15 Common Houseplants That Might Be Better Off Outside Your Home
Bringing greenery indoors is a great way to liven up your space, but not every plant is a perfect houseguest. Some popular houseplants can be a bit high-maintenance, while others might cause issues you didn’t see coming.
From rapid growers that take over your living room to ones that attract pests or struggle with indoor conditions, a few plants are just better suited for life outside. You might even have one of these troublemakers sitting on your windowsill right now!
If you’re wondering which plants might be happier outdoors, here are 15 that might not belong inside.
1. Fiddle Leaf Fig
Ah, the majestic Fiddle Leaf Fig, beloved by interior decorators and Instagram influencers alike. But this leafy giant, with its broad, violin-shaped leaves, is a bit of a drama queen when it comes to indoor living.
Its grand size can overshadow your living room’s ambiance, and it’s known to sulk in less-than-perfect humidity levels.
If you don’t have a perfectly sunny spot and a whole lot of patience, this fig might just be happier basking in the glory of your backyard. Plus, the great outdoors provides the perfect stage for its towering stature to truly shine, without crowding your couch.
2. Boston Fern
Not everyone can handle the delicate touch of a Boston Fern, especially when it decides your living room is too dry for its liking. This feathery frond-filled friend loves high humidity, making it more suited for a tropical retreat than a centrally heated home.
A porch or backyard with a bit of shade might be the perfect spot for this fern to flourish. There, it can enjoy the breezy embrace of nature, while you enjoy fewer rogue fronds on your floor.
3. Rubber Plant
The Rubber Plant might look like it’s ready to rock your living room with its shiny, dense leaves, but it packs a surprising punch of messiness.
As it grows, it can shed its lower leaves, leaving a trail of green that might clash with your minimalist décor. And if you have pets, beware: its sap is a sticky foe that loves to linger on fur and paws.
Outdoors, this plant can spread its wings and grow as it pleases, without turning your home into a leafy obstacle course.
Embrace its growth potential and move it outside, where its glossy leaves can glisten without indoor limitations. Who needs indoor clutter when you can have an outdoor star?
4. English Ivy
Tangled in the romantic charm of an old English novel, English Ivy might seem like the perfect indoor plant. But beware, this creeping wonder is more like a mischievous cousin that won’t sit still at family gatherings. Indoors, it can spread unexpectedly, entangling itself in places you’d rather it didn’t.
Given the chance, English Ivy will happily climb outdoor structures, offering a graceful green curtain for your garden.
Allow it the freedom to roam with the wind and climb to its heart’s content. Let it live out its ivy fantasies in the open air, where it can impress without causing indoor chaos!
5. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera, the plant of calm and healing, could double as a personal spa treatment. However, this sun-loving succulent has a penchant for soaking up rays and doesn’t thrive in dimly lit corners. Indoors, its growth can become stunted, and its leaves may start to lose their signature plumpness.
Allow Aloe Vera to stretch its spiky arms towards the sky in a sunny outdoor spot, where it can bask in natural light.
Outside, it can thrive and be ready for any soothing gel extractions you might need. Why not let this medicinal marvel enjoy the sunshine it craves?
6. Areca Palm
With dreams of swaying in tropical winds, this palm yearns to stretch its feathery fronds beyond the confines of four walls. Indoors, it’s a constant challenge to keep its humidity levels right and its leaves from browning, as it quickly outgrows its pot.
But outside, it thrives, gracefully waving in the breeze and transforming your garden into a tropical paradise. This beauty deserves the space to grow tall and proud—let it bask in the outdoors, where it can truly shine!
7. Spider Plant
In the world of houseplants, Spider Plants are the fun-loving pranksters, sending out little plantlets like surprise gifts.
However, they can quickly overrun your indoor space, with long, arching leaves that dream of dangling from greater heights. Indoors, they might seem like they’re in permanent time-out, hanging from the ceiling.
Outdoors, Spider Plants can let their hair down, metaphorically speaking, as their plantlets cascade freely. They’re perfect for hanging baskets in a sunny spot, where their playful nature can truly thrive.
8. Peace Lily
Peaceful in name, but secretly a bit of a water hog, the Peace Lily thirsts for attention. Its beautiful white blooms might seduce you, but indoors, it often becomes a pouty guest if not watered just right. Those dramatic droops can be a bit much, especially when they happen more often than expected.
In the fresh air, a Peace Lily can absorb moisture more naturally, reducing its indoor theatrics. Placing it outside allows it to focus on looking pretty without demanding constant supervision!
9. Jade Plant
With thick leaves and sturdy stems, this plant is a philosopher of the garden, contemplating sunlight and space. Indoors, it can become sulky if it doesn’t get enough rays to fuel its photosynthetic musings. Window sills often fall short for its love of bright light.
But outside, it thrives, soaking up the sun and growing resiliently, developing its unique charm. This succulent philosopher belongs in your garden, where it can ponder deeply and grow strong in the sunshine
10. Dieffenbachia
Known as the ‘dumb cane,’ Dieffenbachia is the quiet, quirky type, with large leaves that can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming indoors. It’s picky about light and moisture, and its sap can irritate sensitive skin.
Outdoors, Dieffenbachia thrives in the balance of light and shade it craves, growing gracefully without crowding your space. Let it flourish in the fresh air, where its unique personality can be admired from a safe distance!
11. Philodendron
Like mellow jazz enthusiasts, Philodendrons love a bit of rhythm and flow. Indoors, they can get tangled in their own vines, craving more space than your average bookshelf provides. Without enough indirect light, they might lose their groove and start to droop.
But outside, they can cascade gracefully, finding their rhythm once again. A semi-shaded spot in the garden lets Philodendrons stretch out and sway to nature’s beat, free from the confines of your home.
12. Schefflera
Often dreaming of towering over the jungle, Scheffleras love to stretch towards the ceiling indoors, pushing the limits of your space. Without enough bright, indirect light, they can become leggy and sparse, losing their full potential.
Outside, though, they can truly thrive, embracing the open sky and spreading their umbrella-like leaves to create a lush, tropical canopy in your garden. Give them the freedom to grow tall and strong, where they can live out their jungle dreams
13. Cactus
Prickly and proud, cacti are like the rock stars of the plant kingdom, needing their own stage. While they might be manageable indoors, their love for intense, direct sunlight can leave them feeling a bit underwhelmed on a windowsill.
In a sunny outdoor setting, cacti can truly rock out, soaking up the rays and showing off their unique shapes. They’re perfect for a desert-themed garden where they can bask in the spotlight. Let your cactus channel its inner superstar outside, where it belongs!
14. Bamboo
With its rapid growth and towering presence, bamboo is the overachiever of the plant world, quickly outgrowing its pot and demanding more space indoors. Its need for sunlight and room often leaves it longing for the outdoors.
In the garden, bamboo can spread out, forming a lush, green screen that sways gently in the breeze. Its natural elegance shines best outside, where it can reach impressive heights. Let bamboo flourish in its rightful place, bringing a peaceful, tranquil vibe to your outdoor space!
15. Begonia
With vibrant blooms and striking foliage, begonias are the artists of the plant world. Indoors, they may struggle with limited light and dry air, causing their colorful petals to fade. These beauties thrive on humidity and a touch of sunlight.
Outside, begonias can truly shine, showcasing their artistic flair with stunning flowers. A semi-shaded spot in the garden lets them flourish, free from the challenges of indoor conditions. Let begonias paint your garden with their lively colors, where they can be their true, vibrant selves!