Should you soak your houseplants in the rain? We asked L.A. experts

We understandably get enthusiastic about much-needed rainfall in Los Angeles. A lot in order that when a “storm of the season” hits, plant dad and mom may marvel if it’s a good suggestion to take their dusty fiddle-leaf figs and Monstera deliciosa outdoors for a soak within the rain.

With extra rain anticipated this week, we reached out to some Los Angeles houseplant specialists for recommendation, they usually all agreed that it’s most likely not a good suggestion within the winter months.

One purpose, mentioned Danae Horst, creator of “Houseplants for All” and proprietor of Folia Collective in Eagle Rock, is that houseplants which are acclimated to the indoors will get harassed extra rapidly while you take them outside.

“Within the temperate months, so long as you possibly can put them within the shade and don’t depart the crops outdoors too lengthy (ideally one to 2 hours max), it’s most likely advantageous,” Horst mentioned. “In scorching months, you’d solely wish to do that within the early morning when it’s nonetheless cooler. Preserve crops within the shade and produce them in rapidly. If temps are near or under 50 levels, I’d say skip it — the colder air plus colder rainwater might trigger the roots to get too harassed.”

Drainage is one other essential consideration, particularly when confronted with heavy rainfall.

“If crops are in pots with out drainage or with small holes, you’ll wish to monitor how a lot water is filling them very intently to keep away from soggy potting combine,” Horst mentioned. “Different minor dangers embrace pests and that type of advantageous black mud that covers every part at any time when it rains for the primary time shortly and all of the particles within the air get pulled down with the rain.”

L.A. County grasp gardener Julie Strnad encourages plant lovers to be delicate about chilly temperatures even in a metropolis like Los Angeles, which has skilled record-high temperatures this 12 months. “Should you’re considering of taking a houseplant outdoors within the rain simply to offer it a shower and totally soak the roots, it will be higher to do this within the kitchen sink or a lukewarm bathe,” she mentioned. “Taking it outdoors when it’s so chilly could be a really surprising expertise for a plant. Personally I’d not do it at the moment of 12 months.”

Though a light-weight rain may be good for houseplants, Annette Gutierrez of Potted warns that harsh situations can harm your plant. And the sudden change in temperature, such because the chilly temperatures attributable to excessive desert winds in Southern California, “can freak a plant out” Gutierrez mentioned.

It’s additionally straightforward for probably the most well-meaning of residence botanists to neglect their houseplants are outside. “I’ve seen so many individuals neglect that they left their crops outdoors after which uncover they’ve been fried as soon as the solar comes again out,” Horst mentioned.

“They assume they’ll be OK for a day or two,” added Gutierrez, “after which the following day the plant will likely be utterly fried.”

Each agreed that a greater apply is likely to be to gather rainwater in a bucket and use the water to feed houseplants.

“I can simply perceive how somebody would assume it’s a fast, straightforward answer to cleansing up your houseplants by letting Mom Nature do the work,” Strnad mentioned. “A spring or summer season rain is an efficient time to do this.”