GUIDE
Moving plants indoors/outdoors seasonally
4 steps
How to do it
- 1Move plants outdoors gradually in late spring, starting with a few hours in shade before increasing sun exposure.
- 2Move plants back indoors before nights turn cold in autumn — many tender plants suffer from a chilly night well before an actual frost.
- 3Check thoroughly for hitchhiking pests (aphids, slugs) before bringing a plant back indoors.
- 4Expect some leaf drop after a seasonal move — this is a normal stress response and usually passes with fresh growth.
COMMON MISTAKE
Waiting for the first frost to move plants indoors — cold damage often sets in well before the ground actually frosts.
Plants that use it
Their calendar has a job that points to this guide.
BougainvilleaMayChilli pepperMayGerberaMayLantanaMayPlumbagoMayPonytail palmMayYuccaMayArum lilyJuneCliviaJuneCymbidiumJuneDendrobiumJuneGardeniaJuneHibiscusJuneMandevillaJuneAfrican daisyOctoberChrysanthemumOctoberFuchsiaOctoberKumquatOctoberPelargoniumOctoberAfrican lilyNovemberMaidenhair fernNovember
RELATED GUIDES
Feeding & NPK basicsWatering plants in potsRepotting houseplantsDeadheading