Why are you bringing it in?

Because in my area (Middleburg, west of Jax) gardeners tell me we get some freezing weather in Dec and / or Jan. My ficus is 6' tall but the pot sits on a tray with wheels so i can move it easily in and out even if it's for a day or two.

Yes, wheels are the best. I have all mine on trays with wheels. I left mine out and actually have two growing in the ground outside. Didn't have any problem with the cold hurting them.

Jane

You can always wheel it into the garage just for the few days you are concerned. I have had to bring in a few plants and occasionally brought roaches in. I started keeping the plants in the garage. I also got frost cloth to throw over things.

Yeah, you're really practically in zone 8 up there. In most of zone 9 ficus isn't a big problem, but you may get some sustained cold that far north.

Do you have a garage or someplace like that that you could use at need? I'm not sure there's any way to be sure you're totally free of creepy crawlies when bringing outdoor plants into the house in FL.

I brought some houseplants into our house during an expected freeze last winter (Sarasota co.) and the next morning we had thousands of teeny-tiny ants crawling around on the walls and ceiling! So be very careful!
Marcia

I used to live in Jax and you will definitely have to bring it in. When we lived there we had too many freezes to bring plants in and out all winter. I use a bucket or tub filled with plain water and soak my pots in it until the water is over the top of the soil. I leave them until all or at least most of the bugs come out. I don't know what could be added to the water that would be more effective.

No, roaches in the soil is not a valid concern. They may be in the mulch but they do not burrow. Just rake the mulch out when you bring them in.

Papa Jim

Thx everyone for the advice. Because I'm also fighting the dreaded scale on some of my house plants (2 years!) and absolutely nothing has eradicated it I finally went for the big guns and used Bayer advanced tree and shrub on everything. That was Sunday. So far so good. BTW my pest control guy who comes out to spray for roaches said that he HAS seen them come out of the soil and that they can live without a head for several days. Arghhh!!!