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Houseplants are a wonderful way to bring a little green
inside during a cold, gray winter. But have you ever considered giving
your plants a little vacation from the indoors? You can have some fun
creating outdoor containers with a tropical flair during the warm, sunny
months using some of your favorite houseplants.
Bromeliads, Dracaenas and Chinese Evergreen are all plants that
typically grow in the tropics. Get a little creative and add them to an
outdoor container during the summer with flowering annuals to get a whole
new look.
A few tips and tricks for transitioning your houseplants
outdoors:
- Wait until overnight temperatures are above 55 degrees to start
the move, this typically occurs from early to
mid-May.
- Indoor light levels are low even in the brightest window but
direct sunlight can damage your plant if you don’t transition them
slowly. Gradually introduce sun loving houseplants to the outdoors by
providing shade from mid afternoon into evening. Low light plants
should be gradually moved to a site that is shady or only receives morning
sun.
- Outdoor living dries out your plants faster than indoor living, so
your plants will need to be watered more often. The same is true of
fertilizing. It’s best to use a water soluble fertilizer every
two weeks to keep your plants looking great.
- In early September, gradually reverse the process by moving your
plants back into a shady spot. It’s a good idea to clean the plants
with a mild soapy solution to keep insects from moving indoors.
Insecticidal soap, systemic or sprays can also be applied as a
preventative measure.
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