What temperature can plants go outside?

Your plants enjoy the warm temperatures and bright days of summer just as much as you do! The answers all your questions about moving your indoor plants outside during the summer months.

Can all plants go outside?

Absolutely, during the warm summer months, all of our indoor foliage plants may be moved outdoors. After all, there is where plants developed! They will surely appreciate the fresh air outside. One of the main things to keep in mind is the intensity of the outdoor sunlight when placing your plants outdoors.

In their native environment, many common houseplants grow along the forest floor in bright, indirect light that’s filtered by the canopy of taller trees above. Plants that appreciate indirect light inside should be replicated outside by avoiding places that get direct sunlight. It’s also critical to acclimatize your plant to its new surroundings.

How do I acclimate a plant to the outdoors?

The process of gradually exposing your plant to a new environment, such as a shift in light intensity or temperature, is known as acclimation. Proper acclimation allows your plant to incrementally adjust to its new home, avoiding undue stress that can halt growth or damage the plant.

Start by putting your plant in a shaded spot outside for an hour or two the first day, gradually increasing the time it spends outside over the following 7-10 days. Most plants can tolerate direct sunlight in the morning, when it is considerably less powerful. If your plant will receive morning sun, begin placing it in the sun for short periods during the morning about five days after you have started the acclimation process. Plants that like indirect light should be sheltered from the sun by 10 a.m. or so.

Even plants that can handle direct sunlight, such as a Bird of Paradise, Sansevieria, Ponytail Palm, and most cacti, need a gradual introduction over a period of at least 10 days. This will help them to adjust to the strength of the full outside sunlight without burned leaves.

When do I know it’s safe to bring my plant outside?

It’s safe to move your plants outside when the outdoor temperatures stay consistently above 50°F. Take note of the weather forecast. If nighttime temperatures are set to fall below 50°F, bring your plants in for the night. As the weather warms up, bring them back outdoors.

If you forget and expose them to lower temps over a brief period of time, they should be alright in the long term! Temperatures below 50°F may stunt their growth for a few weeks, and temperatures below 35° may cause some leaf damage. Most houseplants’ leaves will be entirely destroyed by freezing conditions, but the roots will usually survive if the exposure is brief.

Will I need to water my plant more once it’s outside?

Since there are so many variables at play while your plant is outside, how often you need to water it will become much more variable:
– Temperature, light exposure, and wind: Higher temperatures, light levels, and wind speeds will cause your plant to utilize water faster, meaning you’ll need to water more often. Reduced temperatures, sunshine, and wind will cause the plant to consume less water.
– Humidity: Plants with low humidity need more frequent watering, whereas plants in high humidity require less frequent watering.
– Rainfall: If your plant can get rainwater, you may need to water it less often. A downpour of one inch or more may usually replace a complete soaking. Always check your plant’s soil to be sure it got enough rain, and remove the plant saucer on outdoor plants that receive rain so that excess water can freely drain away.

As you and your plant adjust to a new routine outside, it’s important to keep a close eye on the soil moisture of each plant. We suggest examining the soil on a regular basis until you discover how your plants respond to their new environment and any weather changes.

Do I need to mist my plant when it’s outside?

The need for misting outdoors depends on which region of the US you reside in. Summer humidity levels should be enough for tropical plants in the Southeast, Midwest, Northeast, and along the West Coast. However, if you find yourself in the Southwest or a desert climate, misting your plants often is a good idea. A pebble tray may also be used to increase humidity.

Is it possible for my plant to get a sunburn?

Yes! Even sun-loving plants may burn if they are not adequately acclimated before being transplanted from the bright sunshine of the outdoors. Sunburn may be indicated by bleached foliage, as well as brown striping on the leaves where they were exposed to direct sunlight. Sunburn is seldom fatal. You may remove the diseased leaves and wait for fresh ones to grow. Move your plant to a shadier area and it will bounce back.

What if it rains? Can my plant stay outside?

Absolutely! Particularly under a steady and soft rain. Be mindful of the wind—always secure and protect your plants if the gentle rain turns into an all-out thunderstorm. Severe wind and rain can damage the foliage of your plants if they are not sheltered from the elements by shredding leaves, breaking stems, and even tipping pots onto their sides. If you transfer your plants to a more protective location during a storm, remember where they are after the rain stops and the light returns. Take care to shield the leaves from direct sunlight.

Any other tips?

• While outdoors, inspect the leaves of your plants on a regular basis for pests.
• Fertilize on a regular basis, particularly if there has been a lot of rain. Excessive rain may deplete nutrients from the soil. Plant food will quickly replenish any lost nutrients. Always follow the directions and make sure the soil is wet before adding fertilizer.
• Remove your plants from the saucer before putting them outdoors so that water may flow freely from the bottom of the pot during any rain showers.

Related Questions

• How cold is too cold for plants outside?

  Tender plants will be killed by a light frost of 29° to 32° Fahrenheit. Mild freezing – 25° to 28° Fahrenheit – is quite damaging to most plants. Most plants suffer severe or hard freeze damage when temperatures drop below 25°F.

• Are plants OK outside at 40 degrees?

  Whether or not you can plant annuals in 40-degree Fahrenheit temperatures depends on the type of the annual, on your climate and on whether you have the plants themselves or the seeds to get into the ground. Some annuals need lower temperatures, while others will die if the temperature drops.

• What temp should plants not be outside?

  If you’re wondering when you should bring your plants inside, there’s a simple answer: when nighttime temps exceed 45 degrees (F), it’s time to bring them in.

• At what temp should I bring my plants inside?

  Keep an Eye on Temperature
  You should bring your houseplants indoors before nighttime temperatures fall below 45°F. Any colder, and you’re likely to see damage, especially on tender new leaves and stem tips.