Summer houseplant care: everything you need to know
Your houseplants should be enjoying the summer months as much as you are. Our guide covers everything from increasing water and feeding , to potting up, taking cuttings, moving plants outside, and keeping things ticking over while you're away.
How much more water do houseplants need in summer?
Light and temperature are the two biggest drivers of how thirsty a houseplant gets, and summer dials both up. Faster growth and faster evaporation mean the potting mix dries out much quicker than it did a few months ago, so it's worth checking more often, rather than sticking to whatever routine worked in spring. A finger pushed into the mix, or the weight of the pot, will tell you more about the watering needs of a plant than your calendar will.
Do you need to feed houseplants in summer?
Summer is the main feeding window, since most houseplants actively grow from spring through to autumn and are able to make use of the nutrients. A liquid feed mixed in once or twice a month generally suitsmost houseplants through summer, and you’ll find many tailored to indoor plants specifically.
When should you pot up a houseplant?
Roots that have filled the pot and started circling around the sides – or a plant that dries out unusually fast – are both signs it's ready for more room. When you do pot up, move into a pot only a little larger than the last one, around a third bigger at most, since too big a jump can leave the roots sitting in more damp mix than they can use. Early summer is just as good a time for this as spring, but be sure to settle it in with a healthy drink.
How do you take cuttings from a houseplant?
Different houseplants require different cutting methods. For leafy trailing plants like pothos (Epipremnum aureum) and heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum), some of the easiest to take cuttings from, choose a healthy stem and cut just below a leaf joint or node, then strip off any lower leaves.
Pop the cutting into water or into a moist but free-draining mix, and keep somewhere warm and bright. Many houseplants will root well from a stem cutting taken this way over the summer months. This can be a great way to review plants that have got long and leggy.
Can you move houseplants outside for summer?
Many houseplants will do well outdoors for the summer, given a sheltered spot and a gradual introduction rather than a straight move into full sun. Start in bright shade and build up exposure gradually for anything that wants brighter light, like cacti and succulents, while watching that overnight temperatures don’t drop too low.
How do you keep houseplants watered while you're away?
For a short trip in summer, a thorough watering before you leave is often enough, especially if the plant is moved somewhere cooler and out of direct sun while you're gone. For longer absences, a simple wick, one end in a container of water and the other tucked into the pot, can keep the potting mix going for a couple of weeks. Cacti and succulents are the exception, since they can comfortably go without water for far longer than most other houseplants.
Summer means more to keep on top of, and the right can makes the routine easier across watering, feeding, and everything in between. Take a look at our indoor watering cans. 