Prepping outdoor plants you plan to overwinter indoors?

neoguy · October 13, 2010

Last year I overwintered a marjoram and catnip plant in my seed starting room. No signs of bugs all winter long, everything was fine until late February or early March. Soon after I started the new seedlings the bugs were everywhere, aphids and white flies.

How can I prevent this next year? What do you folks do when bringing your plants in for the winter?

RinTinTin · October 13, 2010

Many pests lay their eggs in the soil. Since your plants are in a suitable environment to survive winter, so are the bugs. A helpful way to reduce them is to carefully remove the top 1/2 inch of soil with a trowel, spoon, or whatever. Replace it with a good potting soil (as a mulch). Keep a close eye on it in late winter, as if one hatches, a million are right behind him. Your "greenhouse" environment is perfect for an early hatch of many more than would have survived over winter outdoors. Most pests have short life cycles, so be certain to iradicate them before they can reach breeding age.

neoguy · October 15, 2010

Thanks for the reply.

October 13, 2010	#1
neoguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 610	Prepping outdoor plants you plan to overwinter indoors? Last year I overwintered a marjoram and catnip plant in my seed starting room. No signs of bugs all winter long, everything was fine until late February or early March. Soon after I started the new seedlings the bugs were everywhere, aphids and white flies. How can I prevent this next year? What do you folks do when bringing your plants in for the winter?

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October 13, 2010	#2
RinTinTin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Seattle Posts: 581	Many pests lay their eggs in the soil. Since your plants are in a suitable environment to survive winter, so are the bugs. A helpful way to reduce them is to carefully remove the top 1/2 inch of soil with a trowel, spoon, or whatever. Replace it with a good potting soil (as a mulch). Keep a close eye on it in late winter, as if one hatches, a million are right behind him. Your "greenhouse" environment is perfect for an early hatch of many more than would have survived over winter outdoors. Most pests have short life cycles, so be certain to iradicate them before they can reach breeding age.

October 15, 2010	#3
neoguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 610	Thanks for the reply.