Moving your indoor plants outside in the summer will enhance their health and attractiveness.
The majority of indoor plants survive in outdoor environments, however it’s preferable to keep delicate tropical plants indoors, including moth orchids and African violets. Rain will remove collected dust, and brighter light encourages healthy development.
Your plants will suffer if you take them outside all at once, even though they are already used to shade and warm weather, so acclimate them first.
Ponytail Palms (Beaucarnea recurvata)
Ponytail palms can be cultivated outdoors in either oblique or direct sunlight, and they prefer for their soil to become completely dry in between waterings. This plant should be moved outside gradually because being exposed to direct heat from indoors will shock it. This plant will adore soaking up the summer sun once it is outside. Purchase a Ponytail Palm HERE.
How can a houseplant be transported outside?
Seven Pointers For Moving Indoor Plants Outside
- progressively lengthen your outside time.
- Plants should be started in shade.
- Defend against the wind.
- Avoid driving rain.
- Water that adjusts to the weather.
- Regularly check and treat for pests.
- Feed to promote growth.
Can houseplants be grown outdoors?
The Definitive Guide to Outdoor Potted Plant Growing To appreciate the beauty of flowers, plants, and greens, you don’t need a large yard or a lavish garden. Even if your garden space is confined to a patio, balcony, or porch, potted plants can bring you delight and the benefits of gardening.
How long should indoor plants be left outside?
To make the most of the rain, it makes sense to move indoor plants outside, but there are certain hazards to watch out for. Creative Commons license for the image
In San Diego County, we don’t ask that question very frequently. But now is a good moment to investigate this query because a pleasant rainstorm is expected to last the entire day. Why wouldn’t we want to use the rainfall to our advantage to conserve water and give our interior house plants a healthy drink and a pleasant shower?
Doesn’t it seem obvious what the solution is? Although it is generally a good idea, there are some dangers you should be aware of and steer clear of.
Good Reasons to Let Nature Water Your House Plants
There are various advantages to having rain fall straight from the skies to irrigate your plants. The first benefit is that it gives your plants a wonderful bath, which they undoubtedly need. Dust and any other dirt or debris that may be on your leaves are helped to wash off by rain. Be careful not to leave any indoor plants with delicate leaves outside during a rare downpour.
The salts and other minerals in your tap water that are still in the soil of your plants are dissolved by rainwater. Water in San Diego County is very hard, which means that it has a lot of dissolved minerals in it, particularly calcium and magnesium. Have you seen the white, crusty buildup on the fixtures in your kitchen and bathroom? Does it seem difficult to make your soap or shampoo lather up nicely? These are the results of the hard water’s mineral content.
People’s health is not in danger from hard water. But because of the buildup of calcium carbonate and salt from hard water, the soil (or roots) will eventually start to reject water. Rainwater is naturally “soft and can assist in removing these minerals from the soil in the container of your house plant. A regular leaching is beneficial.
Additionally, rainwater will clean the stomata, or breathing pores, on the leaves of your plant, enhancing its capacity to absorb carbon dioxide and nutrients for photosynthesis. It will grow better and be healthier. This also applies to your outside garden. Have you noticed how well your outdoor plants are now growing as a result of some recent, sporadic rain in San Diego?
Eww! Before bringing your indoor plants back inside, inspect them for hitchhikers. Imagination: Eriger/Creative Commons
Avoid These Hazards When Putting House Plants Out In The Rain
When you start bringing all of your indoor plants outside, there are a few things to keep in mind. Do they really need to be watered? The majority of indoor plants thrive when given a consistent wet and dry cycle, with some time between waterings to allow the soil to partially dry out.
However, even if the soil is already moist, home plants can generally handle being repeatedly saturated with precipitation. Compared to tap water, rainwater has more oxygen. You could believe that because they were left outside in the rain, your plants are seriously wet. The oxygen in rainfall allows you a margin of safety when the soil is wet after a downpour, even though there is a serious risk from using too much tap water.
Rain may be very cold, even in our moderate environment. It’s far cooler than your indoor plants are used to. Your indoor plants shouldn’t be left outside for too long, especially during the chilly evening hours. Temperatures can quickly fall into the 40s and frost range in our inland valleys. Only during the warmer months should you leave them outside overnight; otherwise, bring them inside before you go to bed.
Only the appropriate potting soil needs to be added to your plant containers. Picture: Creative Commons License, SweetLouise
Rain frequently coexists with wind. Your indoor plants may be knocked over, and huge leaves may be harmed. Your houseplants are not naturally wind-tolerant. If one of your more expensive, finer containers blows over and smashes, you won’t be thrilled. Find a covered spot, or gather the rainwater in a bucket and use it to water plants indoors.
Before the cloud cover clears after the rain, you must bring the plant back inside. Your indoor plants will be burned by direct sunlight, and leaves may suffer from searing damage.
Check all of your plants quickly for any hitchhikers, such as slugs, snails, caterpillars, or other pests. They can spread infection to your home’s other plants very quickly. It shouldn’t be a major issue as long as you don’t keep your plants outside for longer than a day or two.
When your indoor plants are outdoors, keep them out of the reach of children and animals, especially if they have leaves that could be harmful or irritant. Plants, animals, and toddlers typically get along poorly.
When you can, give your indoor plants a great sip of rainfall. They’ll give you good health as payment! Image by PeterFacebook/Creative Commons
Put indoor plants with fuzzy leaves inside and keep them out of the rain. They dislike it when the rain falls straight on them. A good example is African violets, yet there are some African violet specialists who believe this is acceptable.
Enjoy our unusual rain. Let us take care of your plants if the Good Earth Plant Company has piqued your curiosity in adding more indoor plants without the hassle or time commitment of caring for them. Your house or place of business could become a cheerful green space thanks to us! Plants improve people’s quality of life.
Is it safe to leave my indoor plants outside in the rain?
Why not let your plants outside in the rain since all plants need to be watered? You might think it’s a fantastic idea, especially since your plants could use a good watering. Your houseplants, however, are used to being loved and safeguarded, but the outside climate might be harsh. So, should you leave indoor plants outside in the rain?
Yes! Your indoor plants should occasionally be exposed to rain. Rainwater’s higher oxygen concentration can even prevent your indoor plants from drowning. But be ready for potentially windy conditions, low temperatures, and sudden downpours.
Although the rain might be quite useful, if you’re not careful, it can also harm your indoor plants. Once you’ve finished reading, you’ll understand how much is too much and when to bring your indoor plants back inside.
Can indoor plants be placed outside in the summer?
Even next to the brightest window inside, the sunshine your plants receive outside is more brighter and stronger. Giving indoor plants some shade before taking them outside for the summer is crucial. Plants should not be placed in direct sunlight too quickly after being moved outside to avoid sunburning the leaves. The substance that makes leaves green, cholorophyll, is actually bleached by the strong sunshine, causing leaves to acquire white blotches that typically dry up and die.
Some plants, like a tropical hibiscus or mandevilla vine, must first become accustomed to life outside before they can flourish outside. For a week or two, start them in a shaded area and gradually move them into more sunlight. Other plants, such as philodendrons, palms, and orchids, do best outdoors in a brilliantly lighted area away from direct sunlight. Ideal conditions can be found on a sun-drenched porch, in the shade of a pergola, or on an elevated deck.
In the summer, keep in mind that the sun’s strongest rays hit the ground between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Attempt to shield your indoor plants from the sun during this time.
Bromeliads And Silver Palm
Try grouping indoor plants with comparable growing requirements into larger pots to create a garden display when bringing them outside for the summer. A pot of gold-leafed bromeliads, a duet of bromeliads and silver palms, and a Xanadu philodendron bordered in silver satin pothos are among the plants in these container gardens.
How much cold can indoor plants withstand?
The easiest time of year to kill a houseplant is definitely during the winter. Houseplants are put to the test by harsh growing conditions like low light levels, dry air, shorter days, and frigid temperatures.
Making care routine adjustments to accommodate seasonal growing circumstances is the key to ensuring that plants survive the winter. Review the fundamentals to provide your indoor plants with the best care during winter.
Winter causes the sun to set later in the day, which results in a 50% reduction in light levels near windows. During the winter, indoor plants that thrive near a sunny eastern or northern window during the summer may require a southern or western exposure. Similarly, plants near windows in the west or south that require filtered light in the summer might be able to endure direct sunlight in the winter.
To aid plants in adjusting to shifting light conditions:
- If it’s possible, move plants nearer to the windows.
- Window cleaning will maximize light transmission.
- For the winter, move plants to new areas next to windows with more light.
- Cleanse plants to allow leaves to utilize the light that is available to the fullest.
- Add synthetic lighting. Fluorescent lights are sufficient. They generate less heat and are less expensive than conventional grow lights. For best results, place bulbs 4–12 inches away from plants.
Tropical plants, which make up the majority of indoor plants, like daytime temperatures of 65 to 75 F and nighttime temperatures of around 10 F lower. Low temperatures (below 50F) can be problematic for many plants.
In order to make the thermostats more comfortable for you, keep in mind that your plants also require some thought.
- Keep plants away from heat sources and cold gusts.
- Maintain a few inches of space between plants and external windows.
- Plants should be moved away from windows at nightfall in cold climates if windows freeze over at night. Additionally, you may tuck a thick shade or another insulating item between the plants and the glass.
In the cold, homes might only provide 5–10% relative humidity. Houseplants prefer 40–50%. Brown leaf tips and the presence of pests like Spider Mites are indicators that plants are being stressed by low humidity. Learn how to increase the humidity around plants in simple methods.
Overwatering is the most frequent issue that indoor plants encounter throughout the winter. 95% of indoor plants require the soil to almost totally dry out before watering. How do you determine whether plants need water?
- Don’t only test a small area of the soil’s surface. When the root zone is dry, plants require moisture. Insert your finger up to two inches into the ground. Water the soil if it’s dry.
- Pick up the pot. When soil gets dry, it becomes lighter. Lift pots right away after watering to feel the texture of the moist soil.
- Plants won’t need water as frequently if winterized rooms are humidified. Water must be added to dry air.
- The only exceptions to this rule are citrus and ferns in pots, both of which require continually moist soil. If you are uncertain, always do your research.
Never let plants sit in water that gathers in the drainage saucer overnight when you water.
Fertilize plants all winter long in mild climates. Winter fertilization of indoor plants is not recommended in the coldest climates with little natural light. When springtime outside plants begin to grow, fertilizer can be resumed.
In the spring and summer, when most indoor plants are actively growing, is the ideal time to repot them. Potted woody plants that entirely hibernate in the winter are the exception. Transplant those in the early spring before the buds break.
- Numerous advantages of houseplants include bettering indoor air quality and lowering sickness rates.
Violas
It should come as no surprise that violas are the most widely used winter container plant. With the right care, violas can bloom all through the winter and even into the summer. Its flowers, which come in a variety of hues including white, pink, yellow, and red, can undoubtedly make your home seem cheerier even on the darkest of days. Additionally, violas are edible; you may use them as a culinary garnish or as sweets to decorate cakes.
Violas don’t require much maintenance. Just keep in mind to give your violas regular waterings and plant them in either full sun or moderate shade.
Pansies
Pansies are remarkable winter plants because they can withstand bitter cold and flourish vigorously once summer returns. Its “smile face flowers” are colorful and fragrant, and they may bring a lot of happiness into your area.
Pansies do well in regular potting soil with a small amount of all-purpose fertilizer. To encourage the growth of new blooms, fading flowers must be deadheaded and exposed to sunlight.
Top advice: Underwatering is one of the most frequent issues with pansies. Therefore, be sure to consistently water your pansies.
Erica carnea
The sun-loving evergreen Erica carnea. This plant is deserving of a “pot in your house since it requires little maintenance, is winter hardy, is disease and pest-free, and produces a profusion of pink and purple flowers in the winter.
Some negligence doesn’t bother Erica Carnea. However, for their blossoms to have a brilliant color, they need some sunlight (6 hours per day).
Best practice: Erica plants need wet, well-drained soil. As a result, wait a little while before watering again.
Gaultheria procumbens
A type of evergreen shrub with dark green, crimson-tinted leaves is called Gaultheria procumbens. Nothing can give off a more festive atmosphere than this winterberry. Truly, the most gorgeous ornaments you can put to your home are its bright red berries. It might create a beautiful adornment for the entrance of your home.
They can withstand drought and don’t require a lot of water. Both complete and partial shade are good for their growth.
Clivia
Popular indoor flowering plants include clivia. Huge, long, thick, dark-green leaves sprout from the bulb. In the late winter, clivia plants produce a cluster of 15 to 20 tiny flowers. It is simple to maintain even if it is fairly expensive—the cost per plant might exceed $20.
Clivia just requires minimal maintenance. Your clivia only needs a small amount of water in the winter to keep its leaf moist. It thrives in any kind of organically rich, well-drained soil.
Hellebores
Few plants can match hellebores in their ability to withstand winter. Even when the ground is covered in snow, hellebores produce nodding, fragrant, long-lasting flowers that bloom in a variety of colors. The serrated, leathery leaves of hellebores have attractive foliage.
Plant hellebores in organic soil that is well-drained. Hellebores dislike a lot of sunlight. They prefer places with filtered sun, dappled light, and shade, but be sure to give them regular waterings.
Best practice: To avoid leaf spot disease, remove old and damaged leaves at the conclusion of the growing season.
Sedum
Sedum comes in a variety of spreading rates, from low to high. The best Sedum kinds for container gardening are creeping and medium. Sedums are primarily planted for their vivid foliage, but they can also produce brief spikes of gorgeous flowers. Sedum is extremely resistant and drought tolerant, just like any other variety of succulent.
The upkeep of Sedum plants is simple. Any type of succulent mix and well-draining soil are acceptable. To keep your plant healthy, make sure your pots contain a drainage hole. The majority of Sedums prefer full or partial sun. Water your Sedums sparingly during the winter to avoid winter rot.
Best practice: Underwatering is more preferable to overwatering for succulents in general.
Boxwood
A boxwood plant in a pot is ideal for the winter. A pot of neatly manicured boxwood shrub is a living sculpture that may provide color to your home all year long. It thrives all year long, through cold winters and scorching summers, and requires almost no maintenance.
When selecting a pot for your boxwood, you should pay close attention. The pot needs to be substantial, tall, and have a decent drainage hole. Boxwoods dislike sitting in soggy roots. Apart from that, boxwood maintenance is simple. Water your boxwood sparingly all year long, and lessen the watering in the winter.
Top tip: To keep your plant warm in the winter, mix some wood chips and leaves into the soil.
ZZ plant
The best plant to grow in pots throughout the winter is a ZZ plant because it is simple to care for, fashionable, and incredibly cold tolerant. You can utilize its oval, glossy, deep green shape as interior décor.
ZZ plants are ideal for any busy owner because they require very little maintenance. In the winter, giving it a monthly watering is plenty to keep it content. You can put the ZZ plant wherever in your home because it prefers low to medium light.
The best advice is to fertilize it once a year with worm compost so that you may enjoy its glossy foliage all year long.
Jade plant
A succulent with robust branches and oval-shaped leaves is the jade plant. It blossoms with white, lightly scented flowers in the late winter. The little Jade plant, which is about 3-6 inches tall, can be positioned on a table or bookshelf anyplace in your home. Since the jade plant is thought to be a lucky plant, many people want to put it in their workspace.
Because the jade plant is succulent, it prefers soil with good drainage. Avoid overwatering them. Root rot and fungus diseases can be brought on by overwatering.
Best practice: Indirect light is ideal for jade plants. Its foliage will burn if it receives too much sunshine.
Lily of the Valley
White flowers in the shape of bells are present on lily of the valley plants. Any room in the house can readily be filled with the smell. It is advised to grow the plant in pots so that you may limit the rhizome expansion and transport the fragrant plant wherever you wish. This plant reaches the list despite appearing little and delicate since it is adaptable and cold-hardy.
The most crucial step, just as with boxwoods, is picking a pot that works for your lily plant. The ideal pot for your lily is one whose depth is greater than its width. Put your pots in a spot with filtered light. early in the morning, water.
To prevent wetting the foliage on Lily of the Valley plants, you should also divert your garden hose to the ground.
Remind yourself to cut the flower stalks off when the petals start to fall off and the flowers turn dry.
Japanese Skimmia
A cold-tolerant evergreen, Japanese Skimmia features glossy leaves all year long, clusters of star-shaped, pink-tinted flowers in the summer, and ornamental red buds or berries in the winter. A nice scent is produced by both the blossoms and the leaves.
Japanese Skimmia is a plant that enjoys the shade. It may readily flourish in both partial and total shade, with morning and dappled afternoon sunlight being preferred. Skimmia grows well in slightly acidic, well-drained soil.
Top tip: Water your Japanese Skimmia frequently and frequently enough to keep the soil consistently moist.
You might need to keep plants that aren’t on this list warm and protected from wind, snow, and frost. Not every plant is as resilient as those on this list! Learn how to protect your prized plants and how to wrap them for the winter.
We hope that this list will be useful to you as you make your winter shopping decisions. The next step is to select stylish, high-quality pots for your loved ones. Make sure to look at our fiberglass containers, which are portable and strong enough for you to relocate your plants wherever you like.
Check out our top landscaping planters for indoor and outdoor gardening excellence if you’re unsure of which pots are best for your plants!