Nine lustworthy houseplant tips and trends

By MiNDFOOD

Pengilly House is located on Nettleton Ridge, Clifton, one of the most exclusive residential areas in Cape Town, features incredible house plants.
Pengilly House is located on Nettleton Ridge, Clifton, one of the most exclusive residential areas in Cape Town, features incredible house plants.
Supersized houseplants take centre stage when it comes to gardening trends.

According to the Royal Horticultural Society’s gardening trends report, house plants are set to become hero pieces, with people seeking large, show-stopping varieties. So forget the wilted little pot plant on the side table, it’s time to go big.

Low maintenance rubber plant

The rubber plant (Ficus elastica) has been a popular pick of houseplant for a while now, and with reason. It’s low maintenance (just needs some bright, indirect light and water once a week) and it can grow as tall as you want if it’s in the right size pot.

Start small

You will never really know how a tree will fare in a certain spot until it is there. And while you may want to buy the largest tree you can find, it’s a smart and less expensive option to buy a young tree to start with and to let it grow and adapt to your home’s conditions.

 

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Plants for low light

For homes that don’t get a lot of light, palms are a great option as they are tolerant of slightly lower light conditions than other indoor plants. While they are slow-growing, their sculptural foliage makes them a real show-stopper.

Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera deliciosa)

Thriving in bright, indirect light the Monstera can grow very big so make sure it has enough room to stretch.

 

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Dust off

One of the concerns with having a large indoor plant is how to remove the dust off leaves without too much trouble. For leaves that you can reach, you can just wipe them with a moist cloth. For large trees you may need to use a ladder. If the plant isn’t too heavy you can also give it a light wash in a shower, or take it outside during light rain.

Wall art

If space is limited, you can use the walls for display. Trailing indoor plants like Devils’ Ivy (also called pothos), String of Pearls (Senecio Rowleyanus) and Peperomia are all great options.

Living sculptures

For homes that have a nice sunny spot available, a cactus can be a stunning addition. Cacti don’t need a lot of water, just plenty of sun and fresh air.

Vertical garden

Green walls look amazing and have a host of benefits, from improving air quality to reducing noise levels.

Flowering beauty

If a green jungle isn’t your style, a mass of orchids is certainly a show-stopping stylish feature for any interior. While they can be a little tricky for beginners, the key is to a healthy orchid is water but not too much and plenty of bright, indirect light.

 

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