As temperatures soar, your indoor potted plants can start to feel the heat just like you do. With the right care, your indoor potted plants can stay healthy, hydrated, and full of life—even during the hottest months of the year. July is a crucial time to pay extra attention to your indoor potted plants, whether you’re keeping cool at home or heading out on vacation.
We asked our HortyGirl Potted Plant expert to share top 5 essential tips for summer plant care to help beat the heat along with a few low maintenance indoor potted plant picks that thrive in warm weather. Keep reading to learn more.
Essential Tips For Summer Plant Care
1. Watering Tips For Summer Plant Care
Keeping your plants hydrated in summer is essential, but more water doesn’t always mean better care. In fact, overwatering is one of the quickest ways to stress your plants. Water early in the morning or late in the evening to minimize evaporation, and always check soil moisture first using a bamboo or wood skewer.
Use room-temperature water to avoid shocking the roots, and consider grouping your plants to boost humidity naturally. For extra moisture retention, try mulching the soil with moss or decorative stones.
2. Lighting Tips For Summer Plant Care
Bright, indirect light is usually best in summer for most indoor potted plants. Be sure to also check lighting requirements for your indoor potted plant variety before adjusting the lighting.
Direct sun through windows can be too intense for most indoor potted plants and may scorch leaves, especially during midday. It’s best to move sensitive plants a few feet back from sunny windows or use sheer curtains to diffuse bright sunlight.
If your space gets too dim, rotate your plants regularly to ensure even growth and consider supplemental lighting with a grow bulb if needed. It’s also a good idea to observe the leaf color and texture, as faded or crispy edges often mean too much sun.
3. Temperature Tips For Summer Plant Care
Most indoor plants thrive in stable, moderate temperatures between 65–75°F (18–24°C). Sudden shifts in temperatures, whether from intense sun, air conditioning or open windows can stress plants and cause leaf damage. Keep your plants away from direct hot sunlight, especially south or west facing windows during the peak afternoon heat.
If needed, relocate plants temporarily to cooler areas of your home or use sheer curtains to soften strong rays. Also, avoid placing plants near air condition units, fans or vents, as these can cause leaves to dry out or curl. A consistent temperature creates a calm environment for steady growth.
4. Pruning and Trimming Tips For Summer Plant Care
Summer is prime time for growth, which makes it the perfect season to give your plants a little grooming. Remove any dead, yellowing or damaged leaves to help your plant redirect its energy toward new, healthy growth. Use clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears to avoid spreading disease.
Regular trimming also improves airflow around the plant and keeps pests at bay. You can also shape plants that tend to get leggy, such as the Philodendron potted plant, to encourage fuller growth. For flowering varieties, such as the Calandiva potted plant, deadheading spent blooms helps encourage more blooms throughout the season.
5. Monitor Humidity and Airflow Tips For Summer Plant Care
Summer heat can often bring dry indoor air, which can dehydrate indoor potted plants that crave moisture. Boost humidity by misting leaves in the morning, setting up a room humidifier or creating humidity trays by placing pebbles and water beneath plant pots. Be sure the pots sit above the waterline to keep roots from getting soaked.
You can also group your indoor potted plants together to help create a more humid microclimate. At the same time, ensure there’s enough airflow for your indoor plants, as stagnant air can promote mold or fungal growth. Use fans on low settings to keep air moving gently, but avoid placing plants in direct drafts.
Vacation Proofing Tips for Summer Plant Care
Planning a summer getaway? Here are some bonus summer plant care tips to help your indoor potted plants stay healthy while you’re away. Start by watering deeply, allowing moisture to fully saturate the root zone, as this gives your plants a reserve to draw from. Move your indoor plants out of direct sunlight to slow down evaporation and reduce stress. Group plants together to create a mini humidity zone, helping them retain moisture more effectively.
If you are away for a longer period of time, consider setting up a plant-sitting plan with a friend, neighbour or family member, and leave clear instructions tailored to each plant’s needs.
For shorter trips, place pots on a tray filled with water and pebbles to boost humidity and offer light hydration. If you do this, ensure the base of each pot rests above the waterline, and does not sit directly in water to prevent root rot.
Top Indoor Potted Plants Perfect for the Summer
Some indoor potted plants are built for summer. They’re naturally adaptable to warmer temperatures, can tolerate a bit of neglect and still manage to look effortlessly stylish. If you’re looking to keep your living decor vibrant without constant maintenance, these indoor potted plants are the perfect choices:
Sansevieria Potted Plant
Both hardy and stylish, the Sansevieria potted plant tolerates low light, but also thrives in bright spaces, making them ideal for everything from sunny windowsills to shaded corners. An added bonus is that they can help purify the air indoors.
Zebra Haworthia Potted Plant
This compact succulent brings personality and texture to any shelf or desk. The Zebra Haworthia potted plant stores water in its fleshy leaves, so it only needs light watering every few weeks. This makes them perfect for hot weather or for forgetful plant parents.
Aloe Vera Potted Plant
A sun-loving succulent, the Aloe Vera potted plant not only thrives in warm, dry conditions, but also doubles as a natural skin soother for mild sunburns. It’s best to keep the Aloe Vera potted plant in your kitchen or bathroom for easy access and bright light.
Peace Lily Potted Plant
Surprisingly adaptable, the Peace Lily potted plant does well in moderate to low light and appreciates a consistent watering schedule. In summer, their elegant white blooms and deep green leaves can brighten any space. Be sure to keep the Peace Lily potted plant out of direct sunlight to prevent leaf scorch.
Finishing Up
Both you and your indoor potted plants deserve to enjoy the summer. With a few simple adjustments, your indoor potted plants can stay fresh, vibrant and stylish even through the hottest months of the year. Whether you’re relaxing at home or heading off on a summer getaway, these essential tips for summer plant care will help your indoor potted plants thrive all season long.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore our Plant Care blog for tips from our HortyGirl Potted Plant expert or visit the Green Living section of our blog for styling ideas to elevate your living decor with indoor potted plants year-round.