thank you for your help!

Honored Contributor
Posts: 16,185
Registered: ‎03-11-2010

Re: Bringing in plants for winter but getting rid of bugs; HOW?!+++

I have no idea but found this info online. Hope this helps.

 

Getting Tropical Hibiscus Ready to Come Inside in the Fall/Overwintering Indoors

 

If you want to keep your hibiscus and grow them again the next season, you will need to bring them indoors before the night temps drop much below 40° F. They will need  a bright or sunny area, or under fluorescent lights. The optimum temperatures indoors seem to be between 55 and 70. The cooler end of that temperature  range will produce far fewer insect problems later in the winter. If they are kept in a greenhouse, keep them cool (55-65) and water when they are dry.

Ideally if you want to bring your hibiscus indoors to over winter them, they should be grown in pots outside all season, not planted directly in the ground. The problem with planting in the ground is that when you dig them up in the fall, they are weakened by yanking them out of the ground and many times they will rot before they produce new roots in a pot. They should be kept in relatively small pots for years (10-14" in diameter is fine). You can even sink the potted plants in the ground in summer and then just pull them up , pot and all in  the fall, wash off the pot and bring it inside easily with no shock to the plant in fall.

  • Before you bring them inside, cut back your plant(s) quite a bit, to within 4-5" of the main stems. This does a few things: it will help eliminate the bugs and insects that hide in the plants BEFORE they get inside. They like to hang out in the tips of the branches, in the newest growth. Also remove any dead leaves, stems., old flowers or debris in the pots, or on the plants. 
  • If  you want the best chance of having healthy, vigorous plants with flowers next summer, your plants need to rest  indoors during the shorter days from October till Feb. or March. DO NOT push them to keep blooming indoors and leave them full of old foliage.
  • After cutting back your plants, but before they come inside, be sure and hose them down , making sure to blast the stems, under the leaves, etc. Let them dry thoroughly and bring them inside. This will eliminate the need for any insecticide at all. if you must spray, insecticidal soaps and neem oil work well. Drench the upper and lower parts of the leaves, as well as the stems and let dry thoroughly outside for a day or so before they come inside.
  • The leaves will probably turn yellow and fall off when  the plants are brought inside, this is normal. They will regrow when they are ready. In  the meantime, water very sparingly! Do not keep the soil wet. It is best to let the soil become almost bone dry before soaking it again. Do not let any water sit under the plants in saucers, etc.
  • Your plants will rest and may not produce new leaves until late February or March. This is normal too.
  • Realize that many times, hibiscus never bloom well again after the 1st winter inside. There is not much you can do about this. It appears that the generic grocery store, Costco, Home Depot, etc., hibiscus tend to not bloom well again after the 1st season. The new large flowered hybrids seem to perform much better year after year. This is an observation based on my experiences over wintering hibiscus. Your hibiscus experience may vary.
  • The other option is to buy some new hibiscus each year, enjoy their prolific flowers for the summer and toss them in the fall. That way, you are guaranteed lots of flowers each summer.

http://www.trop-hibiscus.com/gindr.html

Honored Contributor
Posts: 27,292
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Bringing in plants for winter but getting rid of bugs; HOW?!+++

I have very few bug problems if I wait until the nights drop into the mid to upper forties and then bring the plants in. Most of the bugs will have headed elsewhere in the cold. If you bring them in while things are still quite warm you bring in active bugs and that's more of a problem.

Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!
Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,139
Registered: ‎04-16-2010

Re: Bringing in plants for winter but getting rid of bugs; HOW?!+++

[ Edited ]

@Nightowlz  Thank you for this. : ) This applies to tropical hibiscus plants and not trees but the rinsing info is what I was looking for.  I've done just what they've said EXCEPT I don't trim back the plants and OMG they are GORGEOUS come next spring (nor did I rinse them but there were no bugs issues and they were kept in a basement under florescent lights).

 

I'm dealing with a 7 foot tree, however. It's in a pot and I don't think you're supposed to trim them back (the plants are actually a bush and can be trimmed way back if you choose).

 

Funny how it says the ones from big box stores tend to not bloom again; mine ALL come from Lowes and Costco and always have (first time with the trees). Garden centers have been the WORSE!

 

I'll try it and see what happens!

Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,139
Registered: ‎04-16-2010

Re: Bringing in plants for winter but getting rid of bugs; HOW?!+++

@gardenman  My issues are ants. Those little sugar ants. I'm wondering what to put into the pot (soil) to kill the ones in there.

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Posts: 8,586
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Bringing in plants for winter but getting rid of bugs; HOW?!+++

@SahmIam, I have always had great success with diatomaceous earth.  Sprinkle it on the soil around the entire pot and keep it dry for at least 24 (preferably 48-72) hours.

 

This article might be of help for using boric acid or an ant bait.  http://www.ehow.com/how_7319831_kill-ants-spiders-potted-plants.html

 

Good luck with your tree.

What is good for the goose today will also be good for the gander tomorrow.
Honored Contributor
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Re: Bringing in plants for winter but getting rid of bugs; HOW?!+++


@SahmIam wrote:

@gardenman  My issues are ants. Those little sugar ants. I'm wondering what to put into the pot (soil) to kill the ones in there.


I love the Terro ant baits. They're safe (corn syrup and borax) effective and easy to use.

Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!
Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,139
Registered: ‎04-16-2010

Re: Bringing in plants for winter but getting rid of bugs; HOW?!+++

Thank you, Everyone!!! : )

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Posts: 9,305
Registered: ‎06-08-2016

Re: Bringing in plants for winter but getting rid of bugs; HOW?!+++

I've had a bumper crop of those tiny ants this summer.   I  sprayed the soil with ant killer.    It works & didn't harm the plant.   I don't think the ingredients are strong enough, but just enough to kill the ants.

 

I've used DE also.

 


@SahmIam wrote:

@gardenman  My issues are ants. Those little sugar ants. I'm wondering what to put into the pot (soil) to kill the ones in there.


 

 

 

Super Contributor
Posts: 338
Registered: ‎03-29-2016

Re: Bringing in plants for winter but getting rid of bugs; HOW?!+++


@SahmIam wrote:

@gardenman  My issues are ants. Those little sugar ants. I'm wondering what to put into the pot (soil) to kill the ones in there.


I have them as well. I started putting that Bug B Gone granules in the pots now and watering it in. I also have been sprying the pots with any spray and it seems to be working.