Easy to maintain, the Ficus is a plant that is often chosen to decorate interiors. Native to tropical countries, the Ficus appreciates humidity and mild or even hot temperatures. If this plant is grown indoors, it is still possible to bring it out in your garden or on your balcony when the weather is right. Thus, your Ficus will be able to benefit from the heat of the summer and the soft rays of the sun of the spring. When to take out your Ficus? You will finally have the answer to this question in our article!
Take out your Ficus when the outside temperatures allow it
The Ficus appreciates temperatures between 15 and 20 ° C. Indeed, it is under such conditions that it can develop at best and grow properly. In general, the ideal temperature is considered to be the one you will find in your interior. However, with the arrival of fine weather, you can easily place your Ficus outside.
So one thing to remember: you can take your Ficus outside when the outside temperatures are close to the inside temperatures of your home. The Ficus will thrive in partial shade, an exposure close to its natural environment, the tropical undergrowth. Special care must be taken to ensure that the outside temperatures are neither too hot nor too cold. Below 15 ° C and above 20 ° C, your Ficus may suffer and develop certain defense mechanisms such as discoloration or falling leaves. In particular, you must be particularly vigilant against frost, which will undoubtedly cause great harm to your plant.
Take out your Ficus gradually
If the Ficus is a resistant plant, it still remains sensitive to sudden changes in the environment. Whether your Ficus comes out of your living room or comes from the garden center, it will always need to gradually get used to its new environment outside. When you take your Ficus out in the spring, we recommend that you provide it with a period of acclimatization. This period consists of gradually exposing the Ficus to external conditions such as temperature, wind or light. These parameters will change and you have to give the plant time to get used to them little by little. Thus, the Ficus will need at least two weeks to get used to its new environment and this will prevent it from suffering some damage.
It is important not to take your Ficus out until spring, when the temperatures are mild. To help him get used to his new surroundings as well as possible, take him out only during the day. You can start to acclimatize your Ficus when the outside night temperature is above 10 - 12 ° C. Then place the plant in a partially shaded corner and protected from the wind. You can then gradually provide the Ficus with increasingly sunny conditions while always protecting it from direct sunlight. So, take it out so that it can benefit from the morning sun or the late afternoon sun. So after about a week, your Ficus will withstand the outside heat and sunlight better. This will allow you to extend your stay outside, as long as the weather conditions allow it.
Take out your Ficus while protecting it from the aggressions of nature
Used to very humid environments, the Ficus will appreciate the rain which reminds it of its original tropical environment. The rain will also help rid the Ficus of certain pests that could damage its leaves or roots. However, we must be careful that the Ficus is not subjected to too heavy rains which could then seriously damage the plant. Thus, it is recommended to avoid taking your Ficus outside when it is raining heavily and the winds are strong.
If you decide to take your Ficus outside, always install it in the shelter of a tree, a shrub bed or a wall in order to protect it from direct sunlight. If you don't have a garden, you can of course put your Ficus on your balcony or on a window sill. In this case, you can place a filter cloth or a mosquito net to protect the plant from the incident rays of the sun.
To protect your Ficus, you should not water the plant when it is too hot or if it is in the sun. Indeed, the water drops will tend to have a "magnifying" effect and you risk causing burns on the leaves of the Ficus. To avoid this risk, water your plant in the morning and evening, when temperatures are cooler and the sun is lower in the sky.
If the Ficus is a houseplant, it will still enjoy spending time outside when the temperatures allow. Even though the Ficus is hardy, unsuitable weather conditions could hurt the plant. So be careful to follow our advice to get your Ficus out at the best time.
