Nicole Kidman’s Balcony Agave is a Lesson in Transitional Planting – It’s Boldly Sculptural, yet Wonderfully Easy Indoors
Too delicate for frost, yet virtually indestructible indoors: This sculptural greenery is the ultimate living room focal point this season
If you’re not quite ready to say goodbye to your patio plants for the year, there’s a simple way to enjoy them for a little longer: Bring them inside.
Nicole Kidman has offered unexpected inspiration with her foxtail agave, a plant that looks just as at home in a living room as it does on her terrace. With its broad green leaves, growing agave indoors is as simple as it is beautiful. It's an easy way to bring summer greenery to your living room, even when the weather isn't as bright (or warm) as it seems on her terrace.
Foxtail agave (Agave attenuata) is sensitive to frost, so leaving it outside through winter can damage its leaves and roots. If you have one in a pot, move it indoors before temperatures drop to protect it until spring. This way, you can follow Nicole's look at any month on the calendar.
Start by planting some foxtail agave (available on Amazon) in a gray planter like hers. Then provide the right fall houseplant care, as a garden expert explains below.
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The easiest way to get Nicole’s look is with an evergreen agave. Its pointed leaves bring some much-needed greenery indoors during winter, and they're surprisingly simple to care for.
Inspired by the planter on Nicole’s terrace, this pot has a sculptural shape that works just as well indoors. Pair it with an evergreen agave for a similar look, bringing her outdoor style inside during the colder months.
Not all houseplants need leafy foliage to make an impact. With its distinctive upright shape, this foxtail succulent adds sculptural interest to a windowsill or side table, keeping greenery indoors through winter.
Also seen on Nicole’s patio alongside her Foxtail Agave, this sunset jade has fleshy leaves with warm, reddish tips that feel completely unique. It’s just as suited to a sunny spot indoors when winter sets in.
Keeping indoor plants healthy through winter takes a little extra care, and this oil spray helps protect leaves from common pests. It’s a handy addition to your plant-care routine, especially when bringing patio plants indoors for the colder months.
A classic gray planter is all you need to give sculptural houseplants a home. Its understated finish suits almost any living room, letting Nicole’s succulents' distinctive shapes take center stage.
An agave offers something more unique than the conventional indoor plant choices. Its curved leaves deserve attention, and the foxtail variety is also spineless, making it a low-maintenance choice for a busy living room.
Naturally, bringing a plant inside for winter isn't quite as simple as finding a spare spot for it. Succulents need a few care adjustments once they're indoors, especially when it comes to watering. Preventing pests when you bring houseplants back indoors is the first step.
'Many gardeners overlook how easily container-grown succulents transition into indoor houseplants for the winter,' says Tenielle Jordison, Gardens Content Editor at Homes & Gardens.
'The next important adjustment is water. Growth slows dramatically in cold weather, so you must reduce watering to a minimum, allowing the compost to dry out almost completely between waterings to prevent root rot.'
You'll also need to think about placement. 'Position your plant by your brightest available window to compensate for shorter winter days,' Tenielle explains.
'Consistency is key. Keep the container away from radiators and hot-air vents, and make sure the leaves don’t touch cold window panes overnight, as sudden temperature changes can stress the plant. Before you leave your patio plants to brave winter weather, check which ones can make the move indoors.'
Nicole’s agave shows that summer plants don’t have to disappear when the weather turns. With enough light and minimal watering, it can thrive indoors through the colder months, ready to return outside when temperatures rise.
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