Indoor Plants
Indoor Plants Need A Breath of Fresh Air
Plants are like people, children and animals – they love and thrive outdoors. So after the winter season living indoors in a closed environment acclimating to minimal water and nutrients, dust and pet dander, and overtime stale air; you can bet they also appreciate fresh air and warm summer sun. Of course with all things considered, any sudden change in environment and temperature can send plants into shock. They too are living, and extremes of anything will disrupt their balance and well-being.
It’s wise to consider the perfect time to take them out. Check weather reports to confirm long term temperature forecasts – the highs and lows, and ensure there is no chance of frost. Now you can start to plan ahead to take your indoor plants outside to coincide with your spring cleaning. When the outside temperature starts to equal the temperature indoors, you know the time is ripe for your plants to be safely moved outdoors.
Before you take them out, scan your deck and garden to find a fully sheltered spot for the plants. As the temperature continues to climb, a good spot might be shaded trees once their leaves have come out. Believe it or not full sunshine is initially too strong for these plants and will burn the leaves causing the plant to suffer. It takes time for plants to acclimate to their surroundings and particularly to a scorching sun. Remember, the light they have grown used to in the house is very much diffused light. Find a good sheltered spot out of the way of wind or exposure to heavy rains if in case there is a storm.
Now that you have determined the perfect spot for your plants, you can take them out in the early morning and leave them there for an hour or two; gradually building up the time they stay outside. It might take a couple of weeks before they are fully acclimatized to the stronger light of the sun and ready to move from their sheltered spot. If they are plants that love the full sun make sure they can now tolerate the direct light. If they are not and prefer shade, keep those plants in a spot that is partially shaded and cool for the whole day.
Trim all the dead leaves and foliage ensuring the plants are well watered. Add nutrients to the soil as well as topping up the pot with fresh potting soil for the new growing season. Clean the trays and make sure they are checked regularly to remove stale water that might accumulate in them. Perhaps you can spray or mist the leaves if they need cleaning off from indoor dust.
If the plants suffer a little from going outdoors initially, with good care and attention, they will “come back” after a couple of weeks. It might take a little effort in the beginning however it’s well worth it. You will be rewarded with good strong healthy plants.
