A new experiment has revealed that indoor plants and outdoor plants can swap places in about 60 per cent of cases.

Gardeners have been urged to “challenge convention” by a new study which experiments with swapping indoor and outdoor plants.

Gardening Which? said that the effects of global warming on the environment meant it was even more important for gardeners to try different things.

The magazine tested 15 types of indoor plants and 15 types of outdoor plants, swapping them round to see if indoor plants could flourish living outside and vice versa.

The study showed that indoor and outdoor plants could successfully trade places in around 60 per cent of cases.

Among the nine indoor plants that thrived outside were the Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica), which had vibrant leaves outside, Money Plants, which were drought tolerant and sun-loving, the striking Tillandsia, and Bougainvillea, with the B. ‘Alexandra’ variety flourishing.

Meanwhile, the ten outdoor plants that successfully grew inside included Lavender (Lavendula stoechas), garden pinks such as the Dianthus ‘Whatfield Cancan’ and hardy ferns including Polypdium.

Gardening Which? editor Julia Boulton said: “The results of this research show that with the right care and conditions, house plants and outdoor plants can successfully trade places.”

source : uktv.co.uk