Plants that have been grown in a greenhouse environment must be hardened off prior to being planted outside. Many of our plants offered at the Plant & Garden Expo have not been hardened off and will need to be given extra care before going into your garden
Hardening off is the process of adapting a plant that has been grown in a greenhouse,
indoors, or under protective shelter to full outdoor exposure. A severe setback in growth may occur it indoor grown plants are planted outdoors without a transition period.
To acclimatize plants for outdoor conditions, place the plants in a shaded, protected area
outdoors. Then each day, move the plants out exposing them to more and more sunlight.
Reduce the frequency of watering, but don’t let the plants wilt. Allow the hardening process to
take a week or two.
As a result, plants will accumulate carbohydrates and cell walls will thicken, thus changing soft, succulent growth to firmer, harder tissue. This toughening process reduces the shock which would result from a sudden move from cozy indoor conditions to harsher outdoor conditions.