Moving Houseplants Outdoors - Smart?

Many owners of houseplants look forward to the summer time to move their plants outdoors. They enjoy the fact of plants getting better air circulation outside, increased light, more humidity all followed by some good growth and believe it is much better than keeping plants inside all year.

Let me state right off - I am NOT a fan of moving house plants back and forth when the seasons change. The plant goes under lots of stresses. However, some people will move their plants despite my objections.

If you’re going to do it… follow a few guidelines!

• DO NOT move the plants outside too early. Houseplants acclimated to the 72 degree indoor temperatures can get some damage when night temperatures fall into the high 40’s and low 50 degree range.
• DO NOT put the plants in full sun right away. The plants need to move slowly into more light. Find a shady place for the plants to get filtered sun for a few days and SLOWLY give them more filtered light.
• NOT all plants can take full sun, but if the plant can handle or tolerate full sun slowly move the plant into move light over a 10 day to 2 week period of filtered sunlight.
• Once the plant is in high light or full sun, watch the leaves. If the leaves start fading, burn or bleach out, reduce the light by moving the plant back into filtered sun. Give the plant another week in filtered light, then try moving it into more light.

The same process works in reverse when moving houseplants back inside for winter. Move them SLOWLY into reduced light. Good Luck!

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