Lovely Indoor Plants

Peace Lily

The peace lily plant will give a wonderful decorative touch to any room. Some indoor plants can be used to set the tone of a room, the same as other kinds of furnishings or ornamentation. The peace lily is an elegant plant to have in any room and will always attract the attention of guests. It has long dark green leaves from which long delicate stems emerge, topped by pure white flowers. It prefers humid spaces and is a shade plant. An easy plant to grow, it has no need of fertilizers. Water well at first, then leave until the soil is almost dry before watering again. A good idea is to mist it a couple of times a week with a spray bottle.

Dieffenbachia

Also known as the dumb cane, it is an indoor plant that can grow up to six feet, but if pruned correctly it will remain small enough to sit on a coffee or occasional table. It is the leaves that are spectacular on this plant. They sweep upwards and are elliptical in shape. They measure about a foot in length and are speckled in either pale green or white.  Although originally from dry climates with high temperatures they can survive in the temperate zones. They do well in slightly moist soil, with low to medium light. Dust the leaves to keep them shiny and clean.

Rubber Plant

One good reason for having this plant in your house is that it is so exotic. Again, this is an indoor plant that is exuberant and calls the attention. It will set off any room. The huge oval leaves are the attraction. They are of a waxy texture and can grow to over a foot in length. Although rubber plants can grow to over eight feet, constant pruning will keep them as a shrub. The fruit and flowers can be ignored. Will grow well in moist soil with medium to bright sunlight.

Jade Plant

The jade plant is a succulent that is small and long lasting.  Another shade plant, it is better in partial or indirect sunlight. The lush leaves are either round or oval shaped and are coloured in tones from blue-gravy to dark green. Sometimes the edges have a reddish tinge. Although they have pretty little flowers and fruit, they rarely bear them as indoor plants. As a drought resistant plant it doesn’t need frequent watering. Let the soil almost dry out before irrigating once again.

Four Things You Should Know About Building An Indoor Garden

Building and maintaining an indoor garden can be a fun and exciting hobby to pursue. At its heart, it really no different than having an outdoor garden in a lot of ways, except that you will have to supply some elements that we take for granted outside the home. For those of us who want to fill our homes with the beauty of nature, just follow the listed tips below, in order to achieve the most success with your garden.

Lighting

The first element that you will have to simulate for your indoor garden is sunlight. You can do this in any one of several ways. First, you can use the natural light coming in through a window, just be certain that the plants you place there will need that much light, and that they can handle it. One rule of thumb to remember with plants: the darker the leaf, the less sun they need. Plants with small, thin and light green leaves, like those on African violets, can actually be harmed by placing them in direct sunlight. The darker the leaf, the further away they can be, getting diffuse sunlight will be just fine for them.

Water

Plants need water, and those you choose for your indoor garden will need you to supply it, unless you know how to make it rain inside. The thing is, though, is that you have to be careful about how much you give each plant. The number one reason that indoor plants die is that they are over-watered. With most plants, once a week is sufficient, and you can easily check if they need water by checking their container. The container you place your plants in should have a good drainage system, namely sufficient holes in the bottom of the pot to allow excess water to drain away into a saucer. If there is standing water in the saucer, it does not need more. The excess should be tossed out to avoid rotting the roots, which will kill the plant.

Humidity

Keeping the humidity level constant for an indoor garden can be a challenge, especially during the winter. Most plants need some humidity and moisture, to keep the pests away, and their leaves clean and fresh. As this is usually done by the morning dew outside, you can help by simply applying a light mist over all of the plants in your care, once a day.

Food

Outside plants get food from two main sources: the sun and the soil. With an indoor garden, you will have to make up the difference by applying plant food or fertilizer regularly. Depending on the type of plants you are raising, you can either use a generic fertilizer, which will give them the basic nutrients, or one that is specially blended for your particular plants. Just be sure to read all instructions carefully, and follow them completely. You do not want to kill your plant by overdoing the feeding.

Ornamental Indoor Plants

Indoor plants are a good way to add a final touch to your house decoration. House plants seem to soften any environment and also add a bit of cheer too. There is something relaxing about being surrounded by flourishing green plants that’s not easy to define. It is probably an inner urge to get closer to nature. Whatever reason there is for having them, indoor plants are almost an obligation nowadays!

English Ivy

Probably not the easiest indoor plant to cultivate, but certainly a beautiful one. They can either be trained to climb or be left to trail down. The lovely variegated leaves will look good in any setting. It prefers the cooler temperatures, so don’t put in the warmer rooms. This ivy likes bright sunlight, but not direct light. Thrives in moist, humid soil. Trim frequently for a robust vine.

Spider Plants

There are number of varieties of this plant, but the one most frequently seen is the green and white striped variety. Maybe one of the easiest indoor plants to cultivate in the home. A mature plant has a striking visual appearance with its profusion of stems, leaves and small white flowers. It will prosper in almost any light conditions from full sunlight to partial shade. Bright, but not direct light, is ideal for the best results. Likes moist, but well drained soil. Water well in summer and fertilize once a week.

Aloe

This succulent can be a stunning decorative addition to your home. It grows up to three feet tall, thick sensual leaves with serrated edges of small teeth! Mostly a grayish –green colour, it has long spikes that support yellow flowers. Does well in bright, sunny areas of the house. This indoor plant likes dry soil. It is great for forgetful gardeners as it doesn’t require frequent watering. For the best results, let the soil dry out before watering again.

Pothos

The pothos is one of those handsome indoor plants will find frequently in offices, but will look equally well in your home. An easy to care for plant, it has the added advantage of improving air quality. An evergreen vine that can grow to six feet, it has luxurious heart-shaped variegated leaves that can be speckled with white, yellow or a light green. A climbing vine, it seems to do well in all kinds of light condition. Can be grown in dry soil or even in water. Don’t move from its original growing medium to the opposite.

3 Of The Best Plants For An Indoor Garden

Growing plants indoors can be difficult because of the unnatural elements including lack of sunlight, dry air, and fluctuating temperatures. Some plants, however, can thrive even when put in an environment that is “unnatural” to them such as the indoors. Even people who are not the gardening type can maintain an indoor garden with just a little bit of effort and care. This is good news, because having an indoor garden can add so much beauty to the home as well as cleaner air.

Aloe

The aloe barbadensis plant is an easy plant to add to an indoor garden. It is a drought tolerant type of plant which means that it does not have to be watered very often to be able to grow and survive. This type of plant not only adds a pretty green decoration to the home, but it is also a “healing” plant. Inside the leaves of the aloe plant is a liquid that can be applied to skin with minor rashes and burns to help soothe the skin. Placing the aloe plant about five feet from a west or east facing window should give it as much sunlight as it needs to grow, but some artificial light might be necessary during cloudy or overcast days. The aloe plant should not need much sunlight during the winter if it got enough sunlight during the spring and summer to sustain it, however, some artificial lighting during the winter months will ensure its survival.

Pothos

The pothos plant is perfect for an indoor garden. Not only is it easy to take care of, but it actually cleans the 

air inside of the house getting rid of harmful toxins that people would be breathing in. They are also one of the most beautiful plants adding a great decorative feel to the home. They can be planted in hanging baskets to provide beauty near the ceiling as they grow hanging down the hanging basket. They can also be grown in a pot on the floor or on a table growing upwards through a trellis, which can add beauty to a larger part of the room. Pothos grow well in normal household temperatures, in different lighting conditions, and the soil can dry out in between watering without hurting the plant in anyway.

Spider Plant

The spider plant is another great plant to add to an indoor garden. They add visual interest to the room with how long each blade of the plant can get as well as the beautiful green and white colors it adds to the room. The stems of the spider plant actually produces baby spider plants which can be planted in separate containers and given away as gifts or added to other rooms in the house. The spider plant grows well in indirect lighting as well as artificial light and they also grow well in normal indoor temperatures, which make them really great indoor plants.