The best potted plants for indoors and outdoors

If you’re looking for a low cost way to brighten up your room or make your outdoor spaces feel fresh and welcoming, plants should be high on your list of must-haves. Plants instantly give your space a makeover, creating a calm and relaxed vibe and adding interest to the surroundings. 

In addition, plants also have a number of health benefits. According to Bioadvanced, a workplace study discovered that adding plants to offices decreases fatigue, colds, headaches, coughs, sore-throats and flu-like symptoms. Plants also purify the air, removing up to 87% of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) every 24 hours. So if you feel your inside room or outdoor space is lacking a little something, try adding a plant! 

Wondering what the best plants are for your home or backyard? Here are our potted favourites for indoors or outdoors. Make sure you grab a colourful plant pot to go with them to add some extra interest! 

Best indoor potted plants 

1. Lucky bamboo (Dracaena) - If you lead a busy life and don’t really have the time to look after a plant, this one is a great choice for you. It’s very hardy and requires little maintenance - and it can be grown in low light in a vase of just water with occasional fertilising. The distinctive and often curly stems can grow up to a metre high. 

2. Devil’s Ivy (Pothos) - If you bemoan your lack of a green thumb then this is the plant for you as it handles neglect pretty well. The trailing lush leafy vine will put up with infrequent watering and inattention. 

3. Calathea - We love this one because the contrast of colours is so relaxing to the eye. Colourful patterned foliage of pale green with dark green spots and lines make this a very attractive small indoor plant. It grows best in mid-light and should be kept moist with regular watering in summer months. 

4. Anthurium - If you like a pop of colour in your room, then the broad green leaves and large red flowers of the Anthurium are for you. Grow it in a bright spot with free-draining potting mix, and water only when the soil is dry to touch. 

5. Cyclamen (Primulacae) - A great plant to brighten up your winter, the decorative foliage of the cyclamen blooms with white, pink, or purple flowers during the cooler months. Place it in a well-lit area but not direct sunlight. Water by filling a saucer underneath the pot so the plant can draw it up as required. 

6. Zebra plant (Aphelandra squarrosa) - The Zebra plant features long-lasting yellow or orange flowers. It prefers a brightly lit spot indoors out of direct sunlight. Water and mist regularly and make sure you keep leaves dusted. 

7. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum) - The subtle, white flower of the peace lily adds an artistic element to your interior design. Growing to around 30cm high, the dark glossy foliage is complemented by delicate white flowers. It is suitable for low light positions and soil should be kept moist, so water thoroughly when it’s dry to touch. 

Best outdoor potted plants 

1. Aussie Flat Bush (Rhagodia spinescens) - A low growing and compact shrub with blue foliage. This one is suitable for full sun to light shade. 

2. Autumn Bravo (Rhododendron hybrid) - The Autumn Bravo is a heat and cold tolerant repeat blooming Azalea. It is ideal in a pot but can also be mass planted in gardens and borders. Suitable for full sun to part shade. 

3. Fan flowers (Scaevola species) - Fan Flowers are perfect for container gardening as they’re fast growing and flower for up to nine months of the year. Flowering from spring through to autumn, they provide spectacular swathes of purple and mauve. 

4. Geranium Big Red (Pelargonium x hortorum Big Red) - The star performer among geraniums, Big Red has bold red flowers most of the year and is very disease resistant. Suitable for full sun.

5. Imperial Bromeliad (Alcantarea imperialis) - If you have a big space for your courtyard, consider a Bromeliad. They can reach two metres across, so allow room and make sure you use an extra large pot. The Imperial Bormeliad loves the sun so will do nicely on a sunny patio. 

6. Camellia (Camellia japonica) - Dark, lustrous foliage is the perfect foil for large and beautiful winter flowers, in pink, red and white. Choose a smaller variety for pots. Suits light shade. 

7. Mexican orange blossom (Choisya ternata) - This plant is similar in appearance to Murraya (Murraya Paniculata) but is probably a better choice for cooler areas. It has glossy green foliage and perfumed white flowers that are definitely worth a sniff as you pass by. 

Is all of this plant talk making your fingers ache to get into some soil?  Maybe it’s time for a bit of a garden makeover! If you need a hand financing your next garden project, we’re here to help. Just check out our fast cash loans from $1K - $5K to find out how quick and easy it is to get your hands on some extra funds. Once a loan is approved, we can usually deposit the cash into your bank account within a few hours - so you can start planning that new garden project today!