Grown under the marginal conditions of most homes and apartments, houseplants can become tired-looking during the winter months. You can renew your plants by moving them outdoors during the summer. Put your plants out only after night temperatures remain above 60°F (usually mid-May or early June).
For most houseplants, a temperature below 10°C (50°F) is considered too cold to be left outside, as they are typically tropical plants that can suffer damage or die when exposed to consistently chilly temperatures.
Time It Right. While it might be tempting to ship indoor plants outside at the first sign of spring, it's best to wait until nighttime temperatures stay at or above 60°F, and after any threat of frost has passed. If you're planning ahead, use the average last frost date for your area as your guide.
When do I know it's safe to bring my plant outside? It's safe to move your plants outside when the outdoor temperatures stay consistently above 50°F. Pay attention to the weather report. If nighttime temperatures are set to fall below 50°F, bring your plants in for the night.
The general rule of thumb is that most plants freeze when temperatures remain at 28°F for five hours. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. Seedlings, with their tender new leaves, often give up the ghost when temperatures dip to 32-33°F.
Cacti and Succulents
It shouldn't come as a surprise that succulents and cacti will thrive outdoors. These plants prefer bright light and to dry out in between waterings, but just because they are desert plants, don't just move them into the brightest spot outside one day and assume they'll fend for themselves.
Covering plant material at temperatures between 39-30 with freeze cloth or covering can be effective. Prolonged exposure at temperatures of 28 degrees and below will notice protection results diminish with each degree dropped.
First, it's good to know which plants are sensitive to temps around 35 or 40 degrees F. These are common tender plants that will need some protection. Hanging baskets: begonias, calibrachoa, gerbera, impatiens, vinca, euphorbia, and scoparia.
Ideal range 60-85°F (15-29°C) for healthy Golden Pothos. Avoid extremes below 50°F or above 95°F to prevent stress. Consistent temperature and placement key to avoiding leaf discoloration and wilting.
Plan to bring in your houseplants when temperatures are forecast below 45 degrees F to protect them from stress and cold damage. Tender perennial herbs like Rosemary or Lemon Verbena can be brought indoors as well for winter cooking.
As many gardeners know, there's a common rule of thumb that advises when it's OK to start planting flowers and vegetables: You should hold off on planting until after Mother's Day.
Monstera prefers a bright spot indoors, with indirect or morning sun only. Although it will also grow outdoors in a shaded and protected, frost free spot. These plants are natural climbers, so provide them with a coir or moss covered totem pole for support.
Wait until the temperature is consistently above 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius) before moving houseplants outside. If temperatures dip below, bring your plants back inside.
Plants need to be transitioned indoors before the outside temperature starts dropping below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius) at night.
WHEN TO BRING PLANTS INSIDE. As a general rule, tender plants should be brought in when nighttime temperatures are below 50 to 55 degrees F, even if they are hardy for your zone. A plant's roots are more exposed when planted in a container versus in the ground.
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
They are low-maintenance, easy-care indoor plants that can also be grown outdoors in shaded areas. Direct sun may burn the leaves of this plant, so it is recommended to keep them in a sheltered area if you choose to keep your plant outside during the summer months.
Some cultures see the Pothos plant as 'otherworldly' or 'devilish' since it can thrive in practically any condition. Pothos are also called the Devil's Ivy because they are super hardy and difficult to kill. It can survive with minimal water, light and attention.
Light freeze - 29° to 32° Fahrenheit will kill tender plants. Moderate freeze - 25° to 28° Fahrenheit is widely destructive to most vegetation. Severe or hard freeze - 25° Fahrenheit and colder causes heavy damage to most plants.
If you're looking for tips for protecting your plants from frost, avoid using garbage bags as plant covers. Trash bags are not the best protection against frost damage, primarily due to their material. Most garbage bags are made out of low-density polyethylene plastic.
Many indoor plants will see damage when temperatures drop to the mid to lower 40s°F and nearly all will die if exposed to below freezing temperatures. Watch the weather forecast and bring plants back indoors well before nighttime temperatures get too cold. Before bringing them inside, check for insects.
So will peppers survive 40 degrees? To sum it up, most peppers won't necessarily DIE from 40˚ F temperatures, but their growth can be stunted, and they may be slow to recover so it's best to keep them warm if possible.
While you can cover your plants with plastic bags to protect them from frost, it's not the best material for the objective.
Temperatures below 32 degrees can freeze the leaf tissue of cold-wimpy plants and turn them to mush after just a few hours. Some of the most tender annuals and veggies might not die but suffer cold-induced setbacks even when overnight lows dip below 40.
If using a good covering and the temperatures are expected to remain low, you can keep your plants covered for days.