Transitioning your Houseplants Outside

It's feeling like summer folks! Not only are the kids and the pets happy to get more outside time, but your other living companions are too; your houseplants!

In the cold months, houseplants bring some of that "outside in," helping to purify our air and add some whimsical fun foliage or bright flowers to our homes. But remember, most houseplants are plain ol' perennials in warmer, more tropical climates. 

By creating a safe space for your houseplants to bask in the summer sun, sway in the breeze, and drink up on nitrogen-rich rain water, you can experience leaf growth & flowering that you've never seen before! The key to this is doing a proper transition, and a safe space for your green friends outside. 

Transitioning outside

1. It's a good idea to look up your species and varieties of houseplants to see which ones would thrive outside, versus ones that are just fine inside year-round. 
2. Make sure your plants' pots have drainage holes. If not, they'll be slogged with spring rain and are susceptible to getting root rot.
3. In the springtime or early summer, you can begin by moving your plant outside on days above 65 degrees. Rain or shine.
4. For the first week or two, avoid direct sunlight. Dappled or indirect sunlight is just fine.  Too much sun too fast, and they'll get a sunburn just like us.. except theirs doesn't heal as nicely. Take your plants in at night.
5. If weather is inclement and you wouldn't leave your pet outside, bring your houseplants inside too. 
6. Once your plants are acclimated and nights are consistently above 55 degrees, you can leave them outside all day and all night. 

Creating a safe space for your plants outside

• 

  To the right of the picture, you can see a monstera
  and a rubber plant protected underneath the shade of my
  Bat Plant. The Bat Plant can hang with the blazing
  afternoon sun, but my houseplants were
  happy with just the dappled light.

  Look up your species and variety of plant/s to see their sun criteria; partial, full, or shade. 
  
• Avoid areas with excessive wind, direct afternoon sun (facing west), or potential for animal disturbance or intense rainfall.
• Make sure your location is easy to water with a hose or watering can. Because your plants will be outside, they will dry out quicker requiring more frequent waterings.
• Once they are settled in, you'll maximize the benefits by fertilizing your plant/s. Once at the beginning of the summer will feed them for the growing season, but more frequent feedings will really help your plants thrive. 
• Have a plan of action in the case of inclement weather that could damage your houseplants.
• Pro tip: layer your smaller or shade-tolerant plants underneath the leaves of your larger, sun-loving plants. This can mimic a natural-layered environment that looks just darling. 

And that's all to it! Bringing your plants back in for the winter has its own quirks, so watch out for that post later this year. Have any questions? Stop by Sunshine Garden Center in Diamond Wednesday- Saturday 10am-5pm, or Sunday 10am-2pm.