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| Indoor Plants |
Stylish and sexy. These plants are back in vogue.
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Indoor plants are no longer out! Landscape designer Jamie Durie, of Patio Garden Design, introduces us to the new and trendy plants that can be seen indoors today.
The indoor plant has returned as a symbol of sophisticated style. The comeback has not been made by the weary 'weeping fig' or the passe 'parlour palm' but by the more stylish succulents, charismatic cacti-plants and ornamental grasses that stand on their own as a feature in any room.
The newly hip and potable indoor plants are orchids, bromeliads (good for dark corners), succulents, strap-leaf plants and primeval jungle cacti. They are often epiphytic, that is, plants that live on trees or rock, rather than in soil. The key words, according to James, are tone, texture and low maintenance.
Placement Tips
With some forethought and planning, it is possible to find a striking indoor plant that will flourish in most parts of the house, from the most brilliantly lit room to the dimmest passage or alcove.
Give careful consideration to the impact of plants within a room. Are they in proportion to the room? A tiny pot plant is lost in a large space. Is the background suitable? Plain, pale walls show off flowering plants to their best advantage. Does the flower or foliage colour blend with the decor?
Use plants to enliven empty corners or space, such as an unused fireplace that will provide an instant frame for a display. Large plants or groups may play an architectural role as room dividers or as a link between the house and the garden.
If plants start to grow lopsidedly towards a light source, turn them slightly while watering them. The amount of water and fertilising requirements will vary from plant to plant so it is important to check with the specialists in the nursery or shop where the plant was purchased.
Light
The specific temperature and light requirements of plants are particularly important factors when deciding where to position plants indoors. If the conditions are incompatible with the plants' needs, they will soon become stressed and unhealthy. Newly purchased plants that have just come from controlled shop conditions are especially vulnerable.
Most plants thrive in bright, filtered sunlight or in a well-lit position, but not in direct sun. Insufficient light results in plants with pale, stunted, new leaves, and drawn-out, or etiolated growth with long, thin, weak stems. In time, the mature leaves will turn yellow and fall. A plant weakened in this way is especially vulnerable to pests and diseases.
The amount of natural light in a room depends on the number, size, height and aspect of the windows. Light levels fall quickly as the distance from the window increases. In winter, there is far less natural light than in summer and some plants may need to be moved in response to the seasonal light variation.
Watering
Water your plants a little more during the summer months, providing them with a slow release fertiliser just before the start of the growing season. Indoor plants generally do not require too much attention. Those positioned in the darker corners of a room should be watered less than normal.
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More Info
For further information contact Patio Garden Design and Collectibles,
89 West Street,
Crows Nest, Sydney NSW.
Ph: (02) 9955 5612.
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Disclaimer
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