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As summer approaches, make plans to give house plants a vacation out-ofdoors, recommended a Virginia Tech Extension home horticulturalist.
"Most house plants seem to benefit from being outside during the warmer months,” said Diane Relf, extension specialist.
The transition from indoors to outdoors should be gradual to avoid problems, she said. Sudden changes in environment can be disastrous to many tropical plants.
Relf recommended waiting at least a full month after the last killing frost before the plants are left out overnight. Some tropical plants can be injured severely if the temperature drops even into the 40’s.
A gradual change in light intensity also is important. House plants can easily be sunburned if exposed to sudden intense light.
"Start by placing the plants under trees and slowly move them to the setting with the optimum light for the particular species,” she said, cautioning that few plants will ever want full, bright sun. However, variegated plants generally require slightly more light than solid green plants of the same species.
After transferring the plants outdoors, Relf warned that it is essential that care be taken to water them properly.
"The plants will be growing much more vigorously and require much more water when indoors,” she said. Hanging baskets especially are prone to water stress.
Most plants also will require more fertilizer when grown out-of-doors. A
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