Question
Hello I would like to bring outside plant inside for our Michigan winter. I haven't had much success in the past plants dying, weird bugs migrating in the house my wife doesn't like the bugs. What can I do to debug the soil before bringing them into the home.

Answer
You'll never totally debug the soil, but you can minimize the problem and then take care of any survivors once you get them in the house.

My advice is to pot the plant outdoors in a fertile potting soil immediately after removing the plant from the garden. Spray the plant immediately with an insecticidal soap. This product is available at most garden centers or online at gardensalive.com. Once you bring the plant indoors, begin spraying once every other day for one week with the insecticidal soap. At this point, the insects should be eradicated.

One other bit of advice once you take the plant in; do not overwater. This is the number one reason indoor plants perish. The excess water in the potting soil saturates the roots making it very difficult for the plant to absorb oxygen and nutrients. Wait until the soil completely dries out 3" below the surface before watering. Then water deeply until the water runs out of the drainage hole. Most houseplants only need watering every 7-10 days.

I hope this answered your question. Please write again if your ever need assistance.

Regards,

Mike