How to find the right indoor plant

We’ve all seen images on Pinterest of lounge rooms full of lush indoor plants. Now the time has come that you want to introduce greenery into your life, BUT where does one start when choosing the right indoor plant?

There’s a few questions you need to consider. How much natural light does your area receive during the day? Which way does your room face? A room facing the in a southerly direction will receive less natural light whereas a north, east or west facing space will capture most of the sunshine. Striking the balance between too much light and not enough can be the winning tip when living with plants. Too much light for some plants may burn the leaves, while not enough could lead to poor growth. Is your place bright, north facing with open sunny spaces? Yes? then these plants could be for you.

Yucca

Height: These are available in a range of different sizes. From 30cm and up to nine meters tall in the wild.

Care: Yuccas require watering once a week.

Source: Living at Home

Succulents

Tip: Most succulents love light. Keep these little guys by the window sill.

Care: Succulents love a good soak- to the point where the water runs out of the drainage holes. Once the soil is completely dry, it’s time to water again.

Source: imujer.com

If your room is north-east or west facing, opt for a plant that requires medium light/indirect light. These type of plants prefer to live a metre or so from the window.

Devils Ivy

Tip: Get the tropical look and hang from the ceiling allowing the leaves to drape over the pot.

Care: Clean the leaves regularly with a damp sponge and remove any yellow or decaying leaves.

Source: Gardening know how

Air plant

Tip: There’s no soil required for air plants, which makes them portable and easy to display suspended in the air.

Care: Air plants require a thorough soaking. Do this by dunking completely in water, rinsing under water or a proper drenching with mist spray.

Source: tarahurst.com

South facing windows and any plants that are placed more than two metres from the window will fall under the low light category. Most plants will not thrive in low light, but they can exist but require a touch more care.

Kenta Palm

Height: They can grow as high as three metres in pots or 20 metres in the wild.

Care: Kenta Palms enjoy regular mist sprays and require constant watering over summer and once a week during winter. This plant offers lush greenery but requires more attention and care than most indoor plants.

Source: mydomainehome.com.au

Calathea

Tip: Avoid direct sunlight, otherwise you can lose the markings on the leaves.

Care: It is a generally easy-to-care-for plant; however, you do need to ensure the calathea is moist most of the time but not “wet” or sitting in water.

Source: FloraStore

Living with plants not only adds that Vogue feel but also offers health benefits. It has been proven that your new greenery can help with breathing, purifying the air and can improve mental health also.

The best piece of general advice for an indoor plant beginner is to know your plant. Generally most plants will come with a information stake which states the light required, care instructions and ideal positions. If in doubt, a quick google search can go a long way. Enjoy!

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