Not all plants adapt well to indoor climate and conditions. Although they may seem very decorative, many plants thrive outdoors and struggle when forced indoors. We tend to acquire them, and even after they die we keep trying, thinking that the issue lies with the care we give, and there may be some truth to that, but perhaps it is worth reconsidering whether that plant really has any chance in the conditions of our home before continuing to persevere.
“Over time, you understand that it’s better for the plant to be healthy than to be in a spot that suits you,” says the plant expert Dede in a video on her YouTube channel (@InfoJardineria) where she reveals which are the 5 indoor plants that die the most. We review them below.
1. Ficus
“Although they can survive indoors,” explains Dede, “they are outdoor trees.” Ficus (such as the Ficus lyrata) originate from the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and Africa, where they grow in the jungle, sprawling in large forms under bright sun, but shaded by the canopies of other trees.
The main problem when cultivating ficus indoors is the light. “Inside the house we will never be able to match the light intensity that we have outdoors,” confirms Dede. In other words, although they can live indoors, their growth will be slower than under optimal outdoor conditions.
The ideal is to cultivate ficus outdoors (protecting them from frost and excessive cold), but if you still want to keep your ficus indoors, you should place it in a spot with very good light, “preferably west or south,” the expert advises. In any case, keep it very close to a window and, if necessary due to a lack of light, enhance with a grow light.
Another common cause of premature ficus death is overwatering. They need little water and even less indoors.
2. Bonsai
There is quite a bit of confusion about bonsai. Many think they are indoor plants, but in reality “bonsai” is a cultivation technique used on trees such as figs, apples, maples, pomegranates… to reproduce them in miniature.
“Most bonsais need to be outdoors because they are trees and they require high light and thermal variations to develop properly,” explains Dede.
When buying a bonsai, the expert recommends researching the species thoroughly to give it the care it needs and placing it in an appropriate location: some can be kept indoors when it is cold, but others need to stay outside at all times.
3. Hanging succulents
Hanging succulent plants, specifically the String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) and the String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii), which were very fashionable a few years ago, are among the indoor plants that suffer most.
“Their hanging habit sometimes misleads us into thinking they’re ordinary indoor plants,” notes Dede.
Both originate from semi-arid regions of Africa, where they grow in rocky soils and are continually exposed to direct sunlight. By keeping them indoors we deprive them of the lighting they need.
Moreover, unless we watch closely and provide them with good drainage, they are very likely to rot from a combination of overwatering and low light. “When a plant has little light, it’s very easy to overwater, because it needs less water,” explains the expert.
The ideal is to keep them outdoors, in a spot with direct light, and bring them indoors when it’s cold, as they cannot tolerate frost.
4. The Croton
The Croton (Codiaeum variegatum), with its large, colourful leaves, is one of the most chosen plants to decorate interiors. However, when brought home many begin to show green leaves, lacking the striking reds, or even yellowing and shedding leaves at the base.
The problem is that indoor conditions do not resemble those of its native habitat, which is Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. “It is a tropical plant accustomed to bursts of direct sun,” explains Dede. Without light not only does it fail to grow properly, it also cannot produce the red, orange and yellow pigments that make its leaves so striking.
Richard, a plant expert and creator of the YouTube channel @SheffieldMadePlants, agrees that it needs a lot of light and highlights another common problem: “they seem to be magnets for red spider mites.”
You can manage to keep it looking nice indoors, but you must place it in a suitable spot, with plenty of light and you must watch for pests.
5. The banana plant
The banana plant (Musa × paradisiaca L.) is a tall herbaceous tree native to Southeast Asia. More precisely, it is a herbaceous perennial. “It thrives much better outdoors because it needs bright light and a fair amount of space to develop,” notes Dede.
It is sold in small pots for indoor cultivation, but you must be very careful because it can grow very large (even indoors). The best way to keep it healthy is to grow it outdoors, protected with a frost blanket in winter.
