Lantana really doesn't adapt well to indoor conditions. A bright sunny window doesn't come close to the full, direct sun found outside. Then there's the humidity issue. Oh, and the spider mites that you may not have noticed when the plants were outside will explode in population when you bring them in to languish on your sunny window.

I overwintered lantana under shop lights one year. They survived but did have to deal with bugs. Decided it was not worth the effort and expense. May try to keep one dormant this year.

why not try ..

first.. right now.. i would get a systemic granular bug product ... and treat the plants/pots/media ... while outside ... personally.. i only lived thru one winter indoor bug nightmare.. in my life.. lol ..

second ... the issue.. for me.. in my MI ... is humidity ... forced air furnaces .. run humidity down to 30 to 40% in winter.. and many plants simply cant cope with that ...

light ... can be supplemented by properly positioned fluorescent lamps ... and that is not the ones in the ceiling ...

i would expect etoliation by mid winter... growing long and thin.. due to lack of light ... etc ...

all said.. those are your variables ... as i started.. why not try ...

i would also research propagation ... and if possible ... when they start to get real ugly .. propagate some fresh stock in late winter.. so they will be ready to go outdoors at the right time...

ken

ps: z5 is about half the US... and incredibly diverse ...when talking about outside issues... give us a big city.. doesnt matter here.. indoors ...

Good suggestions, Ken. That was the same year I overwintered tropical hibiscus, another white fly magnet. I learned to spray the plant well before bringing it in. Still later in the winter, bugs. Bayer Systemic to the rescue. But, once was enough.

I agree that an office ceiling light is too far away. Expect that a desk type grow light on a timer might work. Setting plants on a layer of pebbles with water below helps with humidity.

I have a series of lights and shelves that I use to keep tender perennials over the winter until I move them to start plants from seed closer to spring. The lantana did not get long and lanky as had enough light and had a few blooms. Still, not enough bloom to be a good display plant. The next year I decided not to use the space for a plant that needed more attention than others That could be put there instead, or to take cuttings as needed that space for seedlings. We all make choices. In my area a nice sized lantana can be bought for less than $5.

Hmmm... it sounds like a lot of trouble. At least, if there are bugs, it won't be in my house. I'm sure I can't set up any special lighting for it, that would be a poor use of public funds! I might still try and see what comes of it. I think it's a shame to let it go because it looks so nice now, better than it did all summer, and it is finally big. I will follow Ken ' s suggestions. What sort of bug treatment is that, exactly? I have only ever used End All 2, I think that's the name. An insecticidal soap...

Foreignlady, be very careful with whatever pesticide you purchase.....do NOT follow anyone's advice without reading the label carefully for yourself. Most systemics are not for indoor use.....even after they've dried.

I see that End All 2 has pyrethrin added to the insecticidal soap. I see that it is labeled for indoor use, but make sure that no one in your office has a problem with that family of pesticides.

I overwinter lantana indoors. I mail ordered variegated lantana one year which I've never seen locally and decided that for that one special variety, it was worth the work to me. I agree with everyone saying it's not an easy indoor plant. It's also messy due to leaf loss and spent flowers dropping. Go ahead and try it. You can always throw it in a snowbank if it doesn't work out.

Thanks for all you advice and suggestions. I'll try to post later in the year to let you know how it works out.

Thanks for all you advice and suggestions. I'll try to post later in the year to let you know how it works out.

If you bought the desk top grow light yourself could you put it in your office?

The issue is with using power. I might get away with it for a while, but it would probably be frowned upon.

It's just not a good idea in this situation. Can you take the plant home? It's going to shed everything all over the place and who knows if you'll end up with whiteflies, spider mites, fungus gnats, and other pests which will really, really be frowned upon.

I have a sun porch on the south side of my house. I bring in plants every fall, including lantana. The worst thing that ever happened was some baby grasshoppers hatched out of a pot toward spring. My cat had a lot of fun with them until I managed to get them all caught.