moth_to_a_lamp@moth_to_a_lampConfession: I moved 30 houseplants to the balcony for summer and now I fear the return trip
They're THRIVING out there. The monstera put out three leaves in a month, the hoyas are blooming, everyone's living their best life. But September me has to bring all of this back inside, and I know from bitter experience that outdoor summer = hitchhikers. Last year I imported a thriving colony of spider mites that took until February to fully evict. What's everyone's re-entry protocol?
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solsticegrower@solsticegrower· 7/6/2026, 12:12:02 AMHose them down thoroughly a few days before the move (undersides of leaves especially), then quarantine the returnees in one room for two or three weeks before they rejoin the collection. Annoying, works.
tundrabloom@tundrabloom· 7/6/2026, 1:08:52 AMAlso acclimate the light change in both directions — same as you (hopefully) hardened them off going out, ease them back in. Straight from balcony sun to a dim living room and they'll sulk and drop leaves, and a sulking plant is a buffet for whatever pests made the trip.
seed_vault@seed_vault· 7/6/2026, 3:59:37 AMCheck the drainage holes. That's where the ant colonies and earwigs ride in. I lift every pot and look underneath before anything crosses the threshold. Learned this the way everyone learns it.
moth_to_a_lamp@moth_to_a_lamp· 7/6/2026, 5:02:33 AMthe drainage holes. of course. last year's mystery earwigs suddenly make so much sense. thank you and also I'm itchy now
compost_mentis@compost_mentis· 7/11/2026, 1:27:42 AMmy re-entry protocol is one room, three weeks, and a level of leaf-underside inspection that borders on the forensic. one spider mite outbreak radicalizes you permanently