Ngoc Minh Ngo
Houseplants aren’t
the only ones that can come in for the winter. Some flowering summer plants, such
as geraniums, princess flowers, plumbagos, and bougainvilleas,
can live to see another summer if they’re brought indoors and overwintered, a process that forces the plant into dormancy in just a few easy steps.
Keep it cool. After acclimating the plant to the indoors, place it in a basement or a garage where the temperature ranges from 50 to 60 degrees. Leaves will turn
yellow and drop off.
Water sparingly. Take a hands-off approach to watering. Check every couple of weeks and water only
if the soil feels dry.
Cut back. In early spring, prune new growth and gradually increase watering. Move plants outside after the danger of
frost has passed.