Maximum Yield USA October 2017 | Page 123

Plants expect their accommodations to be permanent, and moving them around can be a shock that requires some adjustment. ” AIR CIRCULATION - While planning your light and temperature control strategy, don’t forget plants need good airflow. Good air circulation helps plants with photosynthesis, reduces the amount of dust on leaves, and discourages pests. It can also reduce problems with mold and mildew. If you rely heavily on grow lights, good air flow also helps reduce potential heat problems. Invest in a fan, ideally an oscillating fan, for each large group of plants you maintain. If you have a few small plant groupings near a window, a couple of solar-powered fans can be useful and convenient additions. The Great Migration The process of bringing plants indoors in fall mirrors the process of adapting seedlings to the outdoors in spring. Plants expect their accommodations to be permanent, and moving them around can be a shock that requires some adjustment. Once you’ve identified and treated the plants you want to relocate, start getting them used to lower light conditions by moving them to a shadier garden location a week to 10 days before the move. This might be under an awning, a tree, or near the shady side of a fence or wall. If you only have a few plants to deal with and they aren’t large, consider leaving them outdoors during the day and bringing them indoors at night for a few days before you place them in a permanent location inside. These gradual changes will lessen the stress of the move. If a plant is too unwieldy, large, or messy to move indoors, this is a good time to take cuttings. Water plants thoroughly before moving day, and save your back by spreading the project over a couple of afternoons. It also helps to put a plastic tarp down to catch any drips or loose grit. If it will fit through the door, use your trusty wheelbarrow or utility cart to move smaller plants en masse. Oh, and if you have a large, heavy pot to deal with, and stairs aren’t an issue, consider investing in a rolling stand for it. Too Big to Move—Sheltering in Place Move potted plants you plan to leave outdoors to a protected location and sink their pots into the soil. Finish off with a three-inch layer of mulch. Soil is a great insulator that will protect plant roots where a completely exposed pot will freeze, killing the roots inside. Even if a plant is a digit outside its preferred plant hardiness zone, this strategy may be worth the risk, especially if space is tight indoors. With any luck, the plant will survive the winter and be waiting to welcome you back to the garden come spring. Every plant you save now will be one less specimen to replace next year, so think of the move as a mission of mercy and a cost-saving project all rolled into one. Once you get good at bringing plants indoors in fall, you’ll probably be more tempted to cultivate varieties outside your comfort zone, and outside your plant hardiness zone, too. Ah, gardening… so many plants, so little time! grow cycle 121