With chilly winds, falling leaves and short days upon us, a new season is here. Gardening takes a Darwinian twist as outdoor plants compete for our attention and the value of choice window space takes on is suddenly transformed into valuable real estate. Time to bid farewell to the annuals and tender perennials that can't be squeezed into a sunny window or under the warm comfort of interior grow lights.

For those of us not fortunate enough to live toward the southern hemisphere, it's going to be a long one. Don't despair. Here are a few reminders on the basics of making the winter months a little brighter, a little warmer and a little shorter.

Cleaning House
“What the hell does that have to do with entheogens?” you're probably asking. Well, we both know where that resistance is coming from, don't we? The answer is that a clean house can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of problems associated with raising plants indoors by providing an inhospitable environment for pests. Controlling dust is especially important, as mites will thrive in a dusty environment. If you rely on central heat, stock up on enough air filters to get you through the winter (otherwise, you'll forget them when you're at the store and it's an easy chore to put off “until next week”) and change them out at least once a month. Twice a month, move all of your indoor plants enough to dispose of the fallen leaves and vacuum up the loose dirt that tends to collect around such areas.

Bringing Plants Inside
Prioritizing what plants to bring inside can be problematic. After all, we've just spent the spring and summer months in a frenzy of plant acquisitions through trades, purchases and perhaps the occasional gift, and our attachment to these plants is strong. Many of our most coveted entheogenic plants are tender perennials that stand little chance of surviving subfreezing temperatures.

Container gardeners have some flexibility when deciding which plants to bring indoors, but there is only so much space available and most gardeners will have to make some tough decisions. (Remember that perennials left outdoors in containers are less likely to survive the winter than those that are well established in the ground.) Before moving any plants inside, check for pests hiding in the dirt, leaves or under the rims of containers. (Imagine what a famished caterpillar could destroy once inside your home.) Bring only your most cherished plants inside. Remember that crowding plants together can increase the likelihood of pest problems, so don't hesitate to cut your losses with those annuals you planted too late in the summer. If you have to bring in a plant that is infested or has a recent history of infestation, keep it as far away from your healthy plants as possible until you are certain the threat has been eliminated.

If you still don't have enough space, you might want to propagate cuttings from your larger plants and then harvest the mother plants once the clones are established.

Consider building or obtaining a wooden box that will accommodate multiple plants stored in a common interior location (don't make it too deep -- your plants need every bit of light they can get). This will allow for easy transportability on those glorious days when Winter graces us with an occasional respite from the cold. Plants will appreciate a day or two in the sun and you will be more likely to indulge them if you don't have to make ten trips outside to do it. Be careful not to undo your good intentions by subjecting your babies to extreme shifts in temperature, which can cause major stress or death, even when temperatures are above freezing.