Know when and how to transition your indoor plants to the garden for better health and performance
Nothing will do most houseplants better than spend a summer holiday outdoors . Many of us feign that the word “ house ” in houseplants means that these are plants that opt to remain inwardly . But spending a few months out under a tree diagram , love the ardent rain and summertime breeze , can refresh and regenerate even the ailing of houseplants .
When is it safe to move potted plants outside?
Most houseplants are native to tropical climates or live comeuppance , so it is in effect to wait later than you might think . In the Northeast , go stable weather is challenging , as we all know . A few days of unseasonably warm 80 ° or 90 ° F weather condition in spring can quickly shift to 40 ° or 50 ° F , but by mid - June everything has settled down , and temperatures have become more static .
Sun safety applies to plants too
Just as we can get sunburned , plants can too . The light caliber inside of our nursing home is far weaker than the light caliber outdoors , and plants need to transition to higher light levels . Remember that even a cactus can get sunburned , and such impairment is often fatal for many indoor plant . June may be the safe fourth dimension temperature - smart to move plants outdoors , but it is also close to the summer solstice — when the Sunday is close-fitting to the earth . Even sunshine - loving plant life will need to spend a few weeks under a tree diagram or on the shadowed side of your house at first until they get down forming new leaves .
Remove drainage trays
out of doors , plants wo n’t need any drainage trays , and a plant life with a fix drainage tray should be repot for the summer into a pot that drains . Heavy rains will pool in drainage trays , make roots to decompose and creating a breeding ground for mosquito .
It’s time to repot and revitalize
Summer is a great time to repot most houseplants into impertinent potting intermixture . Most potting mixture are peat- or coir - based and become too acidic over time , peculiarly if you fertilize . This is the good time to repot citrus Tree or plants that are too large to repot on the kitchen tabular array .
Water regularly
Potted industrial plant that are outdoors demand much more water than when they are indoors . Summer conditions dry out out territory quicker , so water outside potted works regularly is of the essence , and watering every day is not unusual . Shade - love tropicals like philodendron ( Philodendronspp . and cvs . , Zones 9–11 ) , clivia ( Cliviaspp . and cvs . , Zones 9–11 ) , and understory jungle plants must remain in deep wraith or dappled sunlight but may still dry out during heat spells .
Not all houseplants like the outdoors
Most houseplant fly high with a summertime outdoors , but take aid with dead on target cacti ( those with sticker ) , because they can become sunburnt if introduced to sun too chop-chop . Cacti can tolerate a summertime out of doors if the soil mix is quick - draining and if their pots have adequate drainage hole .
Not all succulents want full sun
Most succulent prosper with a summer outdoors , but not all can handle the harsh conditions . While a Christmas cactus ( Schlumbergeraspp . and cvs . , Zones 10–12 ) will delight a shady spot under a tree , a hoya ( Hoyaspp . and cvs . , zone 8–11 ) or most hanging - field goal succulent might do well on a protected fly-by-night porch . Large specimen flora such as houseplant American aloe ( Agavespp . and cvs . , Zones 9–11 ) or yuccas ( Yuccaspp . and cvs . , Zones 8–11 ) will thank you with band of tidy growth if set outdoors .
Some plants are just better inside
African violets ( Steptocarpussect.saintpaulia , Zones 11–12 ) and other fuzzy - leaved plants are more sensitive to bright light and rain . They are best kept on a northerly windowsill or out in a screenhouse , where their leafage wo n’t get cockeyed or burned by sunlight .
There are many benefits to moving plants outdoors
One of the keen benefit of move plants out of doors is cut insect price or infestation , as both granular bug and spider tinge hate wet , humid conditions . Additionally , all plant life respond positively to the natural photoperiod ( without the complexities of contrived indoor lighting ) . You may find your clivia and Christmas cactus suddenly flower on schedule as a bonus . A citrus tree will metamorphose from a microbe trap into a lush , glossy immature shrub when place alfresco , often with new flowers forming . Gardenias ( Gardeniaspp . and cvs . , zone 8–11 ) will reward you with summertime blooms in August .
Bring plants indoors before it’s too late
As dark begin to get parky in mid - September in the Northeast , it ’s time to groom industrial plant for their winter home indoors . rustle pots and typeset them on a punishing surface like a deck of cards or take the air , and strip the pots well . Refresh or top - dress the filth for the last time , and keep an heart on the atmospheric condition — night temperatures below 50º F can be harmful to many tropic plants .
— Matt Mattus is the author of two books : get the hang the Art of Flower GardeningandMastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening . He garden in Worcester , Massachusetts .
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Many Northeasterners are anxious to put their houseplants outdoors in May, but you may want to wait a little longer.Photo: Matt Mattus
Place your houseplants where they can drain freely without a tray so that water buildup does not cause root rot.Photo: Matt Mattus
Contrary to popular belief, even orchids can go outdoors after mid-June if placed in a shady, protected location with good drainage.Photo: Matt Mattus
Citrus plants especially thrive outdoors and may start to flower and fruit quickly.Photo: Matt Mattus
