Have you been thinking about moving your indoor houseplant outside for the spring/summer season? Well, we’ve got you covered with a complete guide on how to acclimate your plant to its new outdoor environment.
There are so many benefits to moving your plant outside, like better lighting, access to natural rainwater, more humidity, and a breeze from the wind! With the help of this guide, you’ll be able to successfully transition your indoor plant to the great outdoors.
But before we do that, we need to make sure we’re bringing them out at the right temperature.
On average, houseplants prefer a temperature range of 65-75 degrees. To be safe, it’s best to wait until it’s consistently at least 68 degrees at night before bringing your tropical plants outside for the summer. While some plants can tolerate temperatures as low as 50 degrees, it’s important to remember that “tolerating” doesn’t mean it’s safe to expose them to those temperatures outside. Anything lower than that can have detrimental effects on your plants.
Consistency is key when it comes to plants. Moving them around too much can cause them to drop leaves and become unhappy. So, wait until the warm weather is here to stay before moving your plant outside for the season.
Step-by-Step Guide on Properly Acclimating Your Plants to Outdoor Environment
Getting your indoor plants used to the outdoors is crucial! It may take some effort to acclimate your plant that has been inside all winter to the outside. The outdoor environment is vastly different from indoors, and your plant may go into shock if you just bring it outside and leave it there for the season. To prevent this, we recommend gradually introducing your plant to the outdoors by bringing it inside towards the evening/night in the beginning. Keep an eye out for any signs of distress during the acclimation process. If you notice any, it may mean that your plant needs a longer acclimation period, so reduce the duration of time it spends outside and increase the time gradually in smaller increments.
Here’s a helpful guide for acclimating your plants during the first seven days:
On Day 1, take your plant outside in the morning or afternoon. Choose a spot that has bright, indirect light and avoid direct sunlight. At night, bring the plant inside and keep it separate from your other plants. Repeat this routine every day to give your plant consistency during a time of change. Plants don’t like being moved around too much, so keeping them in the same spot is best.
On Day 2, put your plant outside at the same time as the previous day and in the same spot. Increase its time outside by an hour or so, but remember to bring it in during the evening. For example, you can keep your plant outside from 7:00am to 2:00pm.
On Day 3, take your plant outside at the same time and place as the previous day. Give it an extra hour or so outside, but remember to bring it back in during the evening. For example, you could keep the plant outside from 7:00am until 4:00pm.
On Day 4, repeat the same process as Day 3. Take the plant outside at the same time and place, and increase its outdoor time by an hour or so. Remember to bring it back inside in the evening. For example, you could keep the plant outside from 7:00am until 6:00pm.
On Day 5, repeat the same process again. Take the plant outside at the same time and place, and give it an extra hour outside. Bring it back inside in the evening. For example, you could keep the plant outside from 7:00am until 7:00pm.
On day 6, it’s time to start increasing the amount of time your plant spends outside. Put it outside at the same time and in the same spot as the previous day, but keep it out for an extra hour or so. Just remember to bring it back inside in the evening. For example, you could keep your plant outside from 7:00am to 8:00pm.
On day 7, you can keep your plant outside all night long! Congratulations, you’ve completed the acclimation period!
Caring for House Plants After Successful Acclimation Outdoors
So, you’ve brought your plants outside – congratulations! Now, the key is to pay attention to what they need. Your plants will let you know if they need something, so be observant.
It’s important to remember that plants need a lot more water when they’re outside than when they’re inside. So, make sure you check your plant’s watering needs more frequently. A moisture meter can be really helpful in guiding you and giving you more confidence in your watering schedule. It’s highly recommended to invest in one.
Also, watch for signs that your plants are getting too much or too little sun. They’ll definitely let you know if they’re not happy with their environment. If you notice any signs of distress, it’s important to act fast to fix the issue. For example, if you see burnt or crispy edges on the leaves, it might mean that your plant is getting too much sunlight. To help your plant stay hydrated on hot days, you can use a mister or even a hose if you have one handy.
Finally, make sure to clean your plants regularly with Leaf Care Spray to prevent pests from making a home on them. This will help keep your plants healthy in the long run.
Tips for Providing Nutrients to Your Plants After Moving Them Outside
Spring and summer are great times to help your plants grow by fertilizing them. But wait! Don’t fertilize right away. Give your plant a couple of weeks to get used to being outside before adding any fertilizer. This will help prevent harm to your plant if it is not thriving yet.
Also, only fertilize a plant that is doing well and growing new leaves. Use a gentle organic fertilizer to avoid burning the roots or the plant itself. We recommend Joyful Dirt fertilizer, which is safe for kids, pets, and the environment. Remember, while it’s never recommended to eat plants, using non-toxic fertilizer can help keep them generally non-toxic.
I hope this step by step guide was helpful! If you have any questions regarding the acclimation process, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Shann Renee 
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