The air is getting crisper and the temperatures are dropping. It’s getting close to the time to bring your plants indoors for the winter. I have a lot of potted plants, so each year, I have to pick and choose the ones that I am going to try to save and those that I will leave outside. Otherwise, it gets to be a jungle in my house!
Hitchhikers on my plants
I am rooting some cuttings of a snake plant and for the last few months they have been outside under my carport. In the last few weeks, the squirrels have been digging in the soil, so I decided to bring them indoors. I put them under my grow light and watered them. Out jumped a southern spring peeper! I adore these little frogs andI definitely don’t want to find a desiccated frog body in my house this fall.
I snuck up to him and caught him. He escaped. I had a little panic attack when he got close to the washer and dryer where he could easily climb underneath and elude me, but I finally got him safely outdoors where he belongs.
Check your potted plants
This leads me to an important point: Check your plants for hitchhikers before you bring them indoors. Frogs, anoles, geckos, spiders, and more consider your potted plants their home. They’ve been living in the condo for months now and they aren’t going to leave on their own just because you want to move a plant.
Look carefully at your plants. If the pot has a water reservoir, that’s a good spot to check for frogs and other critters that like moisture. Check the underside of the leaves for insects and lizards. Even check the top layer of soil for movement. I found a toad nested in the soil of one of my potted plants recently. He uncovered himself and hopped out once I started watering. I admit I let out a little high pitched yelp at the sudden movement.
Once you think you’ve removed all of the critters from your plant and its pot, then you can bring it inside. Don’t be surprised if something has eluded you in your inspection – critters will stay hidden when they think a predator is out to get them. Keep an eye out for movement or sounds coming from these plants and try to take any critters back outside if you can.