5 Houseplants You Shouldn't Move Outdoors in Summer

A potted plant with patterned leaves displayed indoors — Credit:
Getty Images

When warmer weather arrives, it's common practice for gardeners to bring their houseplants outside after a long winter spent indoors. However, the higher temperatures and intense afternoon sun can leave plants vulnerable to sun damage and overly dry soil. Also, some houseplants are native to tropical regions and require high humidity to thrive, which can be difficult to achieve outdoors in certain climates. For these reasons, select houseplants are best kept indoors year-round to ensure they remain happy. We reached out to gardening experts to learn which plants not to move outside this summer—here's what they said.

Lisa Eldred Steinkopf, founder of the Houseplant Guru and author of Houseplants
Robin Trott, horticulture educator with the University of Minnesota Extension

01 of 05

Calathea

The calathea plant (Calathea spp.) offers vivid leaf patterns that can add beauty to outdoor gardens, but you should plan on keeping this plant indoors if you want to enjoy its foliage. "Calatheas are not the easiest plants to grow, and outside, their thin leaves cannot take the full blazing sun," says houseplant expert Lisa Eldred Steinkopf. "They would sunburn, the leaves would turn crispy, and it would probably perish."

Instead, Steinkopf advises keeping your calathea plant indoors and providing consistent moisture and high humidity. "Keep the leaves clean and wipe them down often. This will also help with spider mites," she says.

02 of 05

African Violet

You can enjoy vivid blossoms indoors with an African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha), just remember they are somewhat delicate and work best as houseplants. "My top 'don't take out in the summer' plant is the African violet," says Steinkopf. "They prefer not to have cold water on their leaves or standing water in their centers. In nature, they would grow slightly slanted so water would drain out of the crown."

She recommends keeping your indoor African violets in an east window or under grow lights, and avoiding watering with cold water, which can mar the leaves. "I also use a paper towel or tissue to soak up water from the crown. Keep their fuzzy leaves clean by rinsing them with warm water or using a soft brush," she says.

03 of 05

Radiator Plant

Watermelon peperomia (Peperomia argyreia) in a ceramic pot placed on wooden furniture inside a domestic interior, with distinctive striped leaves clearly visible and illuminated by natural daylight. The scene highlights the ornamental foliage and textured leaf pattern of an indoor houseplant used as a decorative element in a calm home environment. — Getty Images

Its name might be a bit of a clue: radiator plants (Peperomia) like consistent moderate warmth and humidity—not something you may be able to reliably provide outdoors. But for your indoor enjoyment, there are hundreds of varieties to choose from. "Peperomia is a very popular, compact, slow-growing houseplant with thick, textured leaves," says horticulture educator Robin Trott.

Although they are low-light tolerant, Trott recommends providing radiator plants with bright indirect light from an east- or west-facing window. She notes that these houseplants prefer loose, well-draining chunky potting soil amended with perlite or coir. "Keep temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit and avoid cold drafts," she adds.

04 of 05

Decorative Ferns

While ferns (Polypodiopsida) are popular porch plants, they can be somewhat sensitive to the sun. Steinkopf says she wouldn't take bird's nest ferns, staghorn ferns, or maidenhair ferns outside unless they are in the shade.

She also notes that ferns (especially the bird's nest fern) are sensitive to over- and underwatering, which can be controlled more precisely in an indoor setting. "It is an epiphyte and would grow in the crown of a tree in its natural jungle habitat," says Steinkopf. "Indoors, water around the fern's base, not directly into the crown. If water sits in the crown, the plant will rot." She notes that in nature, the plant would likely grow on a slant, allowing the crown to dry in the wind.

05 of 05

Nerve Plant

Fittonia with bright green leaves and pink or white veins. — Getty Images

The charming nerve plant (Fittonia) is beloved for its attractive foliage with colorful veining in shades of silver, pink, red, green, or white. "Due to their small size (6 inches) and need for constant humidity, nerve plants grow most successfully indoors," says Trott. She recommends a location with high humidity, warm temperatures, and protection from drafts.

What to Consider Before Moving Houseplants Outside

With adequate care, you can bring certain indoor plants outside for spring and summer. "After cleaning up and repotting my houseplants in the spring, I take many of them on field trips after Memorial Day, which is to say, I take them outdoors for the summer," Trott says. She notes that the main problem is that many houseplants prefer indirect sunlight, which can be controlled more easily in an indoor environment. "Although they might be in sunny windows indoors, the intensity of direct outdoor sunlight can quickly scorch leaves, leaving plants dry, crispy, and damaged." She suggests that if you want to take your houseplants outdoors, there are a few things to consider:

Choose a spot with morning sun: Avoid afternoon sun, which can damage leaves and dry pots rapidly.
Choose filtered light: Place plants under trees or on a covered porch where they get bright, indirect light.
Monitor soil moisture closely: Outdoor pots dry out much faster than indoor containers; dryness is the quickest way to stress or damage plants.

5 Houseplants You Shouldn’t Move Outdoors in Summer, According to Experts