Late October is decision time for anyone with pots on a balcony, patio or doorstep. The days are still mild enough to fool us, but night temperatures across much of Europe are starting to dip towards single digits, and the first light frost can arrive with very little warning. Many of the plants that looked so happy all summer, from geraniums and citrus trees to basil and chilli, simply will not survive a cold snap outside. Bringing them in at the right moment, and in the right way, gives them a real chance to return next spring.
Know which plants need to come in
Start by sorting your pots into three groups. Tender plants such as basil, lemon verbena, chillies, tropical houseplants that spent the summer outdoors and most succulents should come in as soon as nights fall below about 10 °C. Half-hardy plants like geraniums, fuchsias, rosemary and potted citrus can usually stay out a little longer but need shelter before the first frost. Hardy perennials, small shrubs and many grasses can remain outside if you protect their pots from freezing solid, for example by grouping them against a house wall and wrapping the containers in fleece or jute.
Give them a quick check before the move
The biggest mistake is carrying uninvited guests indoors along with your plants. Inspect the undersides of leaves and the soil surface for aphids, whiteflies, snails and spider mites. Rinse foliage gently with lukewarm water, remove yellow or damaged leaves and wipe the pots clean. If a plant has grown far too big, a light trim now makes it easier to place and reduces the stress of the move.
It also helps to bring plants in gradually. A week of spending nights in a garage, stairwell or covered porch before moving into the warm living room softens the shock of the change in light and temperature.
Find the right spot indoors
Light is the main challenge in winter. Herbs, citrus and chillies want the brightest windowsill you have, ideally facing south or west. Geraniums and fuchsias, on the other hand, prefer a cool, bright place such as an unheated bedroom or hallway where they can rest at around 5 to 12 °C. Keep plants away from radiators and draughty doors, and turn the pots a quarter turn every week so they do not lean towards the glass.
Water less, care more
Indoors and in low light, plants grow much more slowly and need far less water than in summer. Check the soil with a finger and water only when the top few centimetres feel dry. Stop fertilising until early spring. Dry heating air is often a bigger problem than cold, so a tray of damp pebbles under the pots or grouping several plants together raises humidity in a gentle way.
With a little attention now, your windowsills can turn into a small green refuge for the darker months, and your favourite herbs may even keep supplying fresh leaves for soups and teas. Come April, your plants will be ready to head back outside, stronger than you might expect.
