How to Take Houseplants Outdoors

Acclimating Houseplants to the Outdoors

1. Make sure that the outdoor location you choose for your plant meets the plant’s requirements in terms of light, temperature, humidity, and air circulation. If your local environment or the particulars of your yard or patio don’t meet a specific plant’s needs, don’t bring the plant outside.
2. Don’t take your plants outside until overnight temperatures are considerably above freezing. Temperatures of 50–60°F (10–16°C) are typically safe.
3. Make the transition gently. Even plants well suited to your local spring and summer environment can be shocked and damaged by the move outside. Prevent shocking your plant by moving it first to a shady spot outside and then gradually exposing it to more light each day until it’s adapted to a location that meets its ideal light requirements.

Additional Precautions

• Beware of rain and wind: Plants that aren’t suited to moist or cool conditions should be brought inside during rainy or windy weather.
• Drain saucers: To prevent insect infestations and root rot, drain all standing water away from your plants on a regular basis.
• Avoid soil contact: Neither your plants nor any of their containers should have direct contact with any outdoor soil from your yard or garden. Contact with outdoor soil may introduce insects or other pests that could harm your plants.
• Adjust your watering schedule: Since plants often grow faster outdoors, they tend to need more frequent watering. At the same time, keep in mind that your plants will receive some natural water from rainfall, so be careful not to overwater.
• Be sure to inspect plants for insects or disease and take care of any problems before bringing plants back inside for the winter.