Houseplants Outside

Houseplants make wonderful outdoor plants in pots, planters, and any other container. They are interestingly eye-catching and are a great addition to shaded areas. Houseplants have quite a variety of foliage with many different shapes and sizes. Some are spiky, some are mounding, and some are trailing. Some have leaf color and flowers which gives contrast to container arrangements.

Propagation
Many houseplants are easy to propagate by cuttings. Take a cutting and put it in a mix of perlite and peat moss. Supply bottom heat if possible and never let it dry out. You will know it is rooted when it doesn’t give when slightly tugged on. Then it can be transplanted into a small pot with regular potting mix. Once established in pots it can be transferred to a larger container.

Cactus can beused to make desert bowls and are easy to propagate as well. Using tongs, a piece can be broken off the mother plant. Set it in soil suitable for cacti. Most will thrive and root. Use good cactus mix soil and breathable containers like terracotta for your planters to provide good drainage. Creativity has no limits. Cacti can be in the sun and watered as needed. It’s a myth that cacti like to be dry all the time. They like water but they don’t want to sit in water. That’s where providing good drainage comes in. A terracotta bowl with a drain hole and a nice variety of cacti can create a miniature desert setting.

Moving Houseplants Outside
Be sure the temperature is warm enough before putting any houseplants outside. As with any other tender annual, they won’t thrive in cold weather. Expect them to die with the first frost in the fall unless they are moved back into the house to overwinter. They are houseplants after all. Below is an example of a large pot in a place that gets very little light. It is made up of Spider plants, Asparagus Fern, and Impatiens. It might be even more stunning by adding some Purple Leaf Wandering Jew.

Start your cuttings early to give them time to develop roots. Already established plants can also be purchased. A little creativity is all that is needed. Some houseplants that work well are as follows: Spider plant, Wandering Jew, Lipstick, Asparagus Fern, Philodendron, various cacti, Mezoo, and other succulents. 

Design it! Create it! With the right location and a bit of TLC, it’s easy to create and enjoy houseplants in an outdoor setting.