Down the Garden Path: Plan a summer vacation for your houseplants

Plants can be found in nearly every house, apartment, or really any dwelling we call home. It may be that spider plant in your home office, or the avocado seed rooted in water on the kitchen windowsill, or even an entire collection of African violets (or another favorite family of plants).

When the weather finally decides to get warm, and stay warm, it is time to get those houseplants outdoors for the summer to recharge and to let the summer rains rinse off the dirt, dust and grime from being inside for months. But, before you set them outdoors in the full sun, there are a couple of things to consider:

Light and placement

Right now, they have their “indoor leaves,” so to speak. Put them out in direct light, and they will sunburn just like us. There was no need to have a protective layer from the sun while inside, but for sure they will need that now. Setting the houseplants out with indirect sun for a little bit of time for several days will trigger that waxy cuticle to show up. Eastern or northern exposures work well, as well as under the shade of shrubs or trees. Setting them out on cloudy days helps too. At some point, you have to be brave and set some out into stronger light and hopefully nothing burns.

Container

You may want to or need to move the houseplant up a pot size. Get them growing again, and then do your repotting so the new, developing roots will grow into the new soil in the larger pot and be established by fall.

Insects

Outdoor insects normally are not a problem, as there are plenty of natural enemies and rain to control them. You also may have placed the plants outside with insects already there, and these will naturally be taken care of as well. It is common to find “critters” in the pot come fall and will be taken care of at that time.

Watering

Natural rains likely will keep your houseplants happy for much of the summer, but you do need to keep tabs on them. Dry periods will require some watering on your part.

More than a vacation? Moving with houseplants

We all have that favorite houseplant that has sentimental value or is many years old. Every year, we field questions like, “Can we take it along when we move?”

In many cases, you bet you can. Moving companies may have their own necessary rules, and remember moving trucks may be on the highway for several days, and plants would not survive. Additionally, there are some specific states that prohibit the movement of some kinds of plants (citrus, for example) into states that have substantial industries. National moving companies have this information and can be very helpful. You also can address this question with the National Plant Board or the state you are moving to via its Department of Agriculture. The concern also may be those states being traveled through to get to your new home.

Note: this also applies if you plan on taking them along yourself. With the exception of your favorites, and depending on where you are moving to, it may be easier to rebuild your houseplant collections once you have settled into your new home with locally available plants. If you move your plants, expect an adjustment period.

Learn more about houseplants with these resources:

• University of Illinois Extension: Keep houseplants happy with simple solutions.
• University of Missouri: Caring for houseplants.

• Have a question for the Master Gardeners? Residents can contact the Kendall County Master Gardener volunteers on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. by calling 630-553-5823, stopping in at 7775B Route 47, Yorkville, or emailing uiemg-kendall@illinois.edu. For helpful hints on what to include in your email, visit go.illinois.edu/HelpDeskMGdkk.