Can You Put Houseplants Outside

Most indoor plants can be placed outside from May through September. Wait until two to four weeks after the last frost if you want to be safe because timing varies across the nation and from year to year. You could also decide to hold off a little longer if your garden is open to the elements.

Hardening off

Before removing your plants for the summer, gently acclimate them to the chilly temperatures and increasing light intensity outside. For the first one or two weeks, place the plants in a shaded area outside during the day and bring them inside at night.

Where to put them

When house plants are outdoors, they run the risk of scorching, so gradually increase their exposure to light. For shade and pest prevention, you can hang air plants, bromeliads, Christmas cactus, and orchids from a tree.

Summer care

House plants will need regular watering because they dry out quickly outside, so keep an eye on the compost. Watch out for pests like aphids, slugs, snails, and caterpillars as well. When watering, it’s also beneficial to provide a home plant fertilizer on a regular basis.

Returning indoors

Before the first frost, bring your houseplants back inside. Check them first for pests, such as slugs that may be hiding under the pot. Remove any damaged or burned foliage as well as any faded blossoms. Put your plants in a bowl of warm water if they are dry.

When may I move my indoor plants outside?

Your plants enjoy the warm temperatures and sunny days of summer just as much as you do! The Grow-HowTM Team provides all the information you need in regards to bringing your indoor plants outside throughout the summer.

Can all plants go outside?

Yes, during the hot summer months, all of our interior foliage plants can be moved outside. After all, there is where plants originated! They will appreciate breathing in the crisp outdoor air. When putting your plants outside, one of the most important things to consider is the strength of the outdoor sunshine.

Many typical houseplants thrive in bright, indirect light that is filtered by the canopy of taller trees above as they do in their natural habitat along the forest floor. You should avoid placing your plant in regions that receive direct sunlight if the plant you have indoors prefers indirect light. Additionally, it’s crucial to get your plant used to being outdoors.

How do I acclimate a plant to the outdoors?

The process of progressively acclimating your plant to a new environment, such as a change in temperature or light intensity, is known as acclimation. In order to avoid undue stress that can hinder growth or harm the plant, proper acclimation enables your plant to gradually adapt to its new environment.

Start acclimating your plant by putting it in a shaded place outside for an hour or two on the first day, and then gradually increase the amount of time it spends outside over the following seven to ten days. Most plants can tolerate direct sunlight during the morning hours since it is significantly less intense. About five days after you begin the acclimatization process, if your plant will receive morning sun, start putting it in the sun for brief periods of time each morning. It is better if plants with a preference for indirect light are protected from the sun by around 10 a.m.

Even plants that can tolerate direct sunshine, like a Bird of Paradise, Sansevieria, Ponytail Palm, and most cacti, need to be introduced gradually over the course of at least 10 days. This will prevent them from experiencing burnt leaves while they adjust to the strength of the full outdoor sun.

When do I know it’s safe to bring my plant outside?

When the outside temperature remains consistently above 50F, you can bring your plants outside without risk. Pay close attention to the forecast. Bring your plants inside for the night if the temperature is forecast to drop below 50F. When it becomes warmer, put them back outside.

They’ll probably be fine if you forget and expose them to lower temperatures for a brief time. Their growth may be temporarily stunted by temperatures below 50F, and leaf damage may result from temps as low as 35F. Most indoor plants will lose all of their leaves in freezing conditions, but if the exposure was only brief, the roots will usually survive.

Can indoor plants be placed outside in the sunlight?

One of the most important elements causing plant shock is light. In actuality, outdoor sunshine is much more intense than indoor sunlight. Even while most houseplants need enough light, they can be difficult to transition from one extreme to another without the right preparation.

You shouldn’t put any indoor plants in direct sunlight outside in order to ensure a successful transfer and minimal plant stress. Instead, find a spot that is nicely covered, such as your patio or a tree, and let your plants enjoy some fresh air there for a few hours every day. Then gradually relocate them to a location with some sunlight, increase the amount of time they spend outside, and eventually leave them outside all day. The houseplants should be fully accustomed to their outside surroundings after a few weeks and can stay there all summer.

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.

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.

If indoor plants are kept outside, what happens?

You reasoned that since plants originate outside, you should take your indoor plants outside. In any case, your house or apartment is somewhat cramped. They shouldn’t be harmed by it, right? To provide you the solution, we conducted some research.

Can indoor plants be placed outside? The sunlight and fresh air of the outdoors are rather enjoyable for indoor plants, but you can’t just grab your houseplant and transfer it outside at random one day. If not, it will experience shock and may pass away. It’s best to gradually acclimate the plant to its new environment.

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.

Where ought indoor plants to be placed?

Many of us learn how to garden for the first time with houseplants. Potted plants, particularly in colder climates, add color, beauty, and fresh air indoors when chilly temperatures and wintry weather keep us inside. No matter where you reside, the advice below will help you make the most of potted plants in your house.

How Much Light?

How much light a plant will receive where it will be grown should be one of the first factors to be taken into account while choosing and cultivating it. The majority of houseplants require bright, indirect light, such that from an east-facing window. As long as the harsh sun’s rays don’t touch a plant’s leaves directly, especially in the summer, south and west windows also function nicely. African violets and other popular flowering plants need a little bit more light than ferns or ivy that are kept primarily for their leaves. Light offers the extra vitality that flowers need.

The Most Important Requirement: Water

The most crucial—and frequently most difficult—aspect of growing healthy houseplants is watering. Instead of drowning them to the point where their roots can’t breathe, err on the dry side. In the summer, use water more liberally. It’s time to water when the top 1/2 to 1 inch of the pot is dry. Water the plant thoroughly until the water drains out the drainage holes in the container’s bottom.

Don’t Forget Plant Food

Another crucial aspect in developing outstanding houseplants is feeding the plants. Your houseplants’ roots are restricted to a pot, preventing them from foraging for nutrients in the nearby soil. You have the choice. In general, giving your houseplants a weekly or biweekly dose of plant food made specifically for them, like Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food, will result in happy, healthy, long-lived plants that add color and life to your home. The summer is a crucial season to feed indoor plants because this is when they are actively growing and will benefit from the nutrients.

Why does rainwater benefit plants more than tap water?

To collect water and water my indoor plants, I catch it in buckets on my deck. I’ve been doing this for a while, and my houseplants have done great. Could you explain why rainfall is preferable to tap water for plants?

In general, rainwater is far purer than tap, city, or well water. Few salts, minerals, treatment chemicals, or medications, which are frequently found in municipal tap water, are present in rain.

Even though it is generally pure, raindrops may contain airborne particles like pollen or dust. For those of us who grew up during the Cold War, being warned not to consume snow or rain due to the radioactive fallout from above-ground nuclear testing was common knowledge.

Because it contains minerals from the bedrock it originates from, well water can be exceedingly hard. My well water is quite sulfurous and hard. On my plates and in the soil of my indoor plants, it leaves a white residue. My toilet gets rust spots from my water.

When you water your indoor plants with tap water, whether it comes from a municipal or well, salts and pollutants may accumulate in the soil. Softened water shouldn’t be used to water your plants because it contains too much sodium for them. The roots cannot absorb water if the soil is too salty. This may eventually harm the soil and roots of your indoor plants.

Most plants can use tap water that hasn’t been softened. Municipal water that has been fluoridated, however, may result in a buildup of fluoride in the soil, which may eventually damage indoor plants, particularly those with long, narrow leaves, like the spider plant. To allow the fluoride and chlorine gas to evaporate before watering plants, it is helpful to leave chlorinated and/or fluoridated water out overnight at room temperature in an open pitcher.

Can I use bottled water to water my plants?

First things first, tap water can seriously harm your plants’ health and ability to grow large or swiftly. While utilizing bottled spring water to irrigate your outside plants may not be possible, doing so will benefit your indoor plants greatly.

Rainwater and bottled spring water are your finest options for giving your plants the best care possible. They will suffer from any water that contains sugar or salt!