Caring for Houseplants in the Heat: Your Seasonal Summer Shift
As temperatures rise, your plants’ needs shift too.
What worked in the cozy depths of winter won’t cut it in the full blaze of summer sunshine. However, with a few small adjustments, you can help your green friends thrive throughout the entire season.
Photo: UnknownWatering: Amp it Up
In winter, most indoor plants are happy with a deep watering every 7–10 days. But once summer hits—and especially if your plant lives in a sunny southern window—you’ll likely need to double your watering frequency.
The exception? Succulents and cacti. Keep their schedule the same unless you notice signs of dehydration.
Ultimately, the best guide is your plant itself. Stick your finger in the soil—if it’s dry two inches down, it’s time to water. Plants teach us to listen and observe subtleties. Think of watering not as a chore, but as a check-in with your green friends.
Photo: Lovely Harbor
Environmental Awareness: ACs, Fans & Sunburns
As the seasons change, so does your home’s environment. In summer, fans and AC units can dry out or chill your plants, so move them away from direct airflow.
Yup, your plants can get sunburns, too! If you notice black or crispy spots on leaves, that’s likely a sunburn. As is expected, this is especially common in plants near hot, sunny windows. If that happens, relocate them to a softer light exposure and let them recover gently.
Time to Repot & Reset
Late spring through summer is prime repotting season—not winter. Even if your plants looked sad and sleepy back in February, they were just resting. Plants have their version of hibernation, too! Now that it’s summer, they’re actively growing and ready for more space.
As a rule of thumb, repot every 2–3 years. Too-tight roots can cause stress, even if everything looks fine on the surface. We’ll dive into all the gritty details of repotting in next month’s August issue—stay tuned!
Outdoor Time = Plant Vacation
If you can bring your plants outside, do it! Being outdoors from May to early October (in the Hudson Valley) gives them access to natural light and airflow—plus it helps reset their internal rhythms and strengthen their immunity so that winter goes over more smoothly.
Place them in shady or dappled light, depending on their sun tolerance. And Don’t forget about those sunburns—avoid direct mid-day rays unless they made to soak up the high sun.
Bonus: The great outdoors introduces natural predators like ladybugs and ants that can help manage mealybugs and other indoor pests—nature's own pest control.
Just remember: when they’re outside, you’ll likely need to water them daily. More sun, more wind, and more evaporation = thirstier plants.
We just received a fresh batch of indoor beauties at our Beacon shop. Swing by and welcome a new green companion into your home this summer!