Bringing greenery into your home is crucial for bringing it to life, particularly if you live in a smaller home. The lack of square footage does not impede plants if you figure out how to lay them out. In addition to their aesthetic impact, indoor plants provide other benefits as well, such as purifying the air, boosting positive mood, and reconnecting you to nature.
Whether you never had any experience gardening or your home is tiny, don’t let it stop you from enjoying the benefits of indoor plants.
Taking care of plants
Most people first see the plant they like and then try to find a place for it in their home. Don’t make the same mistake – first, find an empty spot in your home and then choose the plant that will love living there. Consider the amount of light, airflow, and heat sources, and let those factors dictate the choice of your plant.
Another important choice is the plant pot. The pot should have drainage holes in order to prevent root rotting. When potting, use specific compost for houseplants that’s peat-free and contains sand and draining materials.
Hanging plants
Hanging indoor plants is an imaginative way to bring them into your home, especially if you have limited space. Hanging plants will add more layers and dimensions to your space but won’t get in the way. There are different methods to suspend the plants, from drilling into the ceiling to using exposed beams and various hooks and ropes. It will ultimately depend on your budget and the final look you’re aiming at.
When it comes to the choice of plants for the hangers, go for something that can take some neglect. It’s easy to forget to water a plant that is suspended as it’s a bit out of reach. So, spider plants are an excellent choice, as well as philodendron, golden pothos, begonias, burro’s tail and petunias.
Cactus
Cacti are among the most popular indoor plants because their unique, spiked, and unusual forms make them very collectible. Some of them will produce prickly pads whereas others have small, round tops in different colours.
Cacti are very low-maintenance and can tolerate a lot of maltreatment except excess amounts of watering and feeding. In winter, they need no watering at all, while in summer, once a month or fortnight will suffice. One thing they do need is a sunny spot.
Succulents
Lovely, smooth and chubby succulents are a gorgeous decorative item for any home. Most of them are tiny growing only a few centimeters in height, but there are kinds such as Crassula Ovata and Money plant that develop a trunk and branches resembling a small tree.
They all require lots of light, but you need to be careful since too much direct light may get them sunburnt. A change in their color may signify the plant got sunburnt and if it starts getting stretchy and thin, it’s not getting sufficient light. The best position would be a window facing south, and if you can, you should rotate the plant weekly to even out the plant’s growth.
Fern
There’s a wide variety of ferns, but not all are suitable for indoors. The asparagus, maidenhair, and sword ferns grow well in a cool, shady spot in kitchens and bathrooms. Most ferns do require light but should be shielded from the midday sun. They grow all year round at ordinary indoor temperatures, but if left below 10C, they will die.
Ferns require frequent watering so their soil should be permanently moist. During warmer months, you should treat all ferns with a liquid feed every two weeks.
Snake plant
This plant is a timeless classic in most homes with its elegant leaves that have some amazing hues of gray, green, and yellow. It looks amazing in any style and décor and it is easy to maintain – you can easily neglect them for up to a month before they start showing any signs of distress!
Most people don’t know that they even flower if you place them somewhere bright. They are excellent for keeping a healthy home as their leaves can purify the air and even impact the humidity.
Indoor plants add color and interest to a home and help the residents breathe cleaner air. They typically require little care and offer numerous benefits, so try with the plants listed here until you grow your own haven of greenery.
