I put a handful (armful?) of my "house plants" in the backyard every summer. It's amazing how much happier they seem once they're outdoors with fresh air and real rain! They do always seem a little sad to come back inside in the fall though.
Glad to hear you’ve had good results! And yes, I guess much in the same way one should harden them off in the spring, one should probably soften(???) them off come autumn.
This has given me an idea. I have house plants in my garden office. But it gets insanely hot in there in the summer and I’m struggling to keep them suitably hydrated. Makes sense to move them outside while it’s warm. Don’t know why I didn’t think of this before. I guess it’s that phrase ‘house plants’! Thanks.
First up, I’d like to point out that I am very jealous of your garden office! Conceptually, at least. And I’m glad that I’ve sparked an idea - I feel silly myself that it hadn’t occurred to me sooner. I hope your plants enjoy their “summer vacation” (as another commenter described it).
We live in a small flat in Berlin, Germany. We have many house plants which actually seem to thrive in the indoor space. Especially our Monstera is non stop growing and found her sweet spot in our bedroom’s window wall. Berlin is very cold and dark in winter and very bright in summer. Our indoor plants become restless when summer comes because the sun hits them too hard (we need to adjust their spots in the flat!). We have small balcony plants and flowers who also do not seem to thrive because the balcony is too exposed to sun, intense summer rain, sudden temperature drops, etc. i am not sure if it’s a good idea to move them outside during summer! Any tips for making house plants outdoor plants when living in the Northern Europe and in a small flat? 😬🫶🏼
Hi Margherita - thanks so much for the thoughtful comment, and for sharing so many specifics about your growing situation. Really helpful! I'm based in London, and so have a similar problem when it comes to light hours; cold dark winters and hot bright summers. Something like a Monstera is very unlikely to thrive year-round on your exposed Berlin balcony, as the climate in which it has evolved is consistently warm and humid, and also densely planted, with protection from the full strength of the sun. The same will be true of many of our traditional house plants. If you want a house plant that can withstand lots of hot, bright summer sun on an exposed balcony, but also then be brought inside over winter, then I'd suggest looking at cacti and succulents, many of which will thrive on all that sunlight, and also be very happy to receive a good drenching from the rain, as long as they're in free-draining soil (so their roots don't sit in soggy soil). Then in winter, you'll just need to place them near one of your brighter windows. I hope that helps!
I regularly migrate “indoor” plants outside for the hottest summer months: mid-June to early Sept. I live and grow in Northwestern Ontario, in a town that lies on the Ontario-Minnesota border. I think of this as a plant vacation from the less-than-stellar conditions that “inside” provides. I’ve managed to convince Boston ferns that they can make it through winter to warm, sun-filled days of summer! Diplodenia, if properly neglected, can survive as well. I’m also thinking that a Christmas cactus might just make it out there.
Hi JoAnne, and thank you so much for the thoughtful comment! I absolutely love the idea of a plant vacation for “indoor” plants. I’m picturing them now wearing little baseball caps and sunglasses and swimwear, enjoying a spot of sunshine before being shuttled back inside. I’ve got a cactus, which is 6ft tall and weighs more than I do - it would LOVE it outside, especially with the heatwave currently hanging over London - but I genuinely don’t think I could get it outside without seriously harming either the cactus or myself!
This article from The Earthworm newsletter by Dan Masoliver offers a refreshing perspective on the concept of "houseplants." It challenges the traditional notion of these plants being confined to the indoors and proposes a more liberating approach: embracing them as potential outdoor companions.
Masoliver argues that the term "houseplant" is misleading. While these plants might not thrive in every indoor environment, their natural habitat is undeniably outside. From desert cacti to rainforest ferns, each plant has evolved under specific outdoor conditions. So, why not give them a chance to experience the elements they were meant for?
The vivid scene Masoliver describes in Northport, Long Island, perfectly exemplifies this idea. Here, "houseplants" like Alocasia and Caladium, typically seen adorning windowsills, flourish outdoors. Bathed in natural sunlight, their vibrant foliage becomes even more stunning.
This observation serves as an inspiration to rethink the way we care for our indoor greenery. Masoliver suggests a simple solution: "harden off" our plants in late spring and introduce them to the outdoors. With proper acclimation, increased sunlight, and adjusted watering, these plants can experience a growth boost and renewed vigor.
The article doesn't just highlight the benefits for the plants; it subtly suggests a parallel for humans as well. Just like plants appreciate a breath of fresh air and the warmth of the sun, we too benefit from spending time outdoors. Bringing our plants outside can become a shared experience, allowing both us and them to soak up the natural world.
The concept of treating "houseplants" as temporary garden additions introduces an interesting cycle. They can flourish outdoors during the summer months and be brought back indoors before the colder temperatures arrive. This not only extends their lifespan but also allows us to appreciate them in a new light throughout the year.
Masoliver's article is a call to action. It encourages us to move beyond the limitations of the "houseplant" label and embrace a more dynamic relationship with our indoor flora. By venturing outdoors with our plants, we can create a more enriching environment for them while experiencing the joys of nature together.
I love putting a handful (or maybe an armful) of my houseplants in the backyard every summer. It's incredible how much happier they are with fresh air and real rain! They always seem a bit sad to come back inside in the fall, though <a href="https://binnybotanics.in/" rel="nofollow">Check Now</a>
Yes I’ve always found that super interesting, and it will no doubt be the subject of another post in the future! I know rhododendrons in particular were popular house plants once upon a time - I don’t have one in the garden so have been tempted for a while to try growing one inside. And thanks for the indirect book tip - I’ll be adding it to my reading list!
I put a handful (armful?) of my "house plants" in the backyard every summer. It's amazing how much happier they seem once they're outdoors with fresh air and real rain! They do always seem a little sad to come back inside in the fall though.
Glad to hear you’ve had good results! And yes, I guess much in the same way one should harden them off in the spring, one should probably soften(???) them off come autumn.
This has given me an idea. I have house plants in my garden office. But it gets insanely hot in there in the summer and I’m struggling to keep them suitably hydrated. Makes sense to move them outside while it’s warm. Don’t know why I didn’t think of this before. I guess it’s that phrase ‘house plants’! Thanks.
First up, I’d like to point out that I am very jealous of your garden office! Conceptually, at least. And I’m glad that I’ve sparked an idea - I feel silly myself that it hadn’t occurred to me sooner. I hope your plants enjoy their “summer vacation” (as another commenter described it).
We live in a small flat in Berlin, Germany. We have many house plants which actually seem to thrive in the indoor space. Especially our Monstera is non stop growing and found her sweet spot in our bedroom’s window wall. Berlin is very cold and dark in winter and very bright in summer. Our indoor plants become restless when summer comes because the sun hits them too hard (we need to adjust their spots in the flat!). We have small balcony plants and flowers who also do not seem to thrive because the balcony is too exposed to sun, intense summer rain, sudden temperature drops, etc. i am not sure if it’s a good idea to move them outside during summer! Any tips for making house plants outdoor plants when living in the Northern Europe and in a small flat? 😬🫶🏼
Hi Margherita - thanks so much for the thoughtful comment, and for sharing so many specifics about your growing situation. Really helpful! I'm based in London, and so have a similar problem when it comes to light hours; cold dark winters and hot bright summers. Something like a Monstera is very unlikely to thrive year-round on your exposed Berlin balcony, as the climate in which it has evolved is consistently warm and humid, and also densely planted, with protection from the full strength of the sun. The same will be true of many of our traditional house plants. If you want a house plant that can withstand lots of hot, bright summer sun on an exposed balcony, but also then be brought inside over winter, then I'd suggest looking at cacti and succulents, many of which will thrive on all that sunlight, and also be very happy to receive a good drenching from the rain, as long as they're in free-draining soil (so their roots don't sit in soggy soil). Then in winter, you'll just need to place them near one of your brighter windows. I hope that helps!
I regularly migrate “indoor” plants outside for the hottest summer months: mid-June to early Sept. I live and grow in Northwestern Ontario, in a town that lies on the Ontario-Minnesota border. I think of this as a plant vacation from the less-than-stellar conditions that “inside” provides. I’ve managed to convince Boston ferns that they can make it through winter to warm, sun-filled days of summer! Diplodenia, if properly neglected, can survive as well. I’m also thinking that a Christmas cactus might just make it out there.
Hi JoAnne, and thank you so much for the thoughtful comment! I absolutely love the idea of a plant vacation for “indoor” plants. I’m picturing them now wearing little baseball caps and sunglasses and swimwear, enjoying a spot of sunshine before being shuttled back inside. I’ve got a cactus, which is 6ft tall and weighs more than I do - it would LOVE it outside, especially with the heatwave currently hanging over London - but I genuinely don’t think I could get it outside without seriously harming either the cactus or myself!
This article from The Earthworm newsletter by Dan Masoliver offers a refreshing perspective on the concept of "houseplants." It challenges the traditional notion of these plants being confined to the indoors and proposes a more liberating approach: embracing them as potential outdoor companions.
Masoliver argues that the term "houseplant" is misleading. While these plants might not thrive in every indoor environment, their natural habitat is undeniably outside. From desert cacti to rainforest ferns, each plant has evolved under specific outdoor conditions. So, why not give them a chance to experience the elements they were meant for?
The vivid scene Masoliver describes in Northport, Long Island, perfectly exemplifies this idea. Here, "houseplants" like Alocasia and Caladium, typically seen adorning windowsills, flourish outdoors. Bathed in natural sunlight, their vibrant foliage becomes even more stunning.
This observation serves as an inspiration to rethink the way we care for our indoor greenery. Masoliver suggests a simple solution: "harden off" our plants in late spring and introduce them to the outdoors. With proper acclimation, increased sunlight, and adjusted watering, these plants can experience a growth boost and renewed vigor.
The article doesn't just highlight the benefits for the plants; it subtly suggests a parallel for humans as well. Just like plants appreciate a breath of fresh air and the warmth of the sun, we too benefit from spending time outdoors. Bringing our plants outside can become a shared experience, allowing both us and them to soak up the natural world.
The concept of treating "houseplants" as temporary garden additions introduces an interesting cycle. They can flourish outdoors during the summer months and be brought back indoors before the colder temperatures arrive. This not only extends their lifespan but also allows us to appreciate them in a new light throughout the year.
Masoliver's article is a call to action. It encourages us to move beyond the limitations of the "houseplant" label and embrace a more dynamic relationship with our indoor flora. By venturing outdoors with our plants, we can create a more enriching environment for them while experiencing the joys of nature together.
I love putting a handful (or maybe an armful) of my houseplants in the backyard every summer. It's incredible how much happier they are with fresh air and real rain! They always seem a bit sad to come back inside in the fall, though <a href="https://binnybotanics.in/" rel="nofollow">Check Now</a>
Yes I’ve always found that super interesting, and it will no doubt be the subject of another post in the future! I know rhododendrons in particular were popular house plants once upon a time - I don’t have one in the garden so have been tempted for a while to try growing one inside. And thanks for the indirect book tip - I’ll be adding it to my reading list!