How to Bring Outdoor Plants Inside to Protect From Bugs

Prune the plants you plan on bringing indoors with pruning shears. This includes cutting away dead branches and areas where bugs have already nested in or affected the plant. Remove all bug cocoons, eggs and the bugs themselves.

Dig up the plant carefully, by digging around the root system of the plant you plan to bring inside. Leave a generous radius of soil around the plant, 1 foot or more from the stalk or trunk, so you do not damage the plant's root system.

Remove the plant from the ground, and gently separate all the dirt from the roots. Inspect the root system for signs of bugs, and remove all nests and cocoons. Also, shake the plant gently to get rid of bugs inside the soil surrounding the roots.

Fill a clean plant pot that has a drainage bowl with fresh potting soil. Set the plant into the pot and cover all the roots with more potting soil.

Water the newly potted plant generously, and let the excess water drain. Clear the water from the drain bowl.

Spread a plastic tarp on the floor of any room with direct sunlight and preferably is heated throughout the day. Bring the plants inside and set them up in this room so they receive direct sunlight during the afternoon or morning hours.