Summering Your Indoor Plants

Plants love long, summer days and warm nights as much as we do… They certainly appreciate a change of scenery after being cooped up inside all winter in–without enough humidity and suffering from cold drafts or blasts of heat from a furnace.

MOVING YOUR PLANTS OUTSIDE…

Before moving your indoor plants this spring, you must acclimate them to the outdoor environment. You can begin when the outside temperatures remain 50 degrees or above. Make it a gradual move. Start by placing them outdoors in a shady area for an hour or two the first day… increasing the time they spend outdoors over the next 7-10 days. It’s okay for most houseplants to receive direct sun only in the morning, when the sun light is less intense. Begin placing the plant in the morning sun for short periods of time and for about 5 days after you have started the acclimation process. For indoor plants that prefer indirect light, it’s best if they are shaded from the sun by 10 am.

Certain plants that can handle direct sunlight, such as Bird of Paradise, Snake Plant, Ponytail Palm or many cacti also need a gradual introduction to stronger sunlight over a period of at least 10 days. This will allow them to get used to the intensity of the outdoor sun… without experiencing scorched foliage.

Even as your plant adjusts to brighter light, (usually, a shady spot outdoors is equal to the sunniest spot inside), you are introducing it to a more extreme environment with wind, rainfall and temperature fluctuation. Monitor these conditions below when looking for the best outdoor place for your plant:

• Wind: Place plant in a well-protected area where wind won’t topple it or tear its leaves or branches.
• Water: Gentle, deep watering is best for plants, so avoid placing them under rain gutters or in low areas. Too much water at once could damage leaves or spill potting mix. The best time of day to water plants in in the early morning. Watering later in the heat of the day increases evaporation, and evening watering can encourage fungal growth.
• Temperatures: When temps dip below 50 degrees,  plants’ growth might be stunted for a few weeks. When temperatures drop below 35 degrees leaf damage might occur. Freezing temperatures will kill the foliage of most houseplants completely, but the roots typically survive if only a short exposure. Even if the plant survives, their appearance and health become questionable. 

KEEP CHECKING THE SUN EXPOSURE: 

Shade or filtered light is best for most indoor plants. (Cacti excluded.) If direct sunlight is too intense, be vigilant and move plants to a shadier spot. Also, rotate your plants so that they get equal amounts of sun on each side and grow evenly.

REPOT PLANTS:

In the shade, repot plant into a slightly larger container, if plant growth has slowed down or is rootbound. Generally, the growing season is spring/summer… when sunlight and warm temperatures are plentiful. A larger container will give the roots more room to grow and will hold more moisture. Add fresh potting mix and make sure the container and potting mix offers good drainage. Top off the container with mulch or pebbles to conserve moisture. Wind can quickly dry out the soil.

KEEP PLANTS HYDRATED:

Check each individual plant daily to make sure it’s getting proper amount of water on a consistent basis. You can’t always depend on the rainfall. Other factors like wind and number of sunny days will affect the amount of water your plant demands. Obvious signs that your plant needs more water: Wilted, brown/yellow discoloration or curling leaves and dry soil.

FEED YOUR PLANTS:

For the best growth and long term health of your  plants, you need to feed them during their growing season in spring and summer. Research the best combination of fertilizers by a NPK ratio (N-Nitrogen, P-Phosphorous, K-Potassium) for each particular plant. A basic combination for most houseplants is 10-15-10.

PRODUCTS WE CARRY:

‘Protect’ with Neem Oil… for lush, shiny and well-protected leaves.

Arber Bio Protectant… boosts plants’ defenses, immunity and improves plant health.

POTTING MIX:

Black Gold Natural & Organic, Succulent & Cactus, African Violet. Organic mixes: for general houseplants, succulents & African violets; Better-Gro Orchid Potting Mix; Sol Soils

PLANT FOOD: Espoma Natural & Organic Fertilizer; Schultz Plant Food; Jack’s Classic Houseplant Special; Better-Gro Orchid Better Bloom; Baby Bio Orchid Food; Osmocote Plus Indoor/Outdoor Plant Food

WATER TESTER: Sustee Aquameter Moisture Sensors… available in many sizes