THE GREEN HOUSE

Bring the outside in and create a wonderful sense of wellbeing by filling your home with houseplants

Houseplants have become increasingly fashionable and there are more varieties readily available than even a couple of years ago. But in addition to being in vogue, they also have benefits for our wellbeing and health. ‘Plants not only provide a cheap, easy and effective way to put your stamp on your home, but they also really do instil a sense of calm,’ says Nik Southern, founder of florists

Grace & Thorn and one of the people at the vanguard of the houseplant revival.

‘There’s something soothing about nurturing them and watching them grow.’ Sophie Lee, co-founder of indoor plant specialist Geo Fleur agrees. ‘Plants are hugely beneficial to your health,’ she says. ‘They purify the air, improve concentration and productivity and lower blood pressure.’

Making the right choice

While taste and decor is a factor when it comes to selecting plants, it’s worth knowing that some are more effective at combatting indoor pollution – from cleaning products and soft furnishings – than others. Common plants with toxin-filtering properties include spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum), peace lilies (Spathiphyllum wallisii) and rubber plants

(Ficus elastica ‘Decora’). Or try some of the more exotic varieties, such as flamingo flowers (Anthurium) and Madagascar dragon tree (Dracaena marginata). While all plants produce oxygen, night-time oxygenators, such as aloe veras and dendrobium orchids, are good to have in bedrooms to aid sleep.

Plant positioning

To reap the benefits, it’s not just about the type of plants, it’s also about how you help them flourish. As with outdoor gardening, learning to look after plants is a matter of trial and error and the key is to follow the ‘right

plant, right place’ rule. According to Nik Southern, this means finding out where your plant is from and emulating that environment. ‘For example, don’t put a succulent in a dark basement and water it every day. It’s from the desert, so it likes the sun and small amounts of water. Find it a sunny spot, ease off on the watering and you’ll see it flourish,’ she advises. Read the labels and choose, say, humidity-loving ferns and air plants for a bathroom; or plants such as fern arum (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) and mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata) that can cope with the lower levels of light for a dark hallway. Also consider where you spend most of your time and make these areas the focal spots for greenery. ‘An indoor garden can be your sanctuary,’ says Sophie Lee. ‘By introducing plants, you’ll notice improvements to your health and happiness.’

Taking good care

People often assume houseplants are hard to care for, but most can take a bit of neglect. The most common cause of plant death is drowning through over-watering. If you’re unsure how much to give, follow Nik Southern’s advice. ‘Use the finger test,’ she says. ‘Touch the soil and if it’s dry, water the plant; if it’s not, then don’t.’ This rule works for most plants and it’s generally better to under- rather than over-water. ‘Don’t worry about a yellow leaf or your plant looking droopy – plants don’t die overnight,’ Nik adds. ‘Check them weekly and snip off any brown or yellow leaves. They can indicate a problem, but don’t mean your plant is dead.’ Instead, take them as warning signs and do a bit of research into potential issues, which, depending on the plant, will usually be related to its position, light or your watering regime. If you’re still feeling nervous, begin your collection with some of the ‘easy-care’ plants, such as a succulent (try Echeveria elegans), a cast-iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) or a kentia palm (Howea forsteriana).