'Protect them from the cold!' – 5 outdoor plants to bring indoors during November to ensure winter survival

Low temperatures mean you’ll need to prepare your backyard for incoming frosts in order to ensure its health and longevity in spring. One of the most important things you need to do is bring some of your plants indoors as they won’t be able to withstand the cold, and now is probably your last chance to do it. 

Plants that are more delicate will die if temperatures drop too low - especially citrus trees, geraniums, or begonias - and you wouldn’t want to undo all the good growth that’s happened over the warm months. While some plants might survive the cold, their growth can get stunted so you want to consider bringing those in too. 

I spoke to garden experts who advised me on the most important plants to bring indoors and protect from the cold this season. Follow their advice and your modern garden will thank you for it come spring. Make sure, however, that you don’t rush to take your plants back outside. Check that the last expected frost has passed, and gradually acclimate them before permanently moving them back outside. 

1. Fig trees 

Overwintering your plants is a key task during November, and if you have a potted fig tree, it might need some extra warmth through the cold snap. ‘Marginally hardy plants like fig trees may need to be brought indoors or given extra mulch and a burlap wrap to help protect them over winter,’ advises landscape design expert Amber Freda. 

One of the best trees to grow in pots, fig trees can survive low temperatures down to 10°F, and some varieties can withstand even lower temperatures. It’s useful to know which type of fig you own so you can assess if it needs bringing indoors or can be safely left outside. 

When bringing your fig tree indoors, ensure it gets a lot of light. Some experts even recommend using LED plant growth lights to supplement the natural light and ensure the plant's health. And, even though you might think it unnecessary indoors, you should still keep an eye out for any pests that might cause damage to your fig tree. 

2. Herbs 

While a lot of herbs are quite sturdy, they’re better brought indoors over winter rather than kept in your backyard. ‘Hardy herbs will survive light frosts, but their growth will stall,’ explains Lina Cowley, senior editor at Trimmed Roots. ‘Sheltering them indoors allows harvests all winter. Pot up herbs like mint, rosemary, and thyme to keep harvesting their leaves,’ she advises. In fact, rosemary is actually one of the herbs that grow best in a kitchen anyway.

When bringing herbs indoors, it's a good idea to use a humidifier or mist them regularly so they don't dry out, as well as place them by a window that gets a lot of sunlight (aim for at least six hours a day). ‘Herbs like mint, rosemary, and thyme can come inside for 1-2 months when nights drop below 40°F, then be brought back outside once the risk of frost has passed,' says Lina.

3. Plants in containers  

Container gardening is a great gateway for green-thumbed beginners, and the beauty of it is those potted plants can be moved indoors once temperatures drop. ‘Plants in containers are more susceptible to frost damage than plants in the ground,’ explains Amber. 

In most cases, the issue will not be the plant itself, but the roots which will be less resistant as they're not buried in the ground where they would be protected from frost. With plants in containers, you also have the option of planting them in your garden if the soil is dry, as the roots will be better protected if you don’t want to bring them indoors. 

When you move the container plants indoors, try to keep them grouped together and in a sheltered, warm area of the home that has natural light throughout the day. You’ll need to ensure there’s good drainage so the best solution for this would be to place the pots on feet. ‘Annual flowers like geraniums and begonias are tender plants that typically need to remain indoors for the entire winter, as long as four to six months in cooler regions,’ adds Lina.  

4. Succulents 

When it comes to how to care for succulents, Lina explains that they can tolerate a degree of cold, but their colors fade and growth slows, so it’s better to bring these indoors. ‘Succulents are perfect low-maintenance houseplants, adding fun shapes and textures,' she says. 'They also only need one to two months of shelter from cold snaps before they can be moved back outside.'

It's especially important you sure you don't overwater your succulents during winter. Keep them on the dryer side with just a bit of moisture and ensure they're in a spot where they can get natural light throughout the day. It's a good idea to spray your succulents with a surface insecticide a few weeks before bringing them indoors, too, to ensure they’ll be pest-free. 

5. Citrus trees 

Citrus trees are sensitive to cold and will need to be brought indoors. ‘This is because citrus trees exposed to frost will drop fruit and may sustain permanent damage,’ warns Lina, adding that young citrus trees will continue fruiting indoors if nurtured. ‘Young citrus trees often need to stay indoors for four to six months in climates with cold winters,' she adds. 'In warmer zones, they may only need protection on the coldest nights.'

When dealing with indoor fruit trees it's vital to ensure they get lots of natural light, so make sure they're placed close to a window (ideally south-facing so they can enjoy the sun for a few good hours every day). While they don’t like too much water on their roots, they do thrive in a humid environment so Lina advises misting leaves or using a humidifier since indoor air is typically dry.