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Moving indoor to outdoor

6 years ago

I live in Massachusetts and want to move my indoor plants outdoors. Need to do it before the A.C. gets cranking. All plants have only lived here a year- have tropicals, air plants, succulents- a giant croton. Indoor begonias that I'm nervous about... help/advice please. I have a VERY sunny southern deck that is covered with a gazebo. Northern front of my house and mega western high afternoon sun.

Featured Answer

goldstar135

6 years ago

One important thing to note when moving plants outside for their summer vacation-if you move them directly into bright sunlight, they will sunburn (due to being inside for all those months). First, move them into an area which receives ambient light from the sky with no direct sunlight. After a week, slowly begin introducing them into brighter light-one hour in bright light, then a couple more the next day, etc. until they are left in brighter light for the entire day.

I would make sure nighttime temps stay consistently above 55*F before keeping them outside 24/7.

I think all of your plants (once acclimated properly) can stay on your sunny southern deck. Not sure about the air plants (tillandsias? I'm assuming?) though.

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Comments (8)

Debra (6a) West Ma.
6 years ago
I'm in Ma. and put more than 1/2 my plants out yesterday on the north side of the house. My hanging pots I hang in trees...
How many can you see?

I Must water them right after I post.
3 hanging pots with Cupheas, Fuschias & a few nasturtium seeds came up.

The 4 at the bottom look the best
A very slow growing Hosta Wu
fam5reid
Original Author
6 years ago
Ok- so the 3rd and 4th photos are facing North? Do they get an direct sun at all?
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Hi Sanjna..how much sun does your fire escape get? If it's direct sun, it might burn..Pothos thrive in medium light, and placing it in direct sun would either burn or fade foliage. Your Pothos has been in the same pot 5-6 yrs? What type of pot is it in? What size? Do you see roots atop the soil or growing out of drainage holes? If you answer yes to the last two questions, then it needs a larger pot. Oh btw, why would you bring the Pothos back indoors at night? If you decide to place it on the fire escape, leave it there 24/7....Warmth during the day and cooler air at night helps plants. BTW, if you dicide to set outside, do so on a cloudy day..Cloudy days = stronger light than what it's used to getting. But wait for a wk where they predict rain and sun is behind clouds..Good luck, Toni
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It looks like it for sure needs new potting medium. I don't think moss is good for most succulents, especially cacti. I can only assume there is potting soil underneath the moss. When you do re-pot it would probably appreciate something more porous. There are more knowledgeable people on here than me on this matter so I will let them suggest a medium and guide you further. ~Erin~
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Diana, I live in Charleston, When the night temps are going to be 38 and above I leave my large Citrus outside,day and night. If it is going below 38 they go into the Greenhouse, I have been doing this pretty much all season, and YES the weather has been CRAZY! I have fruit and flowers on my Calamondin, Meyer Lemon,and Varigated Eureka. I do leave the smaller plants and the Key Lime in the Greenhouse. No problems so far! Darren
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Hey... We move our bin inside and outside every year (5 years running). I can't see what zone you are in, but if there were a way to wait until more critters (like soldier fly larve and such) have hatched and flown the coop, it would be a smoother transition. Also getting rid of mites from your worm bin using the outside sun would be a good indoor move prep. Below is a link for some tips on how to get rid of mites easily. Once inside, keeping a cover over the materials for the first month or so (like coir or chopped newspaper) will help eliminate some of the hitchhikers! Good luck! Here is a link that might be useful: Worm bin troubleshooting for getting your bin ready to move.
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fam5reid
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks! It's going to get into the 40's a couple nights this week so I'll wait
christine 5b
6 years ago
I agree with everything goldstar says, I made the mistake once putting my plants out and the sun fried them to a crisp, now I dont put any of my houseplants in full sun, it dropped down to 38 here last night
Dave
6 years ago
You can put indoor full sun loving plants in full sun if you properly acclimate and have 0 issues.

Just don't put anything like a peace lily in ful sun.

I didn't lose a single leaf off this ficus. Acclimated over about a weeks time from open shade to full direct sun all day long.
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
6 years ago
Goldstar wrote a whole, helpful paragraph about acclimating gradually. Any plant that has been inside all winter can burn without gradual acclimation.
fam5reid
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks everyone!

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