LADYBUG SAYS ... COOLER WEATHER, THOUGHTS OF INDOOR GARDENING

Cooler weather is turning gardeners thoughts to moving their houseplants that have been on vacation outside, back into the house for the coming winter.

It seems moving time rolls around so much sooner than it used to. It was only a short time ago that we took all those potted plants from the garden room to spend their vacation time in the shade of the trees in the yard.

Some have withstood the summer and some have not. That, too, is all right because there are still enough to be brought inside. This has been a most difficult summer on all plants. Hot, humid, dry weather has taken its toll.

According to my records (which are not the greatest) this season has been bad, but not as devastating as 1980, which was recorded as the worst for gardeners in many years. It was the hottest, dryest summer since those of 1930, 1934 and 1936, which were followed by some in the 1950's. How quickly we forget.

During August of 1980 there was no measurable rainfall. This came on top of a dry, extremely hot July with the results being crop failures, dead foliage and trees dying in the forests.

When the predictions of rain for fair week failed, we looked forward to it the following week, but only a small amount came. When the temperatures fell from the 90's into the 40's, our thoughts turned to the houseplants that do not like it so cool at night. So in they must come, but first there must be preparations.

The garden room must be cleaned and sprayed. Houseplants summered outdoors receive less of a shock if moved inside before indoor heating begins. Here they are first moved on the carport and then into the garden room before the nights become consistently cool. There are many lovely, sunny days in the future that they need to enjoy.

If you are moving houseplants into your home try to do so before indoor heating begins. Even then, when plants have been vacating outside, they often lose some of their foliage when brought back inside.

All incoming plants will have a thorough inspection. Any that are obviously diseased or have signs of insect pests will be discarded. Look carefully for mealybugs, red spider mites, white flies or aphids. Discard these plants, but do not put them on the compost pile.

Spray all incoming plants with a good insecticide. Before any pot is taken into the garden room, it is dipped into a strong insecticide solution.

Some plants will have grown in all directions. Before they come back inside make sure they have good grooming and a good trimming. For some grown-in-the-ground plants, dig cautiously, taking care not to sever too many outstretching roots. Pots should be approximately half the size of the foliage. Be sure also to use a good potting soil.

Begonias, impatiens and a plumbago (the gift of a friend) are the only plants dug to bring inside. Geraniums growing in large pots are trimmed severely and allowed to grow a minimum amount during the winter.

Take cuttings of coleus, impatiens and begonias to start new plants. All are easily rooted. Take cuttings about three to four inches in length. At this time of the year they root easily in water, or use a clean rooting material such as vermiculite or perilite, or a special rooting medium.

When these young plants begin to grow inside, keep them consistently healthy by holding the humidity about 40 percent by growing over moist gravel if at all possible. Fertilize only when growth is active. Too much fertilizer when light is not bright in winter will encourage weak growth.

Remember that plants that require shade outside during the summer will require a bright window indoors, or they will become leggy and flower poorly if they do not have the maximum amount of light.

The last plants to be brought in are the holiday cacti. This group of plants include Thanksgiving cactus, Easter cactus and the popular Christmas cactus that now comes in such delightful colors of pink and peach. Each type varies slightly in its natural sea of bloom.

These plants have an internal clock that is set to produce blooms whenever the temperatures and day length reach the right combination. If your home night temperatures drops to 55 degrees or below, chances are your holiday cactus will form buds regardless of day length.

It is soon travel time again for those plants that have loved the outside during the summer. It is time to think of rehabilitating those plants to the inside for the winter ahead.