Plant FAQs: Which of my Houseplants will Thrive Outside in Summer?
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Lesezeit 8 min
Wanting to bring some greenery outdoors for summer? Find out how with Sprouts!
We all know that our houseplants are best kept inside because of low temperatures in winter, protected from the frosts that tropical plants have not needed to adapt to. But did you know that there can be benefits to bringing your houseplants outside in summer? A taste of rainwater, unfiltered sunlight and the breeze in their foliage can help your plants grow stronger, happier and healthier. The outdoors is, after all, where they are adapted to grow, and it will be much more similar to what they’re used to than inside your home is.
For many houseplants, except those which need very consistent, very warm temperatures, or more specialised care, a summer in your garden or outdoor space can be just what they need. There’s plenty to consider around how, when and whether you move each houseplant, but I’ll break down the basics here to help you work out whether this is right for you and your plants - and getting those houseplants booked in for their summer holidays!
How to Move Houseplants Out - and Back In:
Move your plants gradually . They need to get accustomed to the lower temperatures outside - start by putting them outside in the daytime and bringing them in overnight, like when you’re hardening off seedlings. The same goes for moving them back indoors!
When you bring them inside, check for pests . It won’t take much to introduce your neighbourhood creepy-crawlies from the garden inside, and if you don’t spot them, they can get a taste for your houseplants inside too, where there aren’t as many predators for them. Quarantine the plants that have been outdoors and check them over before they go near the rest of your indoor plants.
Check the dates in your local area for when there is risk of frost . This is different in different areas, and may be later in spring or earlier in autumn than you expect. Here in Bristol, our last frost dates are in late April, and first frost in late October on average.
You should also check the individual temperature needs of your houseplants . Some will be able to stand lower temperatures than others, so some might get shorter holidays than others.
Prioritise the plants that can benefit the most - whether that’s your big ones, or the plants that have the highest light need, or the ones which are in a bit of an awkward place indoors. It can be fiddly to work out how and when to move, so why not start with just a couple?
Look at the conditions in your outdoor space - this will also inform you which of your houseplants will like an outdoor spot. For example, if you get sun all day, a cactus will be super happy, but if you have a shady garden, your rainforest tropicals would benefit more.
Remember that you’ll likely still have to water your outdoor houseplants - they will still be in pots, and will dry out more quickly outdoors. And while they may get some rain, this isn’t guaranteed, so do keep an eye on the weather, and whether the soil has absorbed rain or if it’s just bounced off the leaves.
9 Houseplants and How to Take Them on a Summer Holiday
To give some practical advice and application to the theory, here are nine houseplants with differing needs which may benefit from a little vacation.
1) Cactus (Pictured: Blue Torch Cactus, Pilosocereus pachycladus)
Some summer sun can be very beneficial for cactuses like this Blue Torch Cactus. It can get so much more sun without the filter of a window, so a sunny spot in the garden could be the perfect vacation spot.
Watch out for:
Soggy soil. If there’s a few days of rain, this can cause trouble for a cactus.
Nighttime temperature. Make sure the temperature is consistently over 10°C overnight.
Shade. Give your cactus all the sun you can!
Strong winds. Especially if your plant is tall, a sheltered spot will help it stay upright and undamaged.
2) Calathea (Pictured: Round-Leaf Calathea, Goeppertia orbifolia)
On the other end of the spectrum from your cacti, rainforest plants like this Round-Leaf Calathea will appreciate some shade. They will still benefit from the outdoor environment, though, particularly if it gives them rainwater and higher humidity than indoors.
Watch out for:
Direct sun. This will scorch the leaves, so make sure your Calathea is in the shade.
Low temperatures. This one is more fussy and needs nighttime temperatures to be very mild, above 15°C at all times.
Wind. Cold, drying winds can harm this plant, so somewhere with shelter as well as shade is ideal.
3) Begonias (Pictured: ‘Star Bright’ Begonia, Begonia rex 'Star Bright')
Yes, even your indoor begonias can enjoy a holiday outdoors in summer! Like the Calathea, they will need plenty of shade and shelter, but will appreciate the air circulation provided by a warm summer breeze.
Watch out for:
Direct sun. Again, this one needs to be shaded from direct sunlight, which can scorch it.
Drying soil. They do like moist soil, so make sure they are kept topped up under those bushy leaves - and aren’t in strong, drying winds.
Nighttime temperatures. This one needs to be over 13°C, so keep an eye on those nighttime temperature forecasts.
4) Aeoniums (Pictured: Black Rose Aeonium, Aeonium arboreum)
Aeoniums will definitely benefit from any extra sun you can give them, so if you have a nice sunny garden, get your Aeoniums out enjoying it. It will also help any colours stay more vibrant, a welcome addition to your garden as well. And, of course, their drought tolerance makes them easy to care for outdoors in dry summer weather.
Watch out for:
Shade. Your Aeonium needs direct sun, so make the most of any bright areas you have available.
Soggy Soil. If you have a few rainy days, make sure this plant isn’t sat soggy - try moving it under a roofed area or elevating the bottom of the pot if this is a risk.
Very Low Temperatures. This plant is happy in temperatures above 5°C, so may be in for a longer holiday than those tropicals.
5) Bird’s Nest Fern (Pictured: Pleated Bird’s Nest Fern, Asplenium nidus ‘Crispy Wave’)
For some added greenery in your summer garden, give this indoor fern a holiday in a shady garden. It doesn’t need loads of water, so will be fine drying a little between waters while it’s outdoors. And it’ll love the slightly higher humidity we get outdoors compared to inside.
Watch out for:
Direct sun. It can stand some sun but will prefer to be in shade most of the day.
Drought. While it’s okay getting a bit dry, it will need watering in very dry conditions.
Wind. Make sure it’s sheltered from cold or drying winds.
Low temperatures. Make sure nighttime temperatures are definitely above 10°C when you’re bringing this one out.
6) Bloodleaf (Pictured: Red Bloodleaf, Iresine herbstii ‘Rich Redstar’)
The bloodleaf’s vibrant colour can be boosted by the higher level of sun you can get outside. Plus it brings lovely bright colours to your garden. There are yellows, greens and pinks as well as the red and deep maroon pictured - any of these will have lovely intense colour in the summer sun.
Watch out for:
Wind. Cold or drying winds can spell trouble.
Deep Shade. To make the most of your bloodleaf’s summer holiday, make sure it’s in a nice sunny spot.
Nighttime lows. Make sure the temperature is consistently above 5°C for the bloodleaf and it’ll stay happy and healthy.
7) Anthurium (Pictured: Red Flamingo Flower, Anthurium andraeanum 'Idaho')
Bring some tropical colour out into the garden for a month or so in summer because, well, why not? Anthuriums like this Flamingo Flower are tropical plants which will benefit from time outside in the mildest weather, and which will do well with just a splash of direct sun, and a bit of shade.
Watch out for:
Too much sun. This can lead to scorch, so do make sure your Anthurium has plenty of shade, especially from harsher midday sun.
Low temperature. This tropical plant really needs to stay above 15°C, so make sure you’re watching the weather forecast to make sure it doesn’t get colder than that.
Wind. Cold, drying winds can be unhelpful, so make sure your Anthurium is sheltered from wind as well as sun.
8) Boston Fern (Pictured: Green Lady Boston Fern, Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Green Lady’)
If your garden is the sort of place where ferns thrive, the Boston Fern might be a good houseplant to send on holiday there. It will love the slightly higher humidity you get outdoors, as well as getting just a bit of a breeze. It will need it to be shady, though, so make sure there’s plenty of over from the sun.
Watch out for:
Direct sun. This plant grows in shaded undergrowth, so try and provide that sort of location for it.
Wind. Cold, drying winds can spell trouble for your Boston Fern, so make sure it’s sheltered from them as well as shaded from the sun.
Low temperature. Your Boston Fern needs to stay above 10°C, so again, make sure you’re watching those low temperatures to keep it happy.
9) Spurflower (Pictured: Variegated Spurflower, Plectranthus amboinicus)
Spurflowers like this one are quite happy outdoors for a long summer holiday, thriving in partial shade, getting a bit of summer sun and a breath of fresh air. This will also be good for its yearly cycle, as it’s adapted to a bit of seasonal variation. Getting that bit of cooler temperature at the start of autumn can really help keep your Spurflower healthy.
Watch out for:
Sun. This plant likes partial shade, so make sure it’s getting a bit of direct sun while being sheltered from some of the harshest midday rays.
Wind. You’ll want to protect it from harsh, drying winds which can cool it down and dry it out much too quickly.
Drought. While it is okay to dry out a little, it’s good to be aware that your Spurflower will be drying out more quickly outdoors and will need a water, especially in prolonged dry weather.
Ready to Send your Houseplants on Holiday?
So, if all that hasn’t put you off, get ready for houseplant summer holidays! There is admittedly some fuss around moving your plants outdoors (and back in), but it can be very beneficial for them - and be a great excuse for you to spend more time with your greenery. And let’s face it, if you’ve read all the way through to here, you’re probably the sort of person who loves their houseplants…
If your plants weren’t on the list, never fear! There’s a good chance you can still give them a summer holiday - but do check their temperature requirements first so you know just how long a holiday they’ll like. You can find temperature information here on our website under each product listing, and we also recommend the RHS website for information on growing different houseplants outdoors - this article is a really good place to start for moving your houseplants outdoors over summer.
Many houseplants can be quite happy growing outside in summer
Checking individual needs and temperature ranges is important
This is an excellent way to spend more time with your houseplants and learn more about their ideal conditions too.
Rhianna Bangham
Rhianna works in the shop and contributes to Sprouts of Bristol’s content, including plant care notes, product descriptions, and blog posts. With a degree in Classics, Rhianna’s love for languages – including Latin – is perfect for decoding plant names and adding extra detail to our plant care guides. Outside of work, she enjoys rowing, cycling, and learning the violin. Her favourite plant? The ever-popular Spider Plant, of course!
