Most of our house plants come from tropical regions in various parts of the world. They cannot be grown outdoors year-round where low winter temperatures would put them into permanent sleep.
Nevertheless, many interesting and beautiful plants have adjusted themselves to normal home temperatures and atmospheres that are also comfortable for human beings.
To be persnickety, there is no such thing as a “house plant,” but we can make them content when we learn their likes and dislikes, constantly give them loving care, and study their growth habits.
A pot, whether large or small, plain or fancy, is not the natural habitat or home for any plant, and that is why we want to consider suitable locations for vacationing house plants.
In my collection, there is great variety, and there are so many pots that they fill an east glassed-in porch, six east and south kitchen windows, and a large bay window, and they are overflowing into one of my bedrooms!
Favorite House Plants
This article will consider the summering of four favorite house plants. They are:
- Gloxinias
- Geraniums
- Amaryllis
- Begonias
Most other house plants will fall into one of these types for a summer spent outdoors. There are very few delicate leaves that should not be summered outdoors.
Episcias, sometimes called flame violets, like their fuzzy-leaved African violet cousins, are not likely to fare well in the open.
Plants with large leaves which are easily caught in the wind and rain are not good vacationers outdoors, except in a very protected spot.
Locale For Vacationers
First, attention must be given to the summertime needs of the plants. For example, a well-ventilated east porch is better than the house windows during the hot summer months.
From experience, I prefer to bring the plants outdoors when frost-free nights arrive and the soil has lost its winter chili.
The plants are then placed where they receive proper light and protection from strong winds and hot sun and can easily be given the necessary moisture.
Ideal Pot Size For Outdoor Summer
The gloxinia normally blooms during the winter and early spring, and each pot may be brought out to the sheltered spot after its blooming and decorative stage has passed.
Any pots subjected to the variable outdoor summer atmosphere should be 4” inches, preferably larger.
Smaller pots should be sunk into the soil up to an inch from the top of the pot. This conserves moisture and keeps the pots from tipping over.
If you have trouble with slugs or worms, it is a good idea to prepare a floor with an inch or thicker of cinders, coarse sand, or similar good drainage material to set the pots on. Unfortunately, most of us do not have lath houses to protect summering plants.
Here we have planted shrubs and trees near the north edge of our lot and not far from the house, thus forming a sheltered and semi-shaded enclosure.
All house plants have been happy here, but we do not set out those in tiny pots or with extremely delicate foliage.
Set Gloxinias Out
The gloxinias thrive outdoors and enjoy the rain, dew, and cool night air. They are watered with the garden hose and used with a fine spray nozzle to avoid damage by the force of city water pressure.
Before setting the gloxinias out, it is a good idea to prune off any spent or bruised foliage, or even to cut off the whole top, leaving about two lower sturdy and healthy leaves. All good leaves may be used for propagation.
More luxurious growth will result from pruning and new buds and blooms will come in very early fall. Fertilizing the pots after outdoor growth is well started brings a reward of more buds.
Any good fertilizer available at your garden store will serve well if it is recommended for house plants. The gloxinias may be brought inside whenever blossoms come.
Versatile Gloxinias
Gloxinias are versatile and I like to plant several tubers right in the open soil beds, which have been spayed and enriched with leaf mold, bone meal, and peat moss.
These beds are north of the house where the plants get good light, and only early and late sunshine which is not too hot for them.
Dormant tubers are best for this method because house-grown leaves will become bruised from the outdoor change.
The new foliage will amaze any grower with its deep green luxuriance, the numerous buds that never blast, and the richer color of the blooms. These plants may be potted when in the best bloom and taken indoors without great damage to the plant.
When tuberous rooted plants are moved with a good ball of earth about their root systems, they do not resent potting up as some fibrous plants do.
These gloxinia beds must be watered often with the hose whenever rains do not supply the needed moisture. Companion plants might be sultanas, summer-blooming oxalis, caladiums, tuberous begonias, and achimenes.
Versatile Geraniums
The geranium takes to outdoor culture. This old favorite is perhaps known to more gardeners than any other.
It was brought to England by botanists and navigators in the early 1700s or earlier and later to America.
Geraniums Depending on Variety
Usually growing quite large in the window garden during the winter months, the gardener welcomes the time when they can be planted outdoors for the summer.
All types of geraniums have their place, but most of us cannot grow many different varieties because of a lack of space.
I grow some of the most colorful of the fancy-leaved zones. They seem to enjoy cool temperatures, so they can be taken from pots any time after frosty nights have passed.
Here they are planted in a southeast exposure next to the house, and the large plants are broken into suitable cuttings that are plunged into open soil in the geranium bed.
They root well and never fail to become large, colorful plants. The good outdoor drainage prevents overwatering, and they appreciate frequent watering with the hose. The soil is enriched with compost and bone meal.
In August, cuttings are again put down for potting up before frost days arrive. Again, they should be well-rooted but small plants. A bed of geraniums is truly a homey, colorful, and satisfying spot.
The majestic, stately amaryllis is the plant that offers generous rewards for summering in rich garden soil in a sheltered and semi-shaded location.
Although the large bulb is set in a pot with half or more of the bulb above the soil line, in the garden, the whole bulb is set below the soil to prevent sun-scald.
An inch of soil above the top of the bulb is sufficiently provided that it does not wash off during heavy rains.
Amaryllis: Heavy Summer Feeders
The most important point here is that amaryllis are heavy summer feeders. Their bed should be thoroughly enriched with old manure that is well spaded in.
Compost and leaf mold are also good additions. Finally, if red rust appears on the foliage, lime or crushed oyster shells should be worked into the soil.
The bed should be kept moist whenever rain is infrequent. The aim is to produce as many leaves as possible. There should be a winter or spring bud stalk for every four leaves.
The well-fed bulb will also give more and larger flowers on each stalk. Here, some American-grown hybrids produce 9-inch blooms, fully as large as the Royal Dutch hybrids.
All the hybrid amaryllis prefer to summer in open soil, but the older kids (chiefly the species), which commonly have slender orange-colored blossoms, seem to prefer to remain in a large pot and to be kept evergreen.
They do not require a period of dormancy to make them bloom as hybrids do.
The bulbs are lifted from the garden before frost arrives, leaving roots and foliage on.
After the foliage is completely dry, it can be removed, but any fleshy roots are left on, and the bulbs are stored in the basement. Buds come earlier if the temperature is moderately warm.
Begonia
Begonia is a group of plants that has warmed the hearts of many growers, with exceeding variations in form, size, color, foliage, and flowering season.
The first begonia to be brought to England came froM Jamaica in 1777. Soon many other species were gathered from distant countries.
Many of these came to the United States, and begonia enthusiasts have continued to search for treasures, largely through hybridization, until today, we have unlimited choice in this magnificent family of plants.
Plant collectors have found them irresistible because they adjust well to normal house conditions.
For their summer vacation, they like their roots to meander through cool, rich soil generously mixed with leaf mold and compost in the outdoor beds.
Bone meal and charcoal are also good additions to the soil in a begonia bed if the location is well-shaded.
Good Light Spot
Most begonias prefer a spot north of the house where they receive good light and only early and late sunshine.
This is even cooler than a lath house, which would be placed in a sunny location. An east exposure is suitable for begonias that prefer more sun, like the semperflorens (wax or everblooming) begonias.
These waxy-leaved begonias will also do well as border plants where the sun reaches them all day. They will bloom freely and produce bushy, well-formed plants.
Border Plants
Last year, we used the new ‘Masterpiece’ wax begonia as a border plant, and they bloomed profusely and enjoyed the full sunshine.
Even the calla lily begonia, which can aggravate under certain conditions, grows well outdoors. I have seen it used as a charming border plant in a shaded location.
Here we have grown it in quantities in the shade under an apple tree.
The upper leaves were a glistening white and formed like miniature calla lilies. Their foliage will have a reddish cast if given too much light or sun.
Spot For Propagation
The shaded begonia bed is a superb spot for propagation. The large plants are broken into suitable pieces and the cuttings are simply inserted into the porous rich soil where they soon become well-branched plants.
These beds must be kept moist. The smaller plants are excellent for potting up for the window garden.
Preparing Potting Soil
Potting soil may be prepared and well-mixed before potting time. Two parts sandy loam, leaf mold or compost, and one part peat moss make an excellent mixture.
A bone meal or superphosphate added to this mixture will give more blooms. Charcoal may also be added. Constant good drainage is very important in all flower pots.
Pot up all houseplants at least two or three weeks before they must be brought into the house because of low temperatures and impending frost.
The pots are then set in a sheltered and shaded place and kept moist, even doused with the hose several times the first clay after potting to keep the foliage sturdy and fresh.
The plants will adjust to pot culture before they are subjected to the less moist house atmosphere, and they will not drop their lush outdoor-grown foliage.
Before Bringing in The Plants
They should be pruned into well-shaped plants. Any bruised foliage should be removed.
Plants that are too large may be shared with those who are looking for large specimen plants. Or they may be used for propagation.
Wise Precaution
A wise precaution is to spray each plant on all sides and under the foliage because many kinds of insects may have set up housekeeping on the well-grown foliage.
A few days later, before taking them in, I hose them with a gentle spray and let them drip dry, and they are all set for home beautification.
They make alluring, time-passing companions through the long window gardening season.
44659 by Florence Knock