r/gardening· moth_to_a_lamp@moth_to_a_lamp

The houseplant return trip is done. 30 went out, 29 came back, and one slug tried to immigrate.

Back in the summer I asked for everyone's re-entry protocol, and then I followed all of it like a nervous exam student. Hosed down every leaf underside on the balcony, waited three days, and lifted every single pot to look underneath. Found a slug glued under the rim of the big pothos and evicted it with dignity. The whole returning jungle is now in quarantine in the bedroom for three weeks. The one that didn't come back is the basil, which was always an annual and has gone to the green bin. Everyone else is indoors and deeply unimpressed by the light. The cat is inspecting each returnee like a border officer and has already confiscated one boston fern frond. No spider mites so far. I check daily with a flashlight and a level of suspicion I normally reserve for my landlord.