The end of summer is a great time to start inviting nature indoors. As our days get colder and days get shorter, bringing some lush, living foliage into the home will help add some much needed freshness.
While container gardens are still a major trend, indoor gardens that are reminiscent of the 1970s-style indoor jungles are also gaining popularity once again. As with most trends that make a comeback, this one has been streamlined to accommodate our modern lifestyles. Instead of dedicating an entire room to creating an indoor garden, fellow green fingers have indoor plants throughout and are using them as a creative and inexpensive way to decorate. Below are some tips to get you started on creating your own indoor garden:
Get good houseplants
All plants need light, water and fertiliser to grow and flourish. But some need more than others, and are often harder to care for. A good houseplant is one that is low-maintenance and durable enough to withstand a range of indoor temperatures and doesn’t need too much watering. Before starting your garden do some research on houseplants that are easier to take care of. For instance, the Peace Lily is one of the most popular houseplants, because it’s one of the easiest to keep alive – it only needs to be watered weekly, and continuously blooms.
Have a plan
After doing your research, be sure to plan and prepare. Once you have selected the plants you want, calculate how much space you will need for them to grow well. For example, if you have limited space, you might want to get some suspended houseplants.
The right spot
Placing houseplants in the most used room in your home is a great way to enjoy them, but regardless of the type of plants you source, they will require sunlight for optimal growth. Find sunny spots in your favourite rooms where they can catch those vital rays. But like mentioned, do some research and find out how much sunlight the plants need. Plants are usually divided into three categories: full sun (4-6 hours direct sun), medium light (2-3 hours of direct sun or 6-8 hours of bright indirect light) and lastly low light (no direct sunlight but some indirect light). Keep in mind that plants need consistent temperatures and don’t like air conditioners and heaters blowing on them.
Start with tall plants
If you want to have an instant jungle feel, but don’t have much space, time or a big budget, consider getting one or two tall plants. The fiddle leaf fig tree, ferns and the spider plant are popular tall plants. Stay away from flowering plants until you get used to having an indoor garden. They can be a bit more complicated to grow.
Accessorise
Have fun and style your plants like they did in the 1970s. The easiest way to do this is by putting them in some beautiful pots and placing some of them on small tables of various sizes. If you’re going for some hanging plants try placing them up at different heights to add interest and get some vintage plant hangers to frame them.
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