When Can You Move Plants Back Outside After Winter?

Many container plants must be safely stored from freezing temperatures in the winter. You either moved them to a slightly warmer spot to shelter, like a garage, or indoors to a windowsill. Either way, you’re eager to move your overwintered plants back outside and start enjoying patio weather.

You shouldn’t rush this process, though. Overwintered plants must be gradually hardened off, and some may not be able to handle cold nights. Here’s what to know about moving containers back outside in spring.

The Best Time To Move Overwintered Plants Outside

Some plants may be able to handle lower temperatures, but overwintered plants should never be set outdoors in spring until all danger of frost has passed. For more winter-hardy potted plants, wait until the temperature stays above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Tender tropicals shouldn’t be moved outside until the temperature stays above 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Low temperatures can slow plant growth. Keep an eye on overnight temperatures, which often drop much lower than in the daytime. In some cases, you may want to put plants outside during the day and bring them back in for the evening.

How To Move Overwintered Plants Outside: Very Slowly

Plants that have been basking in the gentle warmth of your home need to reacclimate to the outdoors through a hardening-off process. They need time to get used to temperature fluctuations, strong sunlight, and stiff breezes. Here’s how to do it:

1. Place your plants in a shady spot on a warm day. If it will dip below 50 at night, bring them back indoors. Repeat this for a couple of days.
2. Next, place plants in a location that gets some direct sun in morning. Start with an hour or two of sun the first day, then gradually increase exposure.
3. After a week, you can move most potted plants into their final, sunny location. With more sensitive plants, you may choose to go slower and take two weeks for this process.
4. If you are hardening off vegetable seedlings, plant them in the garden after a week or so (check soil temperature requirements before doing so). Add a layer of organic mulch to keep them warm.

Even after you have hardened off plants, you’ll still want to keep an eye on the weather report. Bring frost-tender plants indoors if you have a nighttime cold snap. Veggies you planted in the ground can be covered with sheets or frost cloth on cold nights.