Extension

As the weather begins to warm up, people are spending more time outdoors, basking in the sunshine. Indoor plants, too, are ready to be out in the sun. Hardy plants such as agapanthus and agaves are ready for an outdoor summer vacation but will need to be brought back indoors if a freeze is predicted. Tropical plants such as hibiscus shouldn’t be moved until late April or early May.

Plants that were brought indoors last winter may have taken on a new, leggy look. Plants produce long, weak shoots with large gaps between the leaves. This is because indoor growing conditions are usually less than optimal, especially with low light levels. Go ahead and prune these overwintering plants before they initiate new spring growth. Look for long, weak stems to cut back.

Also, prune any damaged stems. When gardeners are working with herbaceous plants, they can cut back as much as one-half to two-thirds of the tissue. For woody material, be a bit more judicious. Concentrate on opening up the center of the plant and removing crossed branches.

If the plant is being moved in a pot to the patio, consider repotting. Potting media can compress over time, and any nutrients added in the previous season have been used up. Just as spring is a reset for people, repotting the plant will give it the best start on the growing season.

To repot, remove the plant and gently tease the roots apart. If the plant appears root-bound, make a few strategic cuts to spread out the root system. This is a good time to decide of the plant needs a bigger pot. When repotting, make sure the soil line on the plant’s stem is at the same height as before. Leave a bit of space at the top of the container free of soil to allow for watering.

If fertilizer is needed, use a slow-release fertilizer in the containers. Slow-release fertilizers deliver small doses of nutrients to the plant with each watering. Fertilizer can be incorporated into the potting soil or simply sprinkled on the soil’s surface after potting.

Keep in mind that irrigation requirements will increase as the plant’s growth rate increases. Outdoor plants will need more frequent watering than they did when indoors.

Also, it’s a big, bright, windy world out there. Plants are used to their creature comforts of home. Slowly acclimate the plants to the outdoors over a week or two. Start with a few hours in a sheltered area, then extend outdoor time until the plants are ready to be outside permanently for the summer.