Potted plants

Potted plants make for an attractive option when you want a perennial that may not be suitable for your climate year round. Most species of ficus plants thrive in temperatures of 70-100 degrees Fahrenheit. This is ideal for anywhere from 3-9 months in most areas of the US, but unless you’re in Florida, Southern California, or Arizona the winter freeze will kill a small ficus.
That is where potted plants come in handy. A potted ficus can adorn your front steps for most of the year, and then move indoors to survive the winter. The same tactic can be used for nearly anything, from various species of cacti, to flowering plants such as orchids. The orchid reputation for temperamental behavior makes it another ideal candidate for potting.

Orchids make much better potted plants than bed plants because they are so fickle about their soil, temperature, and lighting conditions. Give an orchid too much sun, and it scalds and dies. If the soil ph balance is off, it won’t bloom, the list goes on and on. Keeping it potted ensures that you can carefully monitor the soil ph, water retention, and other factors. It also allows you to move it around until you find the perfect balance of sunlight and shade for it. And of course, you can bring the orchid inside once the weather turns cold.