When to Move Houseplants Outdoors

By Kelly Miller

When you move houseplants outdoors for the summer, they’ll thank you. Basking in the summer sun can jumpstart growth and rejuvenate a sleepy plant. But, there are risks. The great outdoors has wind, rain, and pests. Plus, without an acclimation period, outdoor temperatures can shock and damage any plant.

Overall, moving houseplants outdoors is a good idea, as long as you handle the process with care. Here’s all you need to know about when, why, and how to send your houseplants away on a “summer vacation.”

Benefits of Moving Plants Outdoors in Summer

Providing houseplants with enough light is a challenge. The sunniest spots indoors are next to south-facing windows, but that real estate is limited. Plus, even the brightest spot indoors can’t provide nearly as much sunshine as an open area outdoors.

Even shade-tolerant plants should receive a few hours of direct sunlight per day. Indoors, plants often get enough sun to stay alive, but not enough to thrive. When you move houseplants outdoors for the summer, that changes. And those extra hours of direct sunlight make a tremendous difference. Once a plant adjusts to outdoor conditions, its growth speeds up. This may look like a sudden increase in height, bright new foliage, or vibrant blooms.

Moving a plant outdoors is good for its health, and the process is also educational for its owner. When a plant “wakes up” after it’s moved outside, we see it in a new light (pun intended). Then, we gain insights into our plants’ natural life cycles and needs, which helps us improve the year-round care we provide.

When Is it Safe to Put Houseplants Outside?

Once warm spring weather arrives, most houseplants can safely spend their afternoons outdoors. However, as long as the nights are still chilly, it’s best to bring them back inside in the evening. You might also consider bringing your houseplants back inside whenever there’s a risk of extreme weather, such as strong winds, high heat, or heavy rains.

When you move plants in and out of the home, check for pests. Common pests like aphids, scale insects, and spider mites may all take advantage of the situation by hitching a ride into your home. This risk can’t be completely eliminated. But, you can prevent a major infestation by inspecting the plant and briefly wiping down the foliage whenever you bring a plant back inside.

Most plants can be safely left outdoors full-time once nighttime temperatures stop dropping below 50°F (10°C). For more sensitive plants, wait until temperatures stop dropping below 55°F (13°C).

Moving Plants Outdoors: Acclimation and Hardening

Natural, unfiltered outdoor light is significantly stronger than what houseplants are used to. Additionally, temperature fluctuations outdoors are more severe—chilly nights and mornings give way to piping hot afternoons. Indoor plants are used to stable, mild conditions, and the intensity of the great outdoors can shock their systems.

Without a gradual adjustment, houseplants may suffer from burnt foliage or wilting when they’re put outside. Instead of jumpstarting their growth, the move outdoors could result in poor health and even death.

The process of adjusting plants to the outdoors is known as hardening. Hardening occurs when a plant is gradually exposed to fluctuating temperatures, full sun, and wind. In response, the plant grows deeper roots and thicker cell walls. When this process is handled carefully, the plant makes these adjustments without suffering.

To ensure a healthy transition when you move houseplants outdoors, acclimate plants by putting them outside for just a few hours per day. Start with a shady location. Over the course of a few weeks, gradually move them into sunnier areas and leave them outside for longer periods. Many popular tropical foliage plants are understory plants that don’t tolerate full, hot sun so you will want to monitor for signs of sun damage, such as yellowing foliage or leaf drop, until you determine the ideal location for your houseplants. Work the plants up to their ideal light levels, but not beyond.

Should You Repot Before You Move Houseplants Outdoors?

Many houseplants experience growth spurts when they’re moved outdoors in summertime. As a result, they may require repotting.

Plants that are actively growing (or soon will be) can adjust to the stress of moving by extending new root growth that helps them stabilize. Thus, late winter and early spring are ideal times for repotting.

If you have a plant that you expect to outgrow its pot in summer, you could go ahead and repot it beforehand. However, it’s also fine to repot a plant in late summer, following its active growth phase. This would also be a good time to divide the plant if you prefer to keep it contained to a certain size for when it’s returned to its indoor location. Just remember that repotting at the same time you move houseplants outdoors can cause temporary stress, so both processes should be handled with care.

When to Move Houseplants Back Indoors in Autumn

In fall, bring houseplants back inside once nighttime temperatures drop to around 55°F (10°C). If they had a growth spurt and haven’t been repotted yet, then this is a good time to do so. Meanwhile, be sure to inspect each plant thoroughly for bugs and deal with any infestations before bringing a plant inside.

Learn more about bringing plants back indoors in our guide: Tips for Bringing Potted Plants Inside.