How to Bring Your Tropical Plants Back Outdoors
Tropical plants are fantastic for brightening up our homes during the dreariest months of winter. But when the temperatures start to rise, they’ll appreciate some time outside to soak up the sun and fresh air! However, you need to be mindful when moving tropical plants from inside to outside—if you do it too suddenly, or when outdoor conditions aren’t favourable, you could end up with some very unhappy houseplants!
Transitioning Your Tropical Plants from Indoors to Outdoors
Tropicals like Palm Plants, Anthuriums, Elephant Ears, Crotons, and other exotic varieties can really benefit from some summer air, but only if you carefully transition them to outside! Plus, they make gorgeous additions to patio seating areas and can make your outdoor living spaces feel more homey.
Here’s how you can make the transition as smooth and stress-free as possible, so your tropicals can reap all the benefits without sustaining any damage.
When Can I Put My Tropical Plants Back Outside?
Most tropical plants won’t tolerate temperatures of 10°C or lower, so you’ll want to wait until it’s warm enough. Usually, by June, the overnight lows in Powell River are less likely to dip below 10°C, so that’s a safe time to keep them outside all day and night. However, temperatures in May are usually pretty comfortable during the day so that you can begin the transition process around that time.
If the weather forecast calls for rain, make sure your plants are in containers with drainage holes. If their pot fills with water and doesn’t dry out, this can create a breeding ground for bad bacteria, which will seriously harm your plants.
Bring Them Outdoors for Short Periods, Gradually Increasing Each Day
Instantly moving your tropical plants from your home’s temperature-controlled, consistent conditions to the breezy, bright, and ever-changing environment of your backyard can really stress them out! To make the transition smooth, bring them out for a couple of hours for the first few days, then gradually increase how long they stay outside. We recommend bringing them inside overnight, especially if we’re still experiencing chilly nights.
Keep in mind that bringing houseplants in and out of the house can introduce pests to your indoor plants. Try to keep your tropicals away from your other houseplants if they’ve recently been outside, and spray the foliage generously with a natural insecticide spray to kill any pests that may be hiding. You can purchase natural insecticides at our garden center or search online for a DIY solution made with natural castile soap or neem oil.
Place Them Somewhere Away from Direct Sunbeams
Tropicals generally don’t like intense, direct sunlight—it will scorch their leaves, turning them brown and crispy! Many of our favourite tropical houseplants, like Monstera Deliciosas and Fiddle Leaf Figs, can burn from direct sunlight because they live underneath leafy jungle canopies in their native habitats.
Lots of sunshine is essential to keep your houseplants happy, but you need to ensure the direct sunbeams aren’t hitting your houseplants’ leaves. Avoid this by placing your tropicals near a North-facing wall, underneath an awning, or somewhere that’s shaded from the bright afternoon sun.
If all this talk of tropicals has you itching to buy some new beauties to add to the collection, Mother Nature has a vast selection of indoor and outdoor tropical plants for sale! Visit us soon to see everything that’s new for spring/summer 2022. Our staff would be happy to provide you with a rundown of the care requirements for your new purchases!