The first frost can arrive without warning in late October, and one cold night kills tender plants that thrived all summer. Don't let your favorites become casualties of an overnight freeze! These 12 plants need to come indoors before nighttime temperatures dip below 50°F. With the right spot, light, and watering routine, they'll cruise through winter and burst back to life in spring.
1. Tropical Hibiscus
Bring tropical hibiscus inside when nights fall below 50°F. Place it in your brightest south-facing window for at least 6 hours of direct sun. Water when the top inch of soil dries out and mist the leaves weekly for humidity. Cut it back by a third so it fits indoors and saves energy for survival.
Overwintering tip
Expect some leaf drop at first — it's just acclimating. Hold off fertilizer until spring.
2. Geraniums
Geraniums hate frost but overwinter beautifully indoors. Before the first freeze, trim leggy stems back by a third and check for pests. Set pots in a bright, cool window or under a grow light. Water sparingly — let the top 2 inches dry between waterings, since soggy winter soil rots roots.
Overwintering tip
Take a few stem cuttings at move-in time as insurance; they root in water within two weeks.
3. Tuberous Begonias
Tuberous begonias can't handle frost, so lift the tubers after a light frost blackens the foliage. Cut stems to 2 inches, cure tubers in a dry spot for two weeks, then store them in barely damp peat moss at 45-55°F. Check monthly and discard any that soften or mold.
Overwintering tip
Start tubers back into growth 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost in fresh potting mix.
4. Coleus
Coleus dies at the first freeze, but it thrives as a windowsill plant all winter. Bring pots in before nights hit 50°F and place in bright indirect light — its colors actually intensify in cooler indoor temps. Pinch flower spikes as they appear to keep its leafy shape, and water when the surface feels dry.
Overwintering tip
Rotate the pot weekly so growth stays even instead of leaning toward the window.
5. Lantana
Lantana is a tropical perennial that needs shelter from frost. Prune it back by half before bringing it in, and set it in your sunniest window. Water lightly through winter — just enough to keep the soil from going bone dry — and let it rest semi-dormant. Leaf drop is normal; it will regrow in spring.
Overwintering tip
Keep lantana away from pets indoors; the leaves and berries are mildly toxic if chewed.
6. Mandevilla
Mandevilla vines collapse in frost, so move them in before nights drop to 50°F. Cut the vine back to 2-3 feet, and place it in your brightest spot. Water only when the top 2 inches of soil are dry, and skip fertilizer until spring. A cool room (60-65°F) suits its winter rest.
Overwintering tip
Watch for whitefly under the leaves and rinse the plant in the shower monthly.
7. Dwarf Lemon Tree
Citrus must come in well before the first frost — even a brief freeze damages the wood. Give your dwarf lemon tree the sunniest window in the house, ideally 8+ hours of light, and add a grow light if days are short. Water deeply when the top 2 inches dry out, and mist daily for humidity.
Overwintering tip
A few dropped fruits or leaves are normal while it adjusts; steady light is the fix.
8. Rosemary
Rosemary struggles below 20°F and hates wet winter cold, so potting it up and bringing it in is safest. Place it in full sun — a south window is best — and water only when the soil is nearly dry; overwatering is the top indoor killer. Keep it out of steamy kitchens for good air circulation.
Overwintering tip
Clip sprigs for cooking all winter — harvesting keeps it bushy and healthy.
9. Lavender
Lavender hates cold, wet soil, so bring potted plants indoors before hard frost. Set them in a south-facing window with at least 6 hours of sun and water sparingly. Use a sandy, well-draining mix and never let the pot sit in a saucer of water.
Overwintering tip
A cool room (50-60°F) keeps lavender compact and fragrant instead of leggy and pale.
10. Fuchsia
Fuchsias are frost-tender and overwinter best indoors. Before bringing them in, cut stems back to 6 inches and strip off remaining leaves. Store in a cool, dark spot (40-50°F) like an unheated garage, watering just enough to keep the soil barely damp. Move to light in late winter.
Overwintering tip
New growth by March is your signal to repot and start feeding lightly.
11. Angel's Trumpet
Angel's trumpet (brugmansia) is killed outright by frost, so bring it in early. Prune back by up to half, then place it in a cool, bright location. Water sparingly and let it go semi-dormant — it will look scraggly but rebound in spring. Wear gloves when pruning; all parts are toxic.
Overwintering tip
Keep it away from pets and children — the trumpet flowers contain potent alkaloids.
12. Elephant Ears
Elephant ears turn to mush in a hard freeze, so act before the first frost. Lift the corms, dry them for a few days, and store in dry peat moss at 50-60°F. For potted plants, bring the whole pot inside and cut watering back to nearly zero until spring.
Overwintering tip
Replant corms after the last spring frost in rich, moist soil for the biggest leaves.
Bringing tender plants indoors isn't just rescue work — it's a head start on next season. Every plant on this list that survives winter comes back bigger, stronger, and earlier than anything you'd buy in spring.