Can I Put My Spider Plant Outside? (What To Consider+How To Move)

If you want to move your spider plant outside, maybe because you propagated them a lot and didn’t have enough space to hold them, or you might want your spider plants to breathe some fresh air in. In either case, you need to be aware of certain consequences. Can spider plant be left outside? Will they survive through the summer and winter? Let’s find out!

Spider plants can be moved outdoors if you provide them with the proper living environment and transition them slowly. Always consider providing proper lighting conditions and appropriate temperature before moving them outside. A sudden change in living environment can shock the plant, so make sure to move them out slowly.

Moving a plant from a controlled environment out into the wilderness can be a challenge. Many factors come into play that can impact the growth and health of the plant.

It would be nice to plan the transition way before you decide to move them. Many external factors, including temperature, humidity, light, etc., can affect the plant. So, proper planning needs to be done, or you might shock your spider plant to an end.

However, you shouldn’t be worried as we are here to simplify all your problems and make the transition of your spider plant a smooth ride.

Can you put spider plants outdoors?

Spider plant originates from the tropical forest of Southern Africa where they used to thrive in nature.

Before we humans decided to bring these plants inside our concrete jungle, they were acclimated to live outdoors.

But after keeping and reproducing them indoors for so many years, most houseplants, including the spider plant, have acclimated to live in a controlled environment.

So, if you want to move them outside, you need to do it slowly. You don’t want to shock your spider plant by changing their living environment all of a sudden.

Apart from the transition, few more factors affect the health of the plant. These include: temperature, lighting, humidity, etc. However, since we cannot control all these external factors outside our home, we need to make sure all these factors are balanced before we make our first move.

Thus, not everyone will be able to move their spider plants outside. People living in zone 10-11 can move their plants outside through spring, summer, and early fall. However, people living in zone 8-9 can only move spider plants outside during mid-summer and early fall.

In the rest of the zones, it is not recommended to move your spider plants outside at any given point. Although these plants are sturdy and can survive through a wide range of living conditions, it is not recommended to stress your healthy plant by any means.

When can you put spider plants outside?

Spider plant comes from the tropical environment, and so they prefer a warm and humid climate. You can consider moving your spider plant outside after the last frost ends in your region.

Ideally, it is recommended to wait at least for a week or two after the last frost before you prepare your spider plant to transition outdoors.

Thus, you can move your spider plant outdoor during late spring and early summer.

Factors to keep in mind before moving your spider plant outside

The growth of spider plants can be affected by several factors. However, when you keep them outdoors, things can be a little different. Some of the major factors while keeping the spider plants outside are:

1. Light
2. Water
3. Placement
4. Temperature
5. Pest

Apart from this, humidity and fertilization can also impact the growth of the plant. Let us dive into the details.

Temperature

Temperature is a crucial factor that decides the growth of spider plants. Just like a human being, most tropical plants prefer moderate mercury levels. So, if the temperature shoots over the roof or drops below average, then the plant’s growth will be affected.

Since the spider plant has stayed inside our home in a controlled environment, the temperature fluctuations can shock them. So, we must keep all this in mind before moving your spider plant outside.

What temperature can spider plants tolerate?

The spider plant is a sturdy plant that can tolerate a wide range of temperature fluctuations. Anything between 65–90℉ is ideal for the growth of a spider plant.

You must make sure that the mercury level stays well above 60℉ for good growth. The plant will not take any damage even if the mercury level hits as low as 40℉. But that is something we must avoid as it can stress the plant badly.

Although minor fluctuations in temperature levels will not harm the plant by any means. But an extended exposure to inappropriate temperature can be terrible for the health of the plant.

Lighting

Lighting also plays a significant role in the growth of the plant. When we keep plants inside our home, it is protected from intense sunlight, and the chances of sunburn are really less.

However, the sunlight can get pretty intense outside, especially if enough cover is not provided to the plant. Thus, we need to make sure that our spider plants don’t suffer from a change in lighting conditions.

Can Spider plants take full sun?

No, spider plants cannot be left under full sun. Intense sunlight can burn the leaves of your spider plant, leaving behind crisp foliage. Thus, make sure you always keep these plants under the canopy of trees or under a shade away from direct sunlight.

Also read: How much light do spider plant need?

Watering regime

The watering regime of spider plants will vary when we keep them outdoors. The temperature and humidity level outside varies a lot from what the plant gets inside.

Thus, the water requirement of the plant will be different when we keep them outdoors. Most plants need frequent watering when kept outside as water gets evaporated a lot quicker.

Also Read: How Often Do You Water Spider Plants? (Watering Requirements+Tips)

How often should i water my spider plant outdoors?

It would be best if you never made a fixed regime for watering your spider plant. As the living environment outdoors keep fluctuating, the need for water will vary. Ideally, you must always feel the soil before watering the plant.

It is essential to let the soil dry out before you water your spider plant again. If the soil remains wet at all times, then the risk of root rot and fungal infection increases significantly.

Also read: Should you mist your spider plants?

Placement

The placement of the spider plant is crucial as it can draw the line between survival and death. Spider plant prefers bright, indirect lighting.

Thus, it would help if you ensured the plant is not exposed to bright, direct sunlight that can burn the foliage.

Where can I put my spider plant outside?

There are a lot of spots that are suitable for the placement of spider plants outdoors.

You can place them under the canopy of a large tree, on your porch, on your patio, or just beside your walkway.

Wherever you decide to keep them, just make sure the plant doesn’t get direct sunlight, and they shall be all good.

Pest

Pest can be annoying to deal with, especially when you place the plants outside. The probability of a pest attack on the spider plant goes up significantly if they remain wet.

Thus, you need to make sure the soil remains somewhat dry. You can also use a neem oil spray preventively to avoid any significant pest infestation on your plants.

Also Read: How To Get Rid Of Spider Plant Bugs? (Common Bugs+Solution)

How to move indoor spider plants outside?

To ensure the health and growth of your spider plant, we need to move them gradually. Here are a few steps you need to take to make the transition smooth and stress-free.

1. Briefly move your spider plant outside under a shade for a few hours and bring them back in.
2. Repeat the process for a few days and increase the duration you leave them outside by a few hours daily.
3. After moving them in and out under the shade for a few days, you need to move them under the morning/evening sun for a few hours.
4. By repeating the same process for a few more days, you will accustom the spider plant to new lighting conditions.
5. Now, you can finally leave them outside for an entire day and night.
6. Inspect the plant for possible damage on the following day.
7. If everything seems right, you can leave your spider plant outside.
8. However, make sure you place them in a spot where they don’t get sunburned.
9. Also, check for watering needs every few days. Plants housed outside needs frequent watering and fertilization.
10. Spray the neem oil once a month to avoid any possible pest problems.
11. Lastly, examine the plant carefully following a bad weather day.

When to bring spider plants inside?

Spider plants do well until the first frost hits your area. You must bring your spider plant inside before your first frost because frost can badly damage your spider plant’s leaves.

For most people, mid-late fall would be an ideal time to get your spider plant in as you don’t want to risk your plant’s health, especially before the winter hits.

Final Thoughts

Should you keep your spider plant outdoors? Spider plants can be kept outside, provided you transition them slowly and provide adequate care to your plant. You should never move your spider plant outside suddenly as it can shock the plant leading to stunted growth and wilting of leaves.

If you live in a colder region where frost lasts till late spring, you might have to wait for 2-3 weeks even after the last frost.

While too much sun can scorch the leaves of your spider plant, an unpredicted frost can do intense damage as well. It can be challenging for a spider plant to recover from frost damage.

Apart from that, you need to ensure you provide the plant with appropriate lighting and water. Cold drafts and pests can be trouble as well, so keep an eye out for the same as well.

With all these taken care of, spider plant shall do fine through spring, summer, and early fall outdoors. However, after that, you need to bring them inside to avoid any frost damage.

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Source: Spider plant guide, Spider plant intro.