A deck or patio can be a great place to give your houseplants a summer holiday.  Just like us, they get an extra bit of energy with a change of scenery and are the great shape to return to their natural indoor habitat when the weather turns.  The plants enjoy their new surrounds and make super additions to groups of garden pots and containers.  Everyone responds to the warmth, fresh air, rainfall and of course sunshine by giving off new growth and vitality come Fall.

There is a system to moving indoor plants outside.  It is imperative that they are moved gradually so that they don’t go into shock and become accustomed to the very different conditions over time.  Just like seedlings, they need to be hardened off.  Start to place the planters and pots outdoors once the weather has warmed up and any danger of frost is over.  Firstly, set the pots in a protected, shady area – even the cacti and succulents which love the sun.  If you start with the planters in the full sun, they will scorch – even though they have been in a south facing window all winter.  Gradually expose them to more and more sun over the course of a week or two.  Check every day to see that the soil is moist and there are no scorch marks on any of the leaves.

By early summer, they should be fully incorporated in the garden.  Each houseplant has its own place among the many containers of annuals and perennials.  They add a new dimension to the deck and patio and can even be placed in the garden landscape to add a definite focal point to the area.  It is so easy to move flower pots and containers around, try to find spots where they will receive the morning sun and afternoon shade, away from the direct hot sunrays of the late afternoon.  If you have shade loving houseplants and ferns, be sure to keep them protected all summer – they just cannot tolerate full sun even if acclimatized gradually.

Again it is necessary to remember that you will need to water much more frequently when the plants are outside than when they were inside the house.  They grow more actively and require more water.  The wind and sun also increases their need for water because of higher transpiration.

Nothing can be more pleasing to the eye than a cluster of different sized pots and planters outdoors for their summer vacation.  Make a centerpiece for the patio table using your cacti and succulents.  Move your display around often to see where which place it enjoys the most – you can tell when your plants are happy – they grow and thrive when they like the conditions.

What can you grow in a container? Just about any plant that you can grow in the ground you can grow in a container. You can use one season annuals or long-lived trees.  One way to experiment with what you can grow in containers is to choose plants that are not hardy in your area and then move them inside for the winter.  Just get your “houseplants” started outdoors – see what plants you like and then you have new plants inside for the rest of the year.

Here is a tip for your Amaryllis.  The secret of growing Amaryllis is to keep the plants actively growing after they finish blooming. Keep the plants in full sun, with a night temperature above 60o F. As soon as danger of frost has passed, set the plants outside in a semi-shaded spot. In the Fall, before danger of frost bring them in and store them in a cold dark place to rest. They will be ready to force again about January 1st. Bring them into a warm light room and water moderately to begin new growth.