"Bringing the Outside In" - Thinking of adding Indoor Plants to your Home?

Growing plants indoors has become hugely popular in recent years. This may be due to smaller outdoor areas in modern homes, more people living in apartments or having less time to spend outdoors. Many recent studies have shown that indoor air is more polluted than outdoor air due to the toxins given off by carpets, furnishings, paint, cleaning products etc. The studies also show that by introducing plants, these toxins can be significantly reduced and the air cleaner. This is why we feel less stressed when surrounded by plants – they help us to breathe easier!  

 

However, choosing indoor plants may be a little daunting for those of us with little experience so we asked our resident Bambury green thumb Steph to share her favourite indoor plants and her hot tips on how she keeps them alive!

I love my indoor plants, they bring so much peace and calm to my home now but trust me, when I first started out I had more then my fair share of casualties…..sorry Mum!

 

So here is a quick guide to what I have learnt along the way through a bit of trial and error. Hope it helps!

 

 

Careful consideration is key when choosing the right indoor plants for your home and goes well beyond what may look nice.  The most important initial questions to ask yourself are: 

• How much light does the position get?
• How would you rate your ‘green thumb’?
• How big is the space?
• What is your design style?

The most critical consideration when choosing an indoor plant is how much light the position receives.  Is there direct sunlight and for how long?  Is it a bright spot all day?  Is it relatively shady most of the time?   

It may take a couple of days to observe the light conditions of the position.  That becomes the starting point of which may be suitable. A plant needs to have appropriate light conditions to stay strong and thrive. 

If you’re new to indoor plants or gardening in general, it may be wise to choose plants  which are relatively low maintenance (for example, ones which require less regular watering).  Watering once or twice a week during spring and summer is essential, and the best way to do this is to buy a small indoor watering can with a small spout. During autumn and winter you can reduce the frequency of watering to once every two to three weeks. Applying a slow release fertilizer will also keep them ‘fed’.  If in doubt, check with your local plant nursery.  They can advise you specifically on how to care for your choice of plant.   

At this stage consideration should be on how you will be using the plant.  Will it be in a pot on a shelf?  Hanging on a wall?  Or in a large pot or container on the floor?  If so, how much space is available?  Did you want your plant to provide height or texture?  Other considerations would be to consider the aesthetics of the foliage, colour of flowers (if applicable) and the colour and the aesthetics of the pot/container.  But be adventurous – there’s no right or wrong!   

They still need light to grow so pop them in a part of your house that is well lit but out of direct sunlight. Give them a water once a week or when the soil starts to look dry and don’t forget to wipe over those beautiful leaves with a damp cloth so the plant can breathe.