Help Plants to Survive Hot Summer

QUESTION: Some of my friends put their houseplants outside during the summer months. Is this a good idea?

ANSWER: My position on “summer vacations” for houseplants is this: If a plant is doing well indoors, let it be. While all houseplants love an outdoor summer vacation, sometimes it can cause problems when it’s time to bring them back inside.

The plants can become so contented in the perfect growing conditions outdoors that they often have a difficult time readjusting when you bring them back inside for the fall and winter--lots of leaf drop, even death. And there’s always the problem of pests getting into the plants.

My advice is this: If you’ve got temperamental plants like Boston ferns or flowering plants such as azaleas, begonias, or gardenias, go ahead and take them outside for the summer.

But be sure to remember to keep them protected from all harsh elements, including direct sunshine, make sure they’re kept moist with frequent waterings, and inspect them carefully for pests when you get ready to bring them back indoors.

Dropping Leaves Not Unusual for Ficus

Q: A few weeks ago I bought a weeping fig tree, and now I’m the one who’s weeping! I brought it home, put it in a bright spot, watered it when it dried out, and fed it regularly--everything the nursery people told me to do. But still, half the leaves have fallen off! Is it dying? What can I do to save it?

A: It’s not dying, it’s just doing what almost every weeping fig tree (Ficus benjamina) does at least once in its lifetime--dropping leaves. Unless I miss my guess, you’ve got nothing to weep about. Continue to cultivate it as you’ve been doing and those leaves will come back good as new. Once the tree has acclimated to the living conditions in your home, subsequent leaf-droppage should be minimal.