The following remarks by
the president of the Michigan Cactus and Succulent Society appearing in the July 2001
issue of their newsletter, The Spinal Column, are specific to cacti and succulents but
apply equally to bromeliads (succulent or otherwise).
It is particularly important to understand the principles, which Lou Kilbert
summarizes very effectively. QUESTION, the following question was put
to me recently: What succulents shouldbe placed out-of-doors in the sun and which ones
would be best placed in the shade?
Just about all of your houseplants
will benefit from a summer out-of-doors
The first problem that
you face is that your plants have been trying for many long months to adjust to the long
dark days of winter inside your home where the light is even dimmer. Just picture the
effect when you walk from the relatively dark interior of your home into the bright summer
sunlight. There is at least a moment when you can't see; you need to adjust to the high
light intensity. And that's in summer! In winter, the dimming effect of your house would
be even greater although you don't notice it as much. Even plants grown in a greenhouse
need a period of adjustment before they go into the full sun of a summer day.
Because of this when
you put your plants out, put them in at least partial shade. I use a large red maple tree
for shade in the backyard. After two weeks, some of these plants can go into full sun. It
is best to keep plants that are in full sun well watered. If a plant is uncomfortable
because of the heat, it cannot move itself under an awning or tree to get relief. If it
has sufficient water, it may be able to avoid sunburn. That doesn't mean keeping the soil
soggy or letting the pot set in water for days on end! Tall columnar and most
barrel cacti will definitely benefit from a summer in the sun. If the plant is in too
small a pot, it may be hard to give it enough water, so a plant that is under-potted may
suffer sunburn whereas the same plant in a good sized pot that is watered regularly will
not show the same effect. In general the smaller barrels need some shade, especially from
the afternoon's hot sun. Rebutias, Gymnocalyciums and some Lobivias, are in this class. In
nature, they grow in the shade oftall grasses, although not under
trees.
You will have a much
better chance of getting your cacti to flower if they summer out-of-doors. Grandma kept
her Christmas cactus on an unheated porch in the winter but put it out in full sun on a
tree stump in the backyard for the summer. She did the same with her orchid cacti as well;
although, since they were larger, they sat on the ground. I keep my orchid cacti in the
shade for convenience. They can take full sun. There is more to this story than full sun
versus shade. Is your sunny position open to the air? You should provide good ventilation
in the sun, and in the shade. Usually, the problem is not too much sun-light but too much
heat!! That's why you need good airflow. On the other hand, some locations get an excess
of wind and that can be drying which accentuates sunburning. In shade, muggy, still air
gets excessively humid, and that promotes fungus diseases.
There are aesthetic reasons for keeping
your succulents in the shade. Sunburn is obviously ugly and scarring. Some people like
their plants green-green! In the sun, they will probably take on all sorts of colors that
many of us admire. Plants in full sun require more frequent watering than plants kept in
the shade. Therefore, they are easier to care for in the shade.
Whitish-grayish or furry leafed plants
generally tolerate sun better than plants that are deep, dark green. White or yellow
variegated plants require more light than all green plants. Finally, plants kept
out-of-doors in summer will be resistant to insects and diseases. With so many benefits,
why not put your plants outside? With a large collection, like mine, it's a lot of work (1
wish I could put them all out!) but it's worth it.
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