“If you're like me and tuck tender potted perennials or shrubs into a cold but sheltered spot for winter, you've probably wondered: when is it actually safe to move them back outside in spring?”
String of Pearls
Senecio rowleyanus
If you're like me and tuck tender potted perennials or shrubs into a cold but sheltered spot for winter, you've probably wondered: when is it actually safe to move them back outside in spring?
The exact timing really depends on how hardy the plant is compared to your growing zone. But here's a safe approach I follow: move the toughest stored perennials—those rated just one or two zones warmer than your area—outdoors once nighttime temps stay consistently above freezing. For more tender or tropical perennials, I wait until nights are reliably above 50˚F before bringing them out.
Whatever you do, make the move outdoors gradual for any plant that's been tucked away. Even plants that love sun need a little shade time before going full exposure. I like to give them a few days in shade, then a few days in part shade, and then finally into their permanent sunny spot. This way, you'll avoid shocking or scorching your plants.
Image:"Hotel Baron thermometer" by Bernard Gagnon - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.______________________________________________Want more tips on growing tender perennials no matter where you live? I highly recommend Kristin Green's Plantiful—it's packed with great advice.
Find tender plants a bit too much work? Then you'll love The Know Maintenance Perennial Garden by Roy Diblik—it's full of rock-solid plant picks, simple gardening calendars, and planting plans that are easy but absolutely gorgeous.
If you want to turn a home greenhouse into a winter sanctuary for your plants, The Greenhouse Gardener's Manual by Roger Marshall has everything you need to know and more.
