by Theresa Friday
Foliage plants can be beautiful additions to a home or office. The plants that are commonly grown for decorative purposes are usually tropical plants. A tropical plant doesn’t tolerate cold temperatures, so they are happy indoors during the cooler months. But, they would prefer to be outside during warmer weather.
Now that the weather is warm and humid, think about giving your houseplants a break from the stuffy indoors and set them outside during the summer.
According to Dan Gill, LSU AgCenter Horticulturist, moving houseplants outside can be a little tricky. Houseplants become accustomed to lower light conditions while indoors. So never move houseplants from an indoor environment to direct sunlight. Most houseplants aren't prepared to handle the strong rays, and will quickly yellow and wilt. Some will actually get sunburned.
Initially, move houseplants outside to shady locations where they receive no direct sunlight. Plants that like low-light conditions can stay in those locations all summer. Others that prefer more light can gradually be introduced to some direct sun over the next couple of weeks.
Eventually, sun-loving houseplants – like bougainvillea, hibiscus, plumeria, tibouchina, and cactuses– can be placed in locations that get about six hours of direct sun. Be careful, even sun-loving houseplants may burn if put in a sunny location as soon as they come out of the house.
Once outside, most houseplants would enjoy a good rinsing off with the garden hose. You can clean away months of indoor dust by doing this.
Put your houseplants on tables or stands rather than directly on the ground. This will keep pests like slugs and ants from invading through the drainage holes, and it'll make watering a lot easier.
Houseplants that are moved outside will likely need to be watered more frequently than when they were indoors. Air movement, brighter light and faster growth all contribute to faster water use by plants in containers.
Feel the soil often and monitor the soil moisture carefully. Let the soil surface get dry to the touch before watering.
The 'ZZ' plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia), like Aglaonema and Dieffenbachia, is a member of aroid family. Because of its unique appearance, ability to tolerate low light levels and drought, and resistance to diseases and pests, it makes a great houseplant.
Plants moved outside for the summer generally grow vigorously, so if you want to encourage that growth, it’s a good idea to fertilize them. Fertilization is especially important to plants that are growing in soilless potting mixes, are root-bound, or seem pale and lack vigor. It’s generally optional to fertilize plants that appear healthy and vigorous and are already as large as you want them to be.
Houseplants brought outdoors for the summer are much more susceptible to insect problems than those kept indoors. Check plants regularly for signs of infestation such as holes in leaves, wilting, and yellowing. Check under the leaves, the areas where they join the stems, and the soil, and don't forget to check under their pots as well.
In the fall, bring your houseplants indoors before nighttime temperatures dip to 50 degrees F.
When houseplants are brought indoors, be sure to check for unwanted guests--like ants, termites and other pest insects. Soaking the pot in a tub of lukewarm water for about 15 minutes will force insects and other creatures out of the soil. If snails, earthworms or insects burrowed in the soil, you might want to repot the plants, placing a piece of wire screening over the drainage hole to keep them out next year.
So if you have a languishing houseplant, move it outside during the warm summer months. It will usually grow better and more vigorously than if kept inside.
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