Complete Gardening
Many houseplants, though popular, are not suitable for indoor environments. They might require more sunlight, space, or specific humidity levels than a typical home provides.
Some could even pose health risks to pets or humans. Understanding these factors is crucial in making informed decisions about which plants to keep indoors. Here, we explore 32 common houseplants that might thrive better outside the comfort of your home.
1. Oleander
Oleander, with its captivating pink blossoms and evergreen foliage, might seem an ideal houseplant. However, its toxicity poses a significant risk, especially in households with curious pets or children. Even a small ingestion can be harmful. Outdoors, it can bloom profusely with ample sunlight.
Despite its beauty, Oleander demands more sunlight and space than typically available indoors, thriving best in spacious gardens. Caution is advised when handling this alluring yet dangerous plant.
2. English Ivy
English Ivy, often admired for its lush, cascading leaves, can become invasive indoors. Its aggressive growth demands constant pruning, which is a tedious task for busy plant owners. If unchecked, it can overrun other plants.
In its natural habitat, English Ivy thrives in shaded forests, spreading across the ground and climbing trees. When kept indoors, its need for humidity and cool temperatures often goes unmet. It’s better suited to outdoor environments where it can roam freely.
3. Ficus
The Ficus tree, a symbol of tropical elegance, often struggles inside homes. Its large size and need for bright, indirect light make it difficult to manage in typical indoor settings. Ficus trees also drop leaves when stressed, adding to maintenance.
Outdoors, they can grow into magnificent trees, creating natural shade and beauty. Their complex root systems thrive better when given space to expand. For those without ample indoor room, the Ficus is a challenging choice.
4. Boston Fern
Boston Ferns, with their feathery fronds, crave humidity and consistent moisture, conditions often lacking indoors. Without these, they quickly develop brown, crispy leaves. Maintaining such a microclimate can be strenuous for homeowners.
In native rainforests, these ferns can truly flourish, benefiting from natural humidity and shade. This plant’s need for specific care and environment makes it less ideal for indoor living, despite its popularity as a decorative piece.
5. Sago Palm
The Sago Palm, with its exotic, prehistoric appearance, requires more care than meets the eye. Toxic to pets, its seeds and leaves pose a danger if ingested. Indoors, it often struggles with low light and dry air.
In tropical settings, it can grow robust and healthy, enjoying ample sunlight and humidity. Despite its allure, the Sago Palm demands specific conditions to truly thrive, making it a challenging plant to house indoors safely.
6. Rubber Plant
The Rubber Plant, known for its glossy leaves, often faces difficulties indoors. It demands bright light and consistent watering – needs that are hard to fulfill in many homes. Its height can also become unmanageable.
When planted outdoors, it can grow into a stunning feature, enjoying sunlight and rain. This plant’s preferred environment is one of space and light, conditions that indoor settings may struggle to provide, making it a less suitable houseplant.
7. Peace Lily
Peace Lilies are cherished for their elegant white spathes, yet they require more care than assumed. They thrive in high humidity and filtered light, conditions challenging to replicate indoors. Their soil needs to remain moist without being waterlogged.
In nature, Peace Lilies flourish in damp, low-light areas such as alongside streams. Although they can adapt somewhat, their true beauty and health are best seen in natural, supportive environments.
8. Asparagus Fern
The Asparagus Fern, with its airy, delicate fronds, prefers humid, warm environments, making indoor life a struggle. It can quickly become leggy and sparse without enough sunlight. This plant also has sharp spines, which can be an unwelcome surprise indoors.
In the right outdoor conditions, it grows lush and full, often becoming a beautiful ground cover. For those unable to meet its demanding needs, letting it thrive outside might be the best choice.
9. Bird of Paradise
The Bird of Paradise, known for its dramatic blooms resembling a bird in flight, demands more than indoor environments typically offer. Its need for bright light and adequate space often goes unmet, leading to stunted growth.
In the wild, this plant thrives in sunny, open areas, showcasing its exotic flowers. While its beauty is undeniable, providing the right conditions for a Bird of Paradise indoors proves challenging, making outdoor cultivation a better option.
10. Castor Bean Plant
The Castor Bean Plant, with its striking foliage, is not suitable for homes due to its extreme toxicity. All parts, especially the seeds, contain ricin, a potent toxin. Ingestion can lead to serious health issues.
It thrives outdoors where it can grow tall and robust, away from curious pets and children. Despite its ornamental appeal, the risks associated with keeping a Castor Bean Plant indoors far outweigh its aesthetic value.
11. Philodendron
Philodendrons, loved for their heart-shaped leaves, often face challenges when kept indoors. They require more humidity and space to climb and sprawl, which can be limiting inside a home. Their aerial roots seek support, which is often unavailable indoors.
In the wild, these plants thrive as they climb trees and enjoy natural humidity. Their preference for such environments makes them better suited to outdoor spaces, where they can truly flourish without restriction.
12. Pothos
Pothos, with its trailing vines and variegated leaves, often struggles indoors if not given proper lighting and humidity. While it’s known for being low-maintenance, true vibrancy comes from consistent care, often hard to maintain indoors.
In their natural habitat, Pothos plants thrive by climbing trees and sprawling across tropical canopies. Their preference for such humid, light-rich environments highlights the challenges of keeping them indoors where these conditions are scarce.
13. Bamboo
Bamboo, often sought for its exotic appeal, requires conditions not easily achieved indoors. Its rapid growth can become overwhelming, and it needs ample sunlight and humidity. Indoors, it often becomes stunted and lacks vitality.
In outdoor settings, Bamboo can grow vigorously, contributing to a serene and lush landscape. Its towering stalks are best suited to open areas where they can sway gracefully, far from the cramped conditions of indoor life.
14. Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia, known for its striking variegated leaves, poses toxicity concerns indoors. Ingestion can lead to irritation and swelling, making it unsuitable for homes with pets and children.
Outdoors, in a controlled greenhouse environment, it thrives with ample humidity and filtered light. Such conditions allow its beauty to be fully appreciated without the associated risks of indoor cultivation. For safety and health, Dieffenbachia is better kept outside.
15. Monstera
Monstera, with its iconic split leaves, can become overwhelming indoors due to its size and growth habit. It requires bright, indirect light and high humidity, conditions often unmet in homes, leading to lackluster growth.
In its native jungle, Monstera climbs trees and spreads with vigor, enjoying the filtered sunlight and humid air. This environment suits it far better than the confines of a typical home, where space and light are often limited.
16. ZZ Plant
The ZZ Plant, known for its waxy leaves and drought tolerance, can suffer indoors from lack of consistent bright light. While hardy, its growth slows without optimal lighting, affecting its overall appearance.
In its native environment, this plant enjoys bright, indirect sunlight and sandy, well-drained soil. Outdoors, it can grow with more vigor and resilience, traits often subdued when confined indoors. For lush growth, the outdoors are more forgiving.
17. Snake Plant
Snake Plants, admired for their structural leaves, can become limp indoors without sufficient light. While known for their air-purifying qualities, they thrive with more sunlight than most indoor spots provide.
In their natural arid landscapes, these plants enjoy bright, warm conditions that fuel their upright growth. Their resilience is best showcased in such environments, where they can grow strong and healthy, unencumbered by the dimness of indoor spaces.
18. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera, famed for its soothing gel, requires more sunlight and less frequent watering than most indoor setups offer. Its succulent nature struggles with overwatering, a common issue indoors.
In the desert, Aloe Vera thrives with abundant sun and sandy soil, flourishing without needing constant attention. This robust plant’s true vitality is best displayed in arid conditions where it can grow freely, absorbing ample sunlight without restraint.
19. Jade Plant
The Jade Plant, beloved for its thick, succulent leaves, often suffers indoors from overwatering and lack of sunlight. Its growth becomes stunted without access to bright conditions.
In the wild, it thrives on rocky hillsides, enjoying full sun and well-drained soil. As a houseplant, it demands care and attention to mimic these conditions, making outdoor placement a more advantageous option for robust growth and vitality.
20. Croton
Crotons, with their bold, colorful foliage, require more light and humidity than most indoor environments provide. Without these, their colors fade, leaving dull and lackluster leaves.
In tropical gardens, they receive ample sunlight and moisture, conditions that enhance their vibrant hues. While striking, the demands of maintaining a Croton indoors can be challenging, making outdoor cultivation preferable for those seeking to enjoy its full splendor.
21. Dracaena
Dracaenas are valued for their dramatic foliage, yet they need more light than typically found indoors. Their growth can become sparse and leggy without it, reducing their visual appeal.
Outdoors, Dracaenas thrive with bright, filtered sunlight and can grow into impressive specimens. Their natural environment supports healthy growth, offering space and light that indoor settings struggle to provide. For those desiring lush and full plants, outdoor care is ideal.
22. Norfolk Island Pine
The Norfolk Island Pine, often admired as a festive decoration, requires bright, cool conditions difficult to maintain indoors. It can suffer indoors from dry air and lack of space, leading to needle drop and reduced growth.
In coastal areas, it thrives with fresh air and ample sunlight, growing into a magnificent tree. For those unable to replicate its natural environment indoors, outdoor cultivation allows the Norfolk Pine to flourish, showcasing its full beauty and grandeur.
23. Lemon Tree
Lemon Trees, cherished for their fragrant blooms and fruit, demand more sunlight and humidity than most indoor settings provide. Without these, fruit production and growth are significantly hampered.
In sunlit orchards, Lemon Trees thrive, offering abundant fruit and lush foliage. Their need for consistent warmth and moisture makes them more suitable for outdoor gardening. For those seeking the vibrant growth of a Lemon Tree, outdoor environments are far more conducive.
24. Gardenia
Gardenias, known for their fragrant flowers, need more humidity and light than most homes offer. Indoors, they can become prone to pests and fail to bloom, losing their essence.
In outdoor gardens, Gardenias flourish with proper care, rewarding gardeners with their aromatic blooms. Their specific needs make them better suited to environments where humidity and light are plentiful, allowing them to thrive in full glory.
25. Dumb Cane
Dumb Cane, with its bold foliage, poses a toxicity risk indoors. Its sap can cause irritation, making it unsafe for homes with pets and children.
In controlled environments like greenhouses, it thrives with ample humidity and indirect light. Such settings allow its beauty to shine without the risks associated with indoor placement. For safety and care, housing this plant outdoors is wise, where conditions are better suited to its needs.
26. Umbrella Plant
The Umbrella Plant, with its large, umbrella-like leaves, requires more sunlight and space than most homes can offer. Indoors, it can become leggy and sparse, losing its verdant charm.
In outdoor settings, it enjoys the freedom of growth, basking in sunlight and ample humidity. The conditions outside allow it to reach its full potential, making it a vibrant addition to gardens rather than indoor spaces.
27. Schefflera
Schefflera, known for its umbrella-like foliage, can struggle indoors without sufficient light and humidity. Its growth becomes stunted and leaves can drop, diminishing its appeal.
In the tropics, Schefflera grows vigorously with access to sunlight and rain. These conditions support lush, healthy growth, something often unattainable indoors. Those desiring a thriving plant will find outdoor cultivation more rewarding, showcasing its tropical beauty in full.
28. Rubber Tree
The Rubber Tree, with its large, glossy leaves, often finds indoor conditions limiting. It needs bright, indirect light and ample space to grow fully. Without these, the plant’s health and visual appeal suffer.
In tropical plantations, it thrives with natural light and room to expand. These conditions allow it to grow robustly, making it a beautiful and lush addition to outdoor settings. Indoor growth often pales in comparison to its potential outdoors.
29. Fiddle Leaf Fig
The Fiddle Leaf Fig, famous for its broad, violin-shaped leaves, requires more light and humidity than most indoor spaces can offer. Without these, it becomes prone to leaf drop and stunted growth.
In a garden, it can bask in sunlight, thriving with ample space and fresh air. This environment supports its dramatic foliage, allowing it to reach its full potential. Indoor care often falls short, making outdoor placement ideal for flourishing growth.
30. Palm
Palm trees, iconic symbols of the tropics, often struggle indoors due to insufficient light and space. Their fronds can become brown and dry without the right conditions.
On a sunlit beachfront, Palms thrive, swaying gracefully with the wind. This environment provides the warmth and light they need to flourish. While desired for their exotic appeal, Palms are best suited to outdoor gardens, where they can grow tall and lush without constraint.
31. Yucca
Yucca, with its striking sword-like leaves, needs more sunlight and less water than most homes provide. Indoors, they can become susceptible to root rot and slow growth.
In arid landscapes, Yuccas thrive, enjoying the full sun and well-drained soil. This resilient plant’s true grandeur is best appreciated in such environments, where it can grow robustly and healthily, unhampered by the challenges of indoor care.
32. Prayer Plant
Prayer Plants, admired for their moving leaves, require high humidity and good light, often absent indoors. Without these, their leaves can curl and lose luster.
In the rainforest, they thrive with ample moisture and dappled sunlight, showcasing their full beauty. These specific needs make them better suited to outdoor environments where they can receive the care and conditions they crave, ensuring vibrant and healthy growth.