How To Overwinter Tropical Plants

You might not be able to live in the tropics, but you can enjoy the atmosphere with the right plants. Knowing how to keep tropical plants alive in winter ensures you get to enjoy them year-round. If you understand your particular plants’ needs, it’s easy to keep them going.

Tropical plants can only survive outdoors in winter under very specific conditions of temperature and sunlight. Depending on where your garden is and the local climate, some plants might survive outside with some extra protection.

In most locations, you’ll need to bring tropical plants indoors. Some you can keep inside as houseplants. For others, it’s better to find a place where they can go dormant until the next spring.

With tropical plants placed in the four-season garden, you have a choice: Let them be annuals, or try to care for them all winter.
You also have two choices when it comes to how to overwinter tropical plants. The best choice depends on the type of plant:

For those plants that do not need to be stored in dormancy, find a spot inside with good sunlight. If you don’t have enough natural light by a window, use artificial lighting to supplement it.

Your tropical plant will also need warm temperatures and adequate humidity, which can be difficult indoors in winter. Avoid drafty windows and doors. Use a pebble tray or mist the plant regularly to keep humidity levels high.

While your tropical houseplant will not go totally dormant in these conditions, it should stop growing. Water it less often than you would during summer and stop fertilizing until early spring when new growth appears.

Another important consideration when bringing plants indoors is the possibility of pests coming in with them. Check your plants very carefully for any insects and