I’m not always the most organized person in the fall, but this year I managed to dig up the lemon verbena plant that grew beautifully this summer. But as lemon verbena often do, it dropped its leaves in protest. I was ready to chuck it, but my husband saw a few tiny sprouts on the top, so he kept it. The leaves sprung back to life, but it’s not quite out of the woods. Here are a few tips for others who want to keep lemon verbena through the winter.

When to Dig Lemon Verbena

Some people grow lemon, verbena in a container throughout the year. I prefer having it in the garden, then digging it before a frost. It’s also ideal to dig it at least a week or two before that first frost to allow it to acclimate outside in the container. This reduces the stress on the plant to some degree.

As always when it comes to container plants, be sure to provide plenty of space. For a first year plant, the container is close to a two gallon size and is filled with new potting medium. Of course, there are ample holes in the bottom to allow water to drain. Lemon verbena plants do not tolerate wet feet.

Initial Shock

As an example of a good reason why it is important to give lemon verbena plant a little bit of time to acclimate, I dug mine right before a freeze and brought it inside. That’s why it dropped its leaves. Thankfully, watering it well and putting it in a sunny window was enough for it to bounce back.

Keeping Lemon Verbena through Dark Days

Sunlight is definitely the biggest channel bringing lemon verbena indoors. The south window is the best, but for many northerners, this means less than eight hours of light a day for many weeks. Supplementing with a handy LED grow light, which come in many shapes and sizes, is the best way to make sure the plant has ample light.

Another issue with plants in the window is the cold. This winter has been particularly frigid in many areas of the country, and keeping a plant next to the glass is a recipe for frost damage.

Dealing with Common Indoor Plant Pests

Watering Lemon Verbena

Lemon verbena is one of those herbs that does not tolerate saturated soil. The best way to water it, is to place it in a sink and turn on the water until it runs out the bottom. For many people, doing this once every five or six days is usually sufficient.

Watching for Pests

Because being inside is stressful for lemon verbena plants, particularly due to the lower light conditions, it is susceptible to pests. Be watchful for spider mites, which are most evident because of their finely threaded webs among the leaves. After noticing wilted leaves, I took a closer look and spotted the webbing. To be rid of them, I placed the plant in the sink and simply washed them away. If there were multiple plants and a heavier infestation, I’d break out the horticultural soap. But, for the most part, they are easy to dispatch.

Aphids are another prime pest candidate when keeping lemon verbena over the winter. Look for them underneath the leaves, and wash them off with water.

Trim off any damaged stems and leaves, and pick up any leaves that have fallen on the soil within the pot. It can offer fungus and other pests a place to start.

Lemon Verbena Diseases

The good news is the days are becoming noticeably longer. It won’t be long until I can put the plant back out in the garden where it is its happiest.