What to consider before moving your indoor plants out in the summer

Not only do you love the cool summers and sunny days of summer - your plants love it too! The plant mother answers all your questions about moving your indoor plants outdoors during the summer months.

Below are some common plant care questions related to bringing your indoor plants out in the summer.

The plants go out

Yes, all of our indoor evergreen plants can go outside. In fact, they absolutely love the fresh outdoor air. The main thing to keep in mind is the intensity of the outdoor sunlight when placing your plants outside.

Just because a plant can go outside, does not mean it can be kept in full sun. It is best to place your plants in areas that reflect the needs of indoor lighting. It is also important to adapt your plant to the outdoor environment.

Get used to a plant outdoors

Start by placing your plant in a shady area for a few hours each day and slowly increase the outdoor time to 7-10 days. After about five days you can expose your plant to morning sunlight. Do not allow your indoor evergreen plants to sit in full sun.

Even plants that can handle high light, such as paradise bird, sansevieria, ponytail palm, and cactus, need at least 10 days in the sun to adapt to the intensity of full outdoor sunlight after indoors.

It is safe to bring my plant out

It is safe to move your plants outside when the outdoor temperature is constantly above 50 degrees. Pay attention to the weather report. If the night temperature is below 50 degrees, bring them in at night. Bring them out again when the temperature rises.

Water once outside the plant

It depends on rain, wind, and humidity. The same principles apply to soil verification, as does soil moisture inside. Place your finger in about 2 ”-3” of soil and if it feels dry, water well, wait a day and check again. You may find that your plant needs more water when you are outside, but this is not always the case. It is important to carefully monitor the plants you have moved outside.

Walk while outdoors?

It depends on what part of the country you live in. In the southeast, midwest, northeast, and west coasts, summer humidity should be sufficient for indoor tropical plants. However, if you find yourself in the southwest or desert climate, it is a good idea to cover your plants frequently. You can use a pebble tray.

Plant to receive a sunlight

Yes! Even plants that like the sun will burn if not properly accustomed or exposed to intense sunlight. Bleached leaves can be exposed to sunlight, as well as brown streaks on leaves that are exposed to direct sunlight. Weil is generally not dangerous. Cut off the affected leaves and wait for new leaves to form. Move your plant to a shady area and it will bounce back.

What if it rains? Can my plant stay outside?

Absolutely! Especially during moderate and steady rains. Be wary of wind - If moderate rain turns to thunder, always protect your plants. If your plants are not protected from the elements, strong winds and rain can damage the leaves. When the rain stops and the sunrise again, remember where your plants are sitting. Be careful to protect the foliage from bright sunlight.

Other tips

Once out, be sure to check the leaves of your plants for any pests.

Fertilize regularly, especially if it rains a little. Excessive rainfall will deplete the soil's nutrients. Plant food replenishes lost nutrients from the soil. Follow the instructions and make sure the soil is always moist before applying any fertilizer.

When you put your plants outside, remove them from the saucer so that water can flow freely from the bottom of the pot when it rains.