Many houseplants are of tropical origin. This means they cannot stand full sun for more than an hour a day, or temperatures below 55 degrees F at night. Chinese Evergreen (aglaonemas), Aluminum Plant, Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia), Grape Ivy (Cissus incisa), and indoor begonias may receive injury or even drop their leaves if the night time temperature dips below 55 degrees.

English ivy varieties, the cast-iron plant and the fiddler-leaf fig on the other hand can tolerate temperatures as low as 40 degrees F, but these plants should not be exposed to such low temperatures too often.

Many plants cannot take full doses of bright sunlight outdoors. Cacti are the exception, but full sunlight often causes bleaching and leaf drop on most other houseplants. So you should select an area on the east side of your house, where the sun is filtered after 9 am.

The bright outdoor light means a boost in plant growth, hence the vacationing houseplants will require adequate fertilizer and water. Just because your plants have moved outside doesn't mean you can neglect them. Plants kept outdoors often run into insect attack. That calls for close inspection of the plants twice a week.

Some flowering plants, such as poinsettias, azaleas, and amaryllis, will do well outdoors. It is important to bring your houseplants indoors in the fall before the nighttime temperatures start to drop.