Keep the plant actively growing in a warm, sunny place such as a sunroom or heated greenhouse. Examples: cordyline, phormium, palm, croton, bamboo, jasmine, allamanda, bougainvillea, hibiscus and citrus. Check your plants weekly for common indoor pests such as whiteflies, spider mites and scale. For serious infestations, dunk the foliage in a dishpan filled with water and a teaspoon of dishwashing detergent. Place large plants in the shower. Let the foliage dry and douse the leaves (tops and undersides) with insecticidal soap. Tropical plants that continue to grow often can benefit from pruning once or twice. You can root the cuttings.
Take cuttings and allow the mother plant to die. You can root cuttings of plants like coleus or geraniums in water on the windowsill. Be sure to use young stems, not tough, woody stems. Once roots have developed, place cuttings in a 3- to 4-inch pot and keep on a windowsill or under grow lights.
Allow the plant to go dormant and keep it in a cool, dark place until spring. Examples: bulbs, corms and tubers, such as begonia, dahlia, ginger, sweet potato vine, colocasia, caladium, canna, calla and banana.
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
