When do your House Plants come in for the winter?

Everything came in last night, with no time to de-bug first. UGH. That's what happens when you don't feel good and are too busy. Most all of it went into one room and I guess I'll spray it when I can...when I can open the windows to let the Neem smell out. Meanwhile I'm on high-alert-bug-watch, lol.

We dropped down to low 30's last night, so we were doing a mad dash to get everything in.

Next year I'm starting to spray at the end of August to avoid this. But, at least it's done and over with for this year.

The last of everything came in before last night; we had temps in the 40's and colder tonight! To the bug-o-phobes and arachnophobes- I sprayed mine with insecticidal soap, then with Physan (for fungi and eggs of bugs and spiders and mites) then with insecticidal soap again, over a period of about a week. I'm looking at all the plants very, very closely to make sure nothing hitchiked in. Anyway, don't bugs et al get into your house anyway? Another DGer is a big fan of spraying off with the garden hose; I was tooooooo lazy, I have to admit.

Alcohol will "fix" your plants, but peroxide from the drugstore can be used to kill fungus (I cured my very first phalaenopsis orchids of root rot by dousing the roots in peroxide, then spraying with Physan, then repotting in new pots and medium).

Bravo on the orchid, Beverly! I get those bee-yoo-ti-ful ones from HD, let them bloom as long asthey are willing, then throw them away. Am I cruel? Don't answer that. And duuuuuuuuh. Finally dawns on me that if I wake up freezing (not literally), so will my plants. Do YellowJackets hibernate? We've had problems with them nesting in the plants!

xxx, Carrie [Gotta go get those puppies inside!]

Hi Carrie,
Yes I think yellow jackets hibernate, but in their hives, not in plants, unless one got lost ;>D.
It's been 2-blanket nights here. DH checked out the furnace already, changed the filter, checked the central humidifier.... and I still have marigolds and roses in bloom! I'm not ready for fall!!!!

Marigolds and roses will be ok, won't they? I need to repot the pot that everyone thinks the YJ are still in. You know, Supermom is not afraid of ANYTHING! Even lost YJs.

I'll let you know if I come back alive!

xxxx, Carrie

Ewww....you think that they possibly made a nest in your potted plant, Carrie?

I'd hesitate to repot that one, too!

Marigolds and roses should definitely be OK w/ the cool temperatures, but not as likely with frost.

Well, if I don't, nobody will allow me to bring it in for the winter, and it will die. I'm planning to wrap up well and do it at the sink while the scaredy-cats are away. It's a lovely ponytail palm, has been sprayed several times with wasp-killer, and is DEFINITELY not prepared for a zone 6 winter. On I go! (here she comes to save the day, mighty Mom is on her way...)

xxxx, Carrie

Well, mighty Mom got the new pot all ready, lifted the ponytail palm by the fronds - out swarmed a million YJs. The plant itself is looking great. If I could bring it in, sleeping YJs and all, they would wake up when it got to normal inside temps. What to do? Maybe I'll start a new thread.

xxxxx, Carrie

You gals are so ahead of me. My brugs are out and full of buds. I have banana that need dug; a shrimp plant and 1 at my daughters house.I love my yellow shrimp plant, would realy be upset if I didnt get them in in time. My hanging plants are under overhang on breezeway as well as my other houseplants I think they will be OK for awhile.
Most of my house plants winter in my bedroom.I have a girl coming next wk. to help do my blinds and windows. That is what Im waiting on. LOL My temmp was 38 and last night around 40. Warms up in daytime. dixie

Marigolds are annuals, I only planted them to keep bugs away until the rest of the stuff came in (I try to plant bug-resistant perennials wherever I can, like dianthus, lavender, herbs). Nan, the maris and roses are in the ground, not in pots, sorry for confusion.
Carrie, get heavy-duty bug spray and spray that plant! I mean a bug spray meant for plants. Spray it until you are sure the YJ's either are dead or weren't there. Drench it, drown it. Keep spraying it if you think you have YJs. Yuck.

This message was edited Sep 22, 2006 2:03 PM

Carrie, you could try putting the Pony Tail in a garbage bag and emptying a can of spray that bbinnj was talking about into the bag. If the YJs are in the soil or under the soil I'd remove the pot while putting it in the bag. Let the bag set for hours, even overnight. They'll all be dead. Shake the bag and poke it, if they aren't dead you'll hear them buzzing around. Make sure you do all of this outside or in a big garage. Open the bag and let it air out for a while. You'll know it's ready to work with when the smell is gone, lol.

When you go to get your can of spray read the tiny print and check out the cans of Raid type stuff too, some of them won't hurt plants...I think.

When you're all finished rinse that palm down with lots and lots of water and remove as much soil as possible before repotting...but I'm sure you already knew that!

I know a guy who does this with old Hornet's nests. Then he cuts them in half very carefully and studies them. Sounds weird, but it's really very interesting if you visit his apartment.

I didn't read about your DH getting stung, but it sounds like you already know that YJs can cause an allergic reaction in some folks. If you get stung and swell up past two joints, or if you get stung by more than a couple YJs please get to the ER. My DB nearly lost his life to bee stings. It's nothing to be careless about. Maybe you could read up on adverse reactions to YJ stings before dealing with this problem? lol

Best of luck,
Heather

Yeah, I've read about all the warning stuff and anaphylactic reactions and so on. My DH was stung by this whole swarm in August - we had to call an ambulance and then eventually he was so itchy he went to his GP who said Benadryl doesn't really work on this kind of thing, neither does Caladryl lotion which I had slathered all over my poor husband. Today all I did was pick up the plant by the fronds/leaves/whatever. This is a big plant. Today's plan was to repot it, by lifting it out of the present pot and dropping it into a new one. I think we have to sneak in at night and cut off the pot.

Heather, it's a good idea but how to get the plant and pot (it's stuck in there) into the bag without getting stung?

xxxx, Carrie

Maybe you can wait until tonight when they are sleeping and then put the whole plant and pot into the bag. Once it's in there you could try and remove the plant from the pot, if it just lifts out that easily. That way if there is any kind of a nest on the pot itself it'll get wiped out too. If the whole pot/plant is too big for a garbage bag you could make a bag out of a plastic drop cloth from the dollar store. The added bonus is that the drop clothes are clear. Cut it to size and duct tape the edges together. The good thing is the YJs don't have to be awake for the spray to work, LOL!! I'd also get one of the heavier drop clothes. Or you could just tape a couple of garbage bags together.

After the spray is in there for a bit I'd try to remove some of the soil, but not by sticking my hand into the bag. That way if they are IN the soil they'll get exposed. They may be ground Hornets, or whatever they are called. Depending on how hard/soft the soil is you may be able to get it to crumble by using something smooth or rounded. Just be careful not to poke holes in the bag.

How long has it been since you've dunked the whole pot into a bucket of water and let it soak? I have a Pony Tail Palm and I've never done that with it, but if you're going to be repotting it soon I wouldn't be afraid to do it. I'm thinking that may drown some of the YJs, or at least make them leave. Drop it in the water and run like heck!! Then tonight when you put it in the bag the soil should fall off in globs....unless you think the more wet the soil is the harder it would be for the spray to penetrate it. I think drowning them would work though.

You can also bait YJs with anything liquid and sweet like regular soda, can't use diet because there's no sugar in it. If you put out a can of soda they will often drown in it because they go in after the sugar but then can't find their way out...works for flies and other pests too.

Heather,
You have the best ideas.
xxxx, Carrie

I just hope it works for you!

Carrie ~ After dark! And if you wrap the plant or bag it, only the roots. Not the top and yes, wash it well afterwards. Had a friend lose a porch full of plants from bombing for fleas without thinking about her plants. And, please be careful!

Wondering if you sprayed and how things went? Hoping no one got stung and that your Palm is happy. Waiting to hear.

I need some help with this project - my PCA (from the Dominican Republic) is deathly afraid of them and thinks I'm nuts, my kids always knew, and my husband, the victim of their first attack, thinks I have too many plants anyway!

LOL!! Check the weather, if there's a chilly day coming, especially one that's going to be rainy, that would be the perfect day to plan this adventure. Otherwise I'd start asking anyone possible for help...even the mailman, lol. My mailman once got my little sports car out of a ditch for me (don't ask how it got there though!) rotflol.

Someone will show up to help. I wish I was closer, I'd help. My goofy DH lets them land on his finger like birds do...just to freak people out, and it always works.

You know, you could just throw a YJ squishing party and invite all your friends that aren't afraid of them. Those who are afraid could stay in the house and watch through the windows with 911 on speed dial while preparing the food, lol. BYOCOS...bring your own can of spray. It might be a big hit. It sounds crazy, but it just might be the best way to get rid of them...just do the squishing early in the party before anyone loses their rational fear, lol. Also make sure to arm one of the whimps inside with a video camera so you can go on AFV and get $10,000.

Have you thought of asking an exterminater's advice or maybe a professional nurseryperson?

Actually, heather, today is a cold rainy day. My other PCA is here today, the one with NO interest in gardening or plants. She is one to just plod ahead. She is the only one I hadn't asked yet to give me a hand with these things. She was worried about the effects of the spray on her asthma. I told her the first job was just to get the bag around the bottom half of the plant. Well, she went and got a green plastic garbage bag, and then I heard the sound of the patio door being slid back! There is now a layer of bag around the bottom of the pot! YAY! As I've said before, this is a big plant. So this is a major step!

xxx, C

This message was edited Sep 23, 2006 2:38 PM

No to the exterminator, because I am sure their advice would involve my spending money on their product. Hm, a nursery other than HD? That would certainly involve my spending money on their product just from being near it, and then we might not even get around to discussing the YJs, LOL LOL. Yes, a nursery would be a good place to ask for advice.

(me in a nursery! it's been so long....)

xxxx, Carrie

YAY!! The pot's in the bag!! Now, wait till dark and spray the bee-Jesus out of 'em! Since the trunk is outside of the bag you can shake it to loosen the soil and any YJ that are hiding there.

Give your PCA a big hug...wait, first tell me what a PCA is???? The first time I read it as "CPA".

Professional Canine Advisor
Pranksters, Cranksters Anonymous
Peaches & Cream, Anyone?
Please, Coffee Always!

lol lol lol rotflmao lol

it's a Personal Care Attendant, for those of us who are too disabled to do stuff for ourselves!

Please, Cookies And .....

xxx, Carrie

ooooOOOOooohhhh. Sorry. I get it now and feel stupid...but that's normal.

Please, Carry me Away!!

No, please don't feel stupid... please don't. I'm just in a dreary mood today, and I took it out on you. I should have broken it to you more gently! It was my choice to sound bitter, or however it sounded.

Please, Come Around!

xxxxxxx, Carrie

(can they carry me away too??)

You didn't sound anything, so don't worry about that. I'd imagine you have some moody days...I have some back problems that don't require a PCA and I sure have some more than moody days, lol!! More like "fire in the hole" days! Today is a good day though. I hope tonight is a good night for you, and that tomorrow is a good day.

I used to drive a van for a woman who is in a wheel chair. She loves to shop, she doesn't get out often. She wore me out, lol!! It was always a joy to see her have some independance...and know that I'd sleep well that night.

I am a bit familiar with being disabled and giving up your independance. I'm sorry if I embarrassed you or took you by surprise. You don't have to apologize for anything, certainly not for having a bad day, we all have them!! No worries. =^)

Hugs,
Heather

(PCA) Please Carrie Allow....
me to ask if the YJ are still around or if you've been able to get rid of them somehow? I've been thinking of you and hoping all is well.

Heather

Hmm... They're definitely still around. I think the PCA in the story above put a plastic trash bag under the plant and another one OVER my precious plant! Way to kill a plant! A few days ago I was out on the patio and I tried to pull it off, but each pull brought a buzz of excitement, and those sneaky menaces found (or made?) a hole in the plastic, so they were undisturbed.

Sad, I used to make it a point to spend at least an hour or two outside, and now I don't, which is why dahlias and sedums and asters are almost wasted on me. :-(

xxxx, Carrie

Carrie At least DG isn't wasted on us... This time of year, I don't get much outdoor time and looking/talking plants and flowers sure helps doesn't it?

It sure do, little miss. Deep East Texas doesn't ever get nippy though, does it? We spent a week in Houston a few years ago (during a cold spell at home; they actually cancelled school for cold!) and we felt pretty smart, going somewhere rather balmy during the coldest winter in years. How come you don't get much outdoor time?

nosey as usual,
Ms. Carrie :>)

Work and the shorter days, man, I hate it. It seems if it is daylight, my spare time is accounted for. We actually get frosts and freezes here. We are about 3 hours north of balmy Houston. There is an occasional ice storm or snow. When that happens, we dig out the batteries and kerosene lamps cause we're out of lights for awhile. In the mid 80's, we had a week of below freezing temps day and nite. The water pumps in town froze solid. Bad news, I can do without lights if I have water. I grew up in Minnesota and remember the days/weeks of no school due to a blizzard. One time, a blizzard blew in before they could send us home on buses. They sent the town kids home and asked them to take friends. The rest spent the night at school. They were glad to ship up by the time the roads were passable. At least here, the first frost in usually around Thanksgiving and the last in March maybe. I can live with that but like daylight. Would be really grumpy if I had to move back north... : [ pod : }

Were lucky ours stay out year round !

Wait ~ your "lights" or "water" stays out year around? Oh ~ I'll bet you meant plants stay out year around. How fortunate you are. You never see a frost? Move over, we'll all want to join you!

Clever, aren't we, Ms. Pod? LOL

just me again

Hi everyone:

I'm new to DG and loving it! Such nice folks out there and great photo's y'all are posting! Hopefully, I will have a few to post myself. Anyhow, I live in Daytona Beach Florida and I have LOTS of house plants. We don't get frost here til usually January or February, if at all ..... sometimes our winters are milder than others. So ..... my plants don't have to come in till much later than some of yours. And, I don't bring them all in .... not enough room inside. If we are expecting a frost or hard freeze (yea, we get those in east central florida ocassionally!) I have to drag everything up under the covered deck area and into the florida room, or in the shed (garage is too full of cars and my husbands junk!) Sometimes, if it's real cold (20's & 30's) I have to cover them with old blankets and such to protect them from the cold. Down here, we do the same thing with special plants in the ground out in the yard. It looks a bit "funny" driving around and seeing all these blankets around shrubs and stuff in people's yards, but it works!

I'm really enjoying this website and thanks to everyone for participating .... everyone learning little bits of info from each other!

Looking forward to many more plant chats,
plantladylin

Welcome to DG, plantlady! I'm sure you'll continue to enjoy it. What's a florida room? There are lots of people from FL here, but I never heard that term.

Oh, BTW, somebody dragged the Ponytail Palm way over away from the patio on the grass one day, and the next day it was out of the pot! I don't know if it was a Good Samaritan dog or my kid - probably not my aide who's scared of them or my husband who already got bitten a zillion times... So my DH and I carefully picked it up and stuck what was left of the roots into a terra cotta pot that was too big for it, considering, and poured potting soil into it and watered it. After a few days, if no nasty yellow jackets have been sighted, I'll bring it in for the year. I'm glad the pot was thick, heavy terra cotta (not standard issue HD) and big enough to last a long time.

xxxx, Carrie

Hey Carrie:

I'm so new to the DG website that I left the computer earlier this evening to fix dinner and then it hit me that someone had asked the question about what a Fla room is! I've been backtracking to try and find where I had been on the site and finally found my way back here to this page!! My family moved to Florida almost 40 years ago, and that's what folks called it back then, as some of us "oldsters" still do!

Anyway, a Florida room is usually a patio that has been enclosed into a room on the back of a house down here! Don't know why it's called that. I at times refer to it as the porch! Usually these types of rooms have porch, patio type furniture, such as wicker. And of course! PLANTS! Mine right now has an old sofa, an old love seat, a dining room table and chairs, as well as a Baker's Rack with some of my birdhouses, another old hutch type cabinet with plant books and junk on it. AND a couple of small tables, and a few plants! Most of my houseplants are out on the wood deck just outside this room and around the swimming pool which is screened and attached to the wood deck! Right now my Florida room is really a junk room .... cleaning & clearing is on my list of things to do! LOL

Violet Treasure:

How lucky you are .... living on the West Coast of Fla. My hubby and I love it on the Gulf side! We take our boat over to Lonboat Key, south of you. Am I correct in thinking Dunedin is near Clearwater? We used to take our boat to Caledisi (sp?) Island over that way .... beautiful beach!

Also, how lucky you live in a milder area of Fla and don't get the freezes we sometimes get here on the East Coast! I wish I didn't have to drag my plants in every year .... but, thankfully I don't have to do it for more than a few weeks!

Plantladylin ~ Welcome, glad you could join us but beware ~ DG gets to be an addiction! You caught my attention when you described the Florida room... and said plant books. My weakness. Plant books get me thru the darker winter days. I love books and use them for reference. I have been more than disappointed when I find someone knowledgeable about a type of plant and I ask if they could recommend a good reference book and am always told they don't have one??!? I can no more retain all that knowledge in my head. You got a favorite or two you could recommend. And ... what favorite types of plants to collect? Anyone else???? : ]] pod