People have long used spiky plants as an effective barrier to prevent their homes from intruders or wild animals. You can strategically plant thorny or spiky houseplants, or even a full dense green hedge to secure your premises or yard without compromising the look of your beautiful garden. Best of all, Y. linearifolia (pictured above) are hardy up to -15°C, meaning they should survive the extremes of winter even in the most northern parts of the country.

It’s known in some parts as the ‘Blue Beargrass Tree’ and despite its tropical origins, it’s developed to deal with British climes fairly well. A key important way that you can adhere to and provide nutrients to indoor plant spikes when moving outdoors is by using fertilizer spikes. Fertilizer spikes work by slowly releasing nutrients into the soil over time, providing a steady source of nutrition. Moreover, more than indoor fertilizer may be required for outdoor plants, as outdoor environments can be nutritionally challenging. Desert spoon ( Dasylirion wheeleri). Photo: Jennifer Benner Red yucca ( Hesperaloe parviflora and H. parviflora‘Yellow’). Photo: Jennifer Benner Dollhouse yucca ( Yucca harrimanlae). Photo: Jennifer Benner Outside of that, spikes can sometimes get diseases that prevent them from blooming or stops their blooms. Deadheading and pruning spike plants Light is a critical factor to consider when moving indoor plant spikes outdoors. Different plants have varying requirements for light exposure, and outdoor light levels can vary depending on the time of year and location, in addition to knowing which lighting your plant would appreciate more when it is growing.There are several varieties of Cacti, but the best of the lot is the barrel cactus, popular known as "mother-in-law's seat." It is composed of two genera, namely, Echinocactusand Ferocactus. The water reservoir is claimed to give enough water for 5 weeks. It detects temperature fluctuations, so when it is warmer the flow rate increases. In a heatwave, the watering spike will last 2 weeks, so may not last as long as expected, if you take a long vacation. It will fit most old plastic bottles, including 2 litres ones. Longer spikes exist for taller containers. PROS

Aloe Vera is one of the most popular indoor plants with spiky leaves. Its leaves are also typically long and form a vase shape from the root. If you notice that the spike seedling is drying up fast, this may be a sign that it’s time to plant it in a larger container. You can transplant a spike however many times you’d like before planting it in its final destination. You’ll soon start seeing a sprout emerging from the soil. Continue to water it and keep it in the sun to ensure continual growth and maturing. It’s also fairly fast growing and within a matter of years, you’ll have an impressive specimen on your hands. References This beauty loves full sunlight, drained soil with a bit of compost added to it. A mature plant can grow 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide. It is best planted in a container and placed strategically into vulnerable areas of your property mixed with other plants as a surprise for trespassers. All in all, an amazing houseplant! Porcupine tomato has a bright purple bloom during summer // Photo by shona on blogs.ubc.ca 6. PyracanthaIf your plant is root-bound, gently pull the roots apart. It’s ok if it feels like you are ripping the roots. This is healthy for the plant if done in moderation, and signals to the spike plant that it’s free to grow outside of its original bounds with its old container. It now will have more space to grow and you want to get it to expand its root structure to fill that space. Finally, if you planted the spike plant in a landscape or even a container, it does not hurt to mulch it. This will help with keeping moisture in its root and you won’t have to water as much throughout the summer. Bark mulch, wood chips, or many kinds of landscaping mulches work for this. Make sure you don’t spread the mulch too close around the spike, as the sun can heat up the mulch to a point where it burns the young plant. Step 4: Caring for spike plants Climate, soil, light, watering, and pests must be considered to ensure the plants thrive in their new environment.