It’s a jungle in here! And that’s a good thing
Plants add life, can help clean the air, and celebrate the Earth’s diversity
Hanging from the ceiling or making a major green statement in any room, houseplants are back in style.
“There was a period when the economy was bad and people were economizing. They’d say, ‘We don’t need it!’ But you really do need houseplants. They clean the air. They make us feel better,” said Kifumi Keppler, owner of Sacramento’s Exotic Plants. “People are realizing that now.”
Garden Design magazine noted millennials, born between 1980 and 2000, tend to shop for houseplants like they would for furniture or accessories. They’re decorating with living things.
“Houseplants let you create your own space,” says Tyler Davis.
Davis, 31, is a houseplant lover. He has more than 150 specimens at his home.
“Everything old is new again,” says Davis, who works at U.S. chain Orchard Supply Hardware. “People are still going back to the classics. There’s a little bit of nostalgia, too. People remember houseplants they grew up with or at their grandparents’ house. Houseplants transcend generations.”
His favourite is Snake Plant (Sansevieria), also known as Mother-in-Law’s Tongue.
“It’s just so easy,” Davis said. “It’s a foolproof houseplant. You don’t need to be an expert to make this plant grow in your home. It’s also very structural. Snake Plant was really popular during the 1950s and 1960s, the same period as midcentury modern furniture, which is very popular right now, too. They’re perfect together.”
Overall, though, this new wave is not the same old houseplants.
“Back in the 1970s, it was all hanging plants — Boston ferns, piggyback plants and wandering Jew,” said Keppler. “Now, people are looking for something different.”
Large specimens such as two or three-metre tall fiddleleaf fig trees, an indoor star for decorators, “fly out the door,” Keppler said.
Customers also gravitate to colourful foliage such as neon-green pothos or variegated Chinese evergreen. Easy-care orchids such as phalaenopsis and dendrobium also grab attention. Such orchids offer weeks of eye-popping flowers with little water or care, even in low light.
“Just water them once in a while and put them in the right space,” Davis said.
How do you choose? Start with the room where that plant will live.
Choose the right plant for the space you have. Anything that blooms needs more light than foliage plants, Keppler noted. African violets, for example, need bright light close to a window while Snake Plants can tolerate much lower levels and will even
survive in windowless rooms — if they get a few hours of artificial light each day.
Anthuriums, a heart-shaped symbol of Hawaii, “are really catching on,” Keppler said. “They’re pretty easy to rebloom as long as their light is good.”
Knowing a plant’s needs will keep it happy and growing.
The secret to happy houseplants is proper watering, lighting and using a good, balanced houseplant food. Keep the leaves free of dust (so plants can breathe) by taking them out occasionally and rinsing the leaves or wipe them with a soft cloth.
Many people kill houseplants with kindness, Keppler said. The most common problem is overwatering. “The plant gets too much water, their roots start to die and their leaves turn yellow,” she said. “People see yellow leaves — and they give the plant more water. It dies. Instead, check the soil before watering and see if the plant really needs it. For most houseplants, water them once a week.”
Plants in low light need less water than those in bright spots, she added. Also, plants in clay pots dry out faster than those in plastic containers. With a little attention, these indoor companions will invigorate you, Keppler said. “I have to have plants in any environment,” she said. “A room without plants looks stark and lifeless. Add a couple of plants and it really comes alive.”