what can't be grown as a houseplant?

Is there anything that absolutely can NOT be grown as a houseplant?

There's no such thing as a houseplant ....... only regular plants that tolerate indoor conditions to varying degrees. The trick is to figure out which of the millions of plants growing in nature are most tolerant of the conditions we can provide. By and large, the most common houseplants are the most tolerant. More experienced growers often abandon the most common choices in favor of something more challenging, but even those seeking greater challenge by growing the more unusual plants need to tailor their choices to the cultural conditions they are able to provide, light being a major consideration.

So, technically there is no plant I can think of that you can't grow indoors if you're willing to do your homework and are able to provide the preferred cultural conditions, which often isn't easy. E.g., temperate plants are going to require a dormancy, which would require that you allow it to remain outdoors until the dormancy requirement is met. This is probably much more effort than most are willing to go through to grow an oak or a maple indoors, so you might consider that temperate plants are largely beyond your reach and scratch them from your list. There are other plants that fit into a narrow set of growing parameters that you would normally exclude, too, but because of how you worded your question, I would say 'NO' .... that if you want to work hard enough at it, there is no plant you can't grow indoors .... many that I would never attempt, but none that you absolutely couldn't - including sequoias. ;o)

Al

not sure I'd like a big sequoia in the house...my kids asked me to that and I was stumped...I told them I don't think so but some take a lot more work than others...so I was right...but citrus trees are a pain...they look alot worse then my schefflera...a "gift" plant I recently recieved from a well meaning friend...she had to close her hobby greenhouse because of health reasons, I was not home when she called and she had asked me if I wanted some of her plants, I said sure just leave them on the back porch, when I came home the next day she had left over 1000 plants on my back porch...some I have never heard of...and I've been trying to give them away...I'm down to 5 more flats...I may have to compost them, whats left is mostly common stuff

Poison Ivy would not be a good houseplant.

lol Dave....that was good

Neither would a nuclear power plant.

Al

Most tropical plants that like full sun would not do well either.

in a normal house I believe you would be right....an oak tree wouldn't be fun either

I've killed a beautiful coconut palm trying to grow it indoors as a houseplant. :-( However, I saw one doing great in a very bright office next to an east facing wall of windows, so I bet you can get a palm to grow in a sun room.

Maybe I should have titled this thread "the Strangest thing you've ever tried to grow as a houseplant"

tellya what...

Couch Potatoes are darn invasive and leave crumbs everywhere! :)

ROFLMAO!!! That was funny!

I wonder if anyone has actually tried to grow poison ivy! That would be a cruel trick to put them in pots and give as gifts to novice plant friends and in-laws! Now you got me thinking.......lol

hhhmmm I have 2 ex's I could send that too!!!

I planted a couple dollar bills once, but then just lost interest!

LOL!!!! that was good!

Tapla had the perfect reply.
I live in Delaware, zone 7.
On a road trip to Florida several years ago, I was amazed to see Zebra plants--houseplants--growing on lawns. And palm trees sowing themselves alongside the road as far north as South Carolina. Wow. My trip to a southern zone made me realize that plants are plants. Sometimes we like to bring them indoors, that's all.

I should have titled this thread strangest thing you've ever tried to keep as a houseplant

What ever happened to pet rocks? You don't have to water or feed them!

LOL! But where would the fun be in that Dave?

I think pet rocks went by the wayside along with mood rings! Gee, I'm really showing my age with that statement, and I must admit, I brought a couple of rocks home from a vacation in the mountains once, just little rocks ... but I can't throw them away. ^_^

lol Plant lady...lokey what I got today

Trina: Wow, that's what I call a box full of Coleus cuttings! You should have a beautiful garden come spring! I love Coleus ...

That was one of 2 boxes...Yes I will have a very nice coleus garden this spring...I can't wait....I'm so excited!

and yours are lovely too!

Pet rocks, mood rings, but no one has mentioned Chia pets! I still see them in stores every Christmas.

I always wanted a Chia Pet...

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!
I'm sure walmart will have them for Christmas!

yep usually in the shape of scooby doo or shaggy too...hehehe

I want the Bart Simpson one...

They also make presidential chia pets and the Statue of Liberty chia pets. So many options....

lol....

Craziest thing I've grown- I used to love to grow grass in a pot inside. New seedling grass is very soft and looks kinda neat after a "haircut".

I've been looking for Chi Pets for grandkids but can't find them, The grass seed in a pot is a good idea will have to try that one MelissaX`

I usually only see the Chia Pets around the holidays, I don't usually see them the rest of the year so you might keep your eye out over the next couple months.

I had to research chia pets, I can't say I've ever seen them over here. We do have things that look like a potato and grow spikey grass hair but no "pets" as such...I really want one now haha

I know they sell all types of Chia pets online. Wonder how long they last! They're the generic version of a real houseplant!

I tried the Chia herb Garden once ...my mother got it for me as a gag gift, it started little seedlings to my amazement, and then all died....still don't know why