I knew when I started planning the outdoor patio space I wanted to bring in some greenery. I liked the idea of plants on the patio to bring in some warmth and complete the look without going overboard. With such a small space and no room for large plants, I looked to taller plants in smaller pots. As this patio is in Vancouver I didn’t think permanent outdoor plants would do well in pots over the winter. As a way around this I chose to focus on plants that could be outside in the summer but come in for the winter. Surprisingly there were quite a few inside plants that could be outdoors for the summer. Not only does it add some much needed greenery to the patio but turns out it great for the plants as well. The warmth and sunlight allow the plants to grow faster! Since a lot of people are dealing with smaller outdoor spaces, I thought I would share tips on how to care for plants outside during the summer months as well as 4 plants that will work on your patio.

Tips for taking your inside plants outdoors for the summer.

Water

Water is definitely the most important piece of a plants life. When caring for a plant that is used to being inside and is now outside there are a few things to consider.

• Water your plants more often. Since the summer months are warmer and watering is evaporating quickly outside, your plant will require more water.
• Keep an eye on any plants that do not have drain holes in their pots. If there is rain and the water does not drain off, this could be detrimental to the plant.

Sunlight

All plants need sunlight. When moving your plants outside don’t place them anywhere you like. Look at the light on your patio. You will want to place the plant in a similar light condition as it was used to inside. Make sure to never put a plant in full sun, this could burn the leaves or flowers.

Fertilizer

Since your indoor plant will love it’s summer in the sun, make sure to get a high quality fertilizer. The fertilizer will help with the growth of the plant during the summer months. The fertilizer will also help with the plants health, any pests and make it look beautiful.

CLEAN

A clean plant is a happy plant. I don’t know about you but even with my indoor plants I make sure to wipe their leaves free of dust every couple weeks. When your plant moves outside thinking of it’s cleanliness is important. You will want to check for dust or insects every couple weeks to make sure your plant stays healthy.

 

Let’s take a look at a few plants you can purchase for your patio but bring inside for the winter. This not only helps your patio space stay fresh but also brings your indoor space more energy during the winter months. Here are some options to move inside plants outdoors for the summer.

 

Snake Plant

Make sure the Snake Plant is in a pot that drains well or it risks rotting, they prefer indirect sunlight, so remember this for your patio space as well and let the soil dry between watering.

Aloe Vera Plant

The Aloe Vera Plant is actually a succulent so you need to make sure it has proper drainage, the soil should be allowed to completely dry before watering and it prefers bright light.

Cactus

Since Cactus have shallow roots and grow slowly it is best to plant them in a shallow pot, let soil dry between watering and they prefer a sunny location.

Fiddle Leaf Fig

A Fiddle Leaf Fig likes to be in full sun or partial shade, and the soil should be consistently moist.

Monstera Plant

The Monstera Plant prefers partial or full shade, in addition to watering make sure to spritz the leaves twice a week and fertilize once a month during the summer months.

 

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