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PHOTO BY Todd Selby FOR CUP OF JO
I would love to have plants in my house. Right now, we have a few flowers but that’s it. What types do you have, dear readers? What grows nicely indoors? Ferns? xo
(Photo by Todd Selby)
Home Inspiration: Plants
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I’m TRYING to cultivate my own green thumb, with some success. My favorite house plant so far, bar none, is my figgidy fig. It’s been featured before in West Elm, so it looks great with decor with a modern feel to it (although I’m sure it’s not limited to that). I really like my rubber plant too, but I’m finding it’s more sensitive to overwatering (woops!) I’m learning…
viney ferns are the easiest.
its impossible to kill spider plants and they get big.
wandering jew- weird name but gorgeous and easy plant.
geraniums also live well indoors if you give them enough light. and they will flower year round…
i say the more plants the better-
but if you have cats stay away from any kind of lily-poison…
Ah, Jo, plants are my weakness. I have plants all over my house — philodendrons, palms, and orchids — but last year created a dedicated Room of Plants. It’s sort of like a Green Room, but without the special guest stars and trays of deli meats.
The floor is (cheap) saltillo tile from Home Depot, so it doesn’t matter if it gets inadvertently watered — a lot.
I put in a medium-sized fountain meant for the outdoors, quieting the ungodly splashing to a dull trickle with the clever placement of river stones beneath the runoff; the sound is pure spa, and the constant water evaporation creates humidity that makes the plants happy.
I ordered plant shelves (from Gardener’s Supply Company, I think — they ship them, you put them together), a glass-tiled bistro table, and two chairs.
Bought 30 plants wholesale (ask an interior decorator or real estate stager where to go in your area — I’m in LA and went to Rolling Greens in Culver City).
I put shade-loving plants farther away from the windows, sun-loving ones closer, and let long dangly plants dangle from the top shelves down. I put delicate ferny ones around the base of the fountain, so they’re misted without my help.
I water once a week, no more, no less, using a pump of liquid plant food purchased from a local nursery. I remove dead leaves as soon as I see them, as they draw energy from the plants.
This room is the light of my house, and my husband and I enjoy pancakes, tea and the paper in here on Sundays!
I have a nice little mostly enclosed patio/room – and I have good luck with peppers, lavender, and geraniums (they’re really hearty). I’ve recently broadened out to include things that I hear do well in colder/darker seasons – namely Cyclamens. They’re really cute & pretty easy to grow. I also recently acquired an African Violet – they do really well in the house.
Good luck!
Peace lilies are really great. They produce a flower every now and then and are near impossible to kill!
judy rosen. look at her happy house!!
Succulents! And herbs in pots on my kitchen windowsill.
I want orchids too :)
I have a “ponytail plant” and “wandering jew” which both are low maintenance, look amazing and have survived a few moves. I also have rosemary in my windowsill which is fabulous.
I have a little bonsai tree that was a present and I’ve managed to keep it alive for almost a year now.
philodendrons & succulents are my answers to easy-care house plants. no matters how neglectful i get some weeks, they keep coming back. and they (especially the leafy philendrons) look great & green too!
I have the Thumb of Death. I can’t even grow a pot of grass for my cat to nibble on.
you must check out my recent post on terrariums. They are so fun!!
Plants are “feel-good” additions to any space by creating positive living energy. Watching them thrive and grow connects me with nature. They are not only obviously eco-friendly (reduce indoor pollution etc), but make great “pets” when you have no others! (:
Spider plants are superduper easy to care for… plus they multiple with lil spiderlets on the ends that can be replanted in some damp soil– they make great gifts.
I have about 10 houseplants. My most successful one is a “money tree” (Not to be confused with monkey tree) that I got from Ikea. Put it next to a window, water it weekly, and it will thrive.
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