Max’s Summer Tips for Orchids and Tropical Plants
Say hello to bright sunny days with a warm summer breeze! Summer is here and while the weather outside is beautiful, you may be tempted to let your indoor plants go on a summer vacation by taking them outside to enjoy the sunshine and warmth. That’s totally cool to do, provided you take some precautions to make sure they don’t get too warm or too dry.
Summer Care Tips
Summertime is the peak growing season for many of our plants, but before packing their bags and sending them off, be sure to slowly acclimate them to the outdoor conditions. Indoor plants are used to a certain level of light, humidity and temperature, and if they are placed outside too quickly, they can suffer. Here are things to look out for when moving your indoor plants outside:
- Temperature: The safest time to let your plants bask in the summer weather, is when the temperature is between 55-90 degrees fahrenheit.
- Light: While you might think your plant would enjoy some sunshine, it is best for your indoor plants to stay placed in a shady area that does not receive harsh, direct sunlight. The intensity of outdoor light, even in the shade, is far stronger than any sunny location found indoors.
- Water: With warmer and dryer weather, plants will be using more nutrients and will require more water to stay hydrated. Keep an eye on them and watch for signs of underwatering such as wilted leaves, dry soil, and dried out brown leaf tips.
- Pests: In the great outdoors, there is always a chance of bugs and pests. You’ll want to watch out for common bugs such as aphids, caterpillars, slugs, snails, and mealybugs.
- Inclement Weather: While a little drizzle or sprinkle would do wonders for your plants, a large rainstorm or heavy winds could take a big toll on them that might be hard to overcome.
Summer weather is typically warm and humid- an ideal environment for many houseplants. However, if you choose to leave your plant babies inside, remember to keep them safe from cold air conditioner drafts. This cooler, drafty environment can dehydrate and strip plants of their moisture leaving them wilted and unhappy.
Summer Care Tips for Orchids
While the outdoor conditions are great for most, sensitive tropical plants such as orchids should be kept indoors if it’s pushing 90 outside! Orchids love humidity, indirect light, and cooler summer nights.
- Light: Keep your orchid in a place that is bright and well lit, but does not receive harsh sun rays during the day. To ensure that your orchid is not receiving too much light, try using a sheer curtain to filter out the direct sunlight.
- Humidity: To increase the humidity of the air surrounding your orchid, try misting with water every morning or opening up the windows after a summer storm to let it the humid air.
- Temperature: When the sun goes down, keep your orchid in a room that stays cooler at night (55-65 degrees Fahrenheit) if possible, to help preserve bloom longevity or induce new blooms if it’s resting. But remember to keep it far away from your A/C’s direct flow of air.
For more information on how to keep your orchid happy in the summer, check out our blog on summer care tips for orchids.
Summer Care Tips for Money Trees
Money trees are also tropic natives, so they too thrive in the humid summer weather. They are rather sensitive to environment changes, so be sure to take the proper precautions if you choose to take them outdoors in the summer.
- Light: Money trees enjoy bright, indirect light. Make sure to protect them from harsh sun rays as it could lead to sunburnt and scorched leaves.
- Humidity: Money trees like moderate to high humidity making them a great plant to keep in a bright bathroom. Another way to increase humidity is to place it on a tray filled with pebbles and keep it filled with water. The evaporation of the water will rise and increase the humidity around your tree.
- Temperature: Money trees are the comfiest at temperatures between 65-80 degrees fahrenheit. Be sure to keep them away from cool drafts and bring them indoors during cool summer nights. Leaf drop is a common sign of exposure to too many drafts.
Money trees will enjoy some fresh air, but keep in mind its sensitivity to harsh light and temperature changes.
Summer Care Tips for Bromeliads
Bromeliads are another Max and Miles plant that is native to tropical regions and are a great plant to move outdoors during the summer. A little dappled summer sun will make your bromeliad quite happy!
- Light: Bromeliads enjoy bright, indirect or filtered light. In their natural habitat, they grow on forest floors or on trees, so find a shady spot under a large canopy or in a protected patio and this little guy will thrive. Like many other plants, bromeliads can get leaf burn if given too much direct sunlight.
- Humidity: Bromeliads love humidity! If you’re living in a dry arid region, increase your plant’s humidity by misting it regularly, running a humidifier near it, or placing it on a humidity pebble tray.
- Temperature: These tropical plants prefer temperatures between 60-80 degrees fahrenheit.
Summer Care Tips for Anthuriums
Known for their long lasting blooms, Anthuriums are another Max and Miles houseplant that enjoys some fresh outdoor air. These tropical plants are typically found on rainforest floors making them great candidates for a shady outdoor location.
- Light: Anthuriums, like many other plants, are subject to sunburn if they catch a few too many rays. To keep them the happiest outdoors, place them in shady areas where they receive small amounts of dappled sunlight throughout the day.
- Humidity: Anthuriums are big fans of humidity. They thrive in locations with at least 80% humidity, so be sure to keep an eye on the dry Texas weather.
- Temperature: These tropical plants do best in temperatures higher than 55 degrees, but they are happiest when the temperature is between 70 and 90 degrees.
Many plants do well outdoors in the summer as long as they are properly watered, protected from sun, and brought inside when the temperature is not ideal for their needs. Once the hot summer days and warm nights come to end, check them for pests and bring your plant babies inside before the first frost. Will you be taking your plants on a summer vacation this year?