When to Put Plants Outside in Spring

Are you totally lost when it comes to plant care? Confused by all the rampant plant-loving vloggers and bloggers out there and don't know who to trust? Allow me to be your guide and lead you to become the mightiest plant overlord the universe has ever seen! Or at the very least you will have one heck of a green thumb and Pothos coming out of your pores by the time we're through.
 

Although we call them “houseplants,” we may sometimes forget that these are living beings that have evolved over eons to thrive outdoors. Plants are a beautiful addition to any indoor space but keeping them healthy and happy is key. With that being said, this post is focused on how and when to put plants outside in Spring.

So, my soul would wither up and die if I couldn’t be surrounded by plants in my home and office. They give me life. However, when houseplants are indoors you have to keep in mind how the particular plant would grow in nature. The absolute best thing that you could do for your houseplants is to move them outside when Spring hits. While indoors, stale, dry air from forced air heating systems will wreak havoc on our little leafy friends. I have a decorative humidity gauge in my kitchen so I can keep an eye on the moisture level in the air. However, where I live, lack of humidity is NOT a problem in the summer months. Placing your plants outdoors can greatly benefit your plant’s growth. Plants that have never done much for you indoors often take off and grow exponentially after a few months outdoors.

Hardening Off Your Plants

Hardening off plants is a very important concept, otherwise, you can quickly injure your plants. What does “Hardening off Plants” mean, you ask? Simply put, this means a gradual transition for tender plants to acclimate outdoors. With this slow and gradual process, on the first day, you put the plant outside for an hour with protection from wind and rain. As the days go by, you leave the plant out for a bit longer each day and let it experience more elements. Whether you are moving your vegetable or flower seedlings that you grew indoors, or you are just relocating your houseplants for the season, the process is the same.

Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as just moving your houseplants outside. Almost, but not quite. There are a couple of things that you need to remember when you move your houseplants outside:

Tropical plants don’t do cold weather. They just don't. Some are surprisingly tolerant but for me, it's not worth the risk. As a general rule, wait until the nighttime temperatures are at a consistent minimum of 50F (10C).

Unless you like crispy plants, don't move your plants into a full sun area, initially.  When you move your plants outdoors, do NOT put them in the sun. EVEN IF THEY ARE PLANTS THAT NEED DIRECT SUN! Even if your plant grew in a sunny window indoors, the intensity of the light outdoors is much greater. Your plant will need a period of hardening off before you can place it into full sun, that is if your particular plant even likes to be in full sun.

So, when you take your plant outside, place your plant in COMPLETE shade and let it stay there for a few days before changing locations gradually into more light if needed.  If you don’t harden your plant off, the leaves will quickly burn. Try and place your houseplants in a sheltered area outdoors that is protected from the wind.  I’ve had plants blown over and have had the pots broken or plants themselves damaged. I like to push the limits sometimes, but if you choose to do so, monitor your plants closely.  

Look for signs of stress. For example,

• Wilting: The most visible sign, where leaves droop due to lack of water from excessive evaporation. 
   
• Leaf rolling or cupping: Leaves curl inwards to minimize water loss. 
   
• Brown or scorched leaf edges: Dry, brown edges on leaves indicating sunburn. 
   
• Blossom and fruit drop: Plants may drop flowers and fruits to conserve energy in extreme heat. 
   
• Yellowing leaves: Leaves may turn yellow due to stress and dehydration.
   
• Leaf drop: Plants may shed leaves to reduce water loss.
   
• Stunted growth: Heat stress can hinder plant growth and development.

If you're concerned about pests there are steps you can take to prevent and deal with pests when bringing plants back indoors. I'll cover that in another post.

Why Your Houseplant Will Thrive Outside

There are so many reasons that your houseplants will thrive outdoors. Rainwater is almost always preferable over tap water.  Some plants are sensitive to the additives in tap water. Also, rainwater seems to perform miracles because it contains nitrogen and your houseplant will respond like, "Mmmm, that's the good stuff". Rain will also wash away any dust that has accumulated on the leaves while indoors.  It’s like giving your body a good 'scrub-n-polish' with a great exfoliator. Except it’s not just for the looks. Plants will be able to photosynthesize more efficiently if their leaves are clean. The humidity and air circulation outdoors will give your tropicals what they need to thrive. Also, the wind will make the plants sturdier and stronger.  
 

Houseplant Care Outdoors

Your houseplant will probably require more frequent watering outdoors. Warmer temperatures and air circulation will dry out the soil much more quickly. Make sure you fertilize your plants in the summer because they will be rapidly growing. You may want to repot your plant when you move it outside.  It’s so much easier to perform this task outdoors. Remember that in nature, the soil is constantly replenishing itself with organic matter, so give your plant extra care and repot it every so often or at least top it off with some fresh soil. I move as many of my houseplants as I can outside.  Of course, I leave a few indoors so that the house doesn’t look barren, but your plants will thank and reward you after a nice long summer outdoors!