Filling your home with houseplants is a great way to garden year-round. As the colder weather begins and the days grow shorter, winter becomes the perfect time to turn your gardening talents to your houseplants. Adding plants to any room will help create a warm and welcome feeling in your home throughout the winter.
There are numerous opportunities to include houseplants in your home. From the traditional window garden to table centerpieces, houseplants serve to brighten any room.
Window Garden: The direction your window faces will help you determine what types of plants will flourish there. Windows facing southeast, south or southwest will provide the most light; fill them with sun-loving plants like begonias. For your plants, like ferns that need a home in semi-sunny locales, place them in a window facing east or west. It doesn’t matter which window you choose, as long as your houseplants have the right environment to keep them healthy all year long.
Holiday Scene: Many plants serve as decorations during the holiday season. Some of the most festive houseplants include English ivy and poinsettias. Include them in your decorating with wreaths, potted plants, and even centerpieces – they will add a festive touch to any room. Proper care for these plants will help them shine through the holidays. Be sure to keep the soil evenly moist at all times, and allow for indirect sunlight.
Basket Gardens: Using baskets for houseplants arranged on the floor is an easy way to incorporate plants into any room. Depending on the natural light available in the room, you can choose from a wide variety of sun-loving to low-light plants. Select from larger plants like bamboo palms and ficus trees to smaller plants like ferns and spider plants. The key is to create some variety in the height-levels of plants. Once you have your plants, you can be creative in selecting baskets – from a traditional natural weave to bright colors or even woven patterns. Protect the surface by including a basket liner or pan to collect any excess water.
Book Shelf Garden: Add life to your bookshelf by selecting smaller plants that can live in artificial light. African violets are a perfect choice! Select the shelf for your new garden; install two 20-watt fluorescent tubes held in a reflector attached to the shelf above. Using a timer, set the light to provide 15 hours a day of light, and 9 hours of darkness. Now just add your plants!
Bathroom Garden: Bathrooms are an ideal place to grow plants because showering and bathing increase the humidity. Try adding a display of small fancy-foliage plants – glacier English ivy, artillery fern, pilea and baby’s tears will all work well. If you have a window, the natural light will help keep these plants looking their best! Check them often, and water as needed!
Herb Plants: A seasonal herb garden is a wonderful addition to a sunny kitchen windowsill. The herbs are handy for seasoning and easy to prune when growth gets weedy. As houseplants, herbs need the light of an east, south or west window. Shower leaves with warm water often. Enjoy including the fresh herbs in your favorite recipes!
No matter where you choose to place houseplants, to keep them looking their best you should continue to properly care for them. Your houseplants are depending on you for two of their basic needs – food and water – in order to stay healthy and maintain an attractive appearance.