Business

How to Bring Houseplants Indoors for Fall and Winter

Published

1 month ago

September 29, 2026

Bring Your Outdoor Plants Indoors Before the Cold Weather Arrives

As cooler weather approaches, homeowners who moved houseplants, herbs and flowering plants outdoors for the summer should begin preparing them for the transition back indoors.

Plants that have spent months on a deck, patio or in window boxes can benefit from a gradual adjustment to indoor conditions. Changes in temperature, sunlight and humidity can cause stress, leading to problems such as wilting and leaf drop.

Start the transition gradually. Move plants to a shadier location outdoors before bringing them inside. This helps them adjust to lower light levels. Cleaning indoor windows can also maximize the amount of natural light available once the plants are moved inside.

Check carefully for pests. Before bringing plants indoors, inspect leaves, stems and soil for insects or signs of disease. Dead leaves and spent flowers should be removed. Plants can be rinsed with a hose or treated with insecticidal soap to help eliminate pests.

For plants with heavier infestations, one option is to place the entire plant and pot in a large tub of soapy water, then allow it to drain thoroughly before bringing it indoors. The gardening experts at Down to Earth also recommend applying a systemic insecticide about 10 days before the move, when appropriate.

Fall is also a good time to address repotting and pruning. If a plant has outgrown its container, move it into a pot at least two inches larger in diameter. Leggy plants can be pruned, with the top and roots trimmed in roughly equal proportions before replanting in fresh potting soil.

Choosing the right soil is important as well. Succulents, cacti, African violets and orchids have different soil requirements than typical houseplants, so gardeners should use a growing mix suited to each plant.

Once indoors, choose a location with plenty of natural light, while keeping plants away from heating vents and cold drafts. Watering should also be adjusted for indoor conditions. Allow the surface of the soil to dry before watering again, and let succulents remain dry for several days before watering.

Humidity can be increased by placing a plant on a saucer filled with pebbles and water, creating a small area of increased humidity around the plant.

During the winter, Down to Earth recommends giving indoor plants a quick shower with lukewarm water about every six weeks. The routine can help keep foliage clean and plants healthier through the colder months.

Local gardening expertise

Down to Earth Living Garden Center encourages customers to bring photographs of their gardens, backyards or spaces they would like to improve, along with inspirational images, when seeking advice from its gardening experts.

The team can help customers select plants, shrubs, containers and statuary to create a desired look. The center’s expanded indoor plant showroom is open year-round, and free repotting is available with any plant or pot purchase.

Now in its 56th year, Down to Earth Living serves Rockland, Bergen and Orange counties and the Hudson Valley. The garden center encompasses 12.5 acres featuring perennials, flowers, shrubs and trees, with new plants arriving weekly.

The 10,000-square-foot showroom also features contemporary, classic, traditional and transitional outdoor furniture, including teak, aluminum and all-weather dining and deep-seating furniture.

Down to Earth Living is located at 1040 Route 45 in Pomona, N.Y. For more information, call 845-354-8500 or visit the center’s website visit www.dteliving.com.

Business

La Casa Di Dolce Brings Generations of Italian Baking Traditions to a New Children’s Book

Published

4 weeks ago

October 12, 2026

Rockland Report Admin

A family-inspired bakery and a new children’s book are bringing Italian heritage, cherished recipes, and the joy of baking together to the next generation.

For Jaclyn Ryan-Henry, founder of Made in the Home Kitchen of La Casa Di Dolce, baking is about more than creating delicious treats. It is about preserving family traditions, celebrating Italian heritage, and sharing the memories that connect generations.

Built on recipes and traditions passed down through the family, La Casa Di Dolce is a tribute to the enduring influence of Nonna’s kitchen. Through her bakery, Ryan-Henry hopes to bring a little piece of Italy into every home, one cookie at a time, while creating meaningful connections through food and culture.

Now, Ryan-Henry is expanding that mission with the release of a new children’s book inspired by the adventures of baking with her own children. The book celebrates the experience of passing down family recipes, cultural traditions, and treasured memories from one generation to the next.

Filled with fun, laughter, and a special surprise for families to discover at the end, the story encourages parents and children to embrace the joy of baking together while learning about their heritage. Inspired by recipes handed down through generations, the book highlights how simple moments in the kitchen can become lasting family traditions.

Through both her bakery and her writing, Ryan-Henry hopes to keep these traditions alive for future generations, demonstrating how food and storytelling can preserve cultural identity while bringing families closer together.

Upcoming Book Signing at Barnes & Noble

Readers and families will have an opportunity to connect with Ryan-Henry at an upcoming book signing at Barnes & Noble at Palisades. The event date has not yet been announced and will be shared through the bakery’s social media accounts.

The first 15 attendees will receive special freebies, which may include custom items or baked goods.

Families interested in learning more about the book, discovering La Casa Di Dolce, or following announcements about the signing can find additional information through the bakery’s online platforms.

Where to Find La Casa Di Dolce

Purchase the book on Amazon:
https://amzn.to/4jcpzgA

Follow La Casa Di Dolce on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574152076711
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lacasadidolce/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lacasadidolce

Google Business Profile:
Find Made in the Home Kitchen of La Casa Di Dolce on Google

With a mission rooted in family, heritage, and tradition, Jaclyn Ryan-Henry is using both baking and storytelling to help ensure that the recipes, memories, and cultural connections passed down through generations continue to inspire families for years to come.

Business

Beyond Mums: Best Plants for Fall Garden Color

Published

4 weeks ago

October 11, 2026

Rockland Report Admin

Pumpkins, chrysanthemums, cornstalks and hay bales are familiar signs of autumn, but homeowners looking to add more seasonal color to their landscapes have plenty of options beyond traditional fall decorations.

For residents across the Hudson Valley, Rockland County and Bergen County, a variety of flowers, ornamental grasses and colorful foliage plants can bring fresh interest to gardens and containers as summer fades and temperatures begin to drop.

Down to Earth Living in Pomona recommends several plants that can help homeowners extend the color and texture of their outdoor spaces well into the fall season.

Flowers and Foliage for the Fall Season

Ornamental peppers offer a burst of color, producing decorative fruits in shades of red, orange, yellow and purple. Their vibrant appearance makes them a popular choice for fall containers and garden beds.

Ornamental millet adds height and texture, with upright growth and distinctive flower heads that provide visual interest in seasonal plantings.

For homeowners seeking colorful blooms, pansies and violas are well-suited to cooler weather and can continue flowering as temperatures decline.

Hardy chrysanthemums remain a fall favorite, offering a variety of colors and flower shapes. With appropriate planting and care, some varieties can return in subsequent years.

Ornamental cabbage and kale provide another option for seasonal displays. Grown primarily for their foliage, these cool-weather plants feature shades of green, purple, pink and white that complement traditional autumn decorations.

Perennials and Grasses Extend Seasonal Interest

Several perennials and ornamental grasses can add color and structure to the fall landscape.

Hardy asters produce daisy-like flowers in shades of purple, pink, blue and white. Their late-season blooms also provide a food source for pollinators.

Sedums, including the popular ‘Autumn Joy’ variety, develop deeper pink, red and russet tones as the season progresses, adding color and texture to garden beds.

Ornamental grasses, such as switchgrass and little bluestem, bring height and movement to the landscape. Their seedheads and changing seasonal colors can help maintain visual interest as other plants begin to fade.

Colorful Foliage Offers Another Option

Flowers are not the only way to brighten a fall garden. Plants with distinctive foliage can provide contrast and color throughout the season.

Heucheras are available in a wide range of leaf colors and patterns, making them versatile choices for garden beds and containers. Coleus offers similarly varied foliage, with numerous patterns and shades that work particularly well in container arrangements.

Purple-leaf basil combines dark ornamental foliage with culinary uses, while Swiss chard adds vibrant stems and attractive leaves to both edible and ornamental gardens.

Making the Most of Fall Planting

“Fall offers plenty of opportunities to add color to your garden,” said Stuart Leventhal, owner of Down to Earth Living. “Pansies, asters, ornamental cabbage and kale, and other fall plants can bring new color and interest to the landscape as summer flowers fade.”

With a wide range of seasonal plants available, homeowners can refresh their gardens, window boxes and outdoor containers with new colors, textures and shapes.

By combining flowering plants, colorful foliage and ornamental grasses, gardeners can create displays that celebrate autumn while keeping outdoor spaces visually appealing through the cooler months.

For homeowners in Rockland County, Bergen County and the Hudson Valley, fall offers an opportunity to look beyond traditional mums and discover new ways to keep their landscapes vibrant throughout the season.