Yes , You Can Have Gorgeous Indoor Plants

This post contains an affiliate link, which means as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Are you a self-named “brown thumb”? Have you always struggled to keep anything green alive? Do you look enviously at glossy magazines and dream of an urban jungle at your place? Well, I’m here tell you that YOU CAN DO IT! It’s really not that hard.

The great thing about creating a collection of indoor plants is that your private oasis is completely portable, you can take it with you wherever you go and that’s especially handy if you are renting.

The first thing you need to do is go shopping for some fun pots. I would suggest that you start with say five. Select all different sizes and shapes but try and stick with one base colour, the trick is that it looks like something you have spent years effortlessly pulling together but actually only an afternoon at a shop that sells interesting pots. They don’t need to be expensive and many of the chain stores have some really cute ones. Remember, the heroes are the plants, not the pots.They should have a stopper in the bottom that you can release to allow water to drain in you want to.

OK now, you’re on your way to having your very own oasis inside.

Time to select some really easy-care plants…Here’s my Top 5 that will not only be super easy to care for but will make you look like a pro

Sansevieria or Mother In Laws Tongue

You really can’t kill this spikey, architectural-looking plant, it loves being pot bound and so you won’t have to keep on putting it into a bigger pot as it grows, it will be happy in a medium-sized pot for a long time. Over watering will kill it, under watering, on the other hand, will not. So, if you want something that will add oxygen to your indoors then this baby is for you.

Ceropegia woodii or Chain of Hearts

If you would like a plant that you can pop up high on a buffet on on the kitchen cupboards and allow to trail down then this is for you. It is super pretty and the leaves are shaped like tiny hearts on a sweet chain and it even has little flowers that look like tiny jugs. This plant needs a moderate amount of water. If you stick your finger in the soil and it feels dry then it’s time to water it. Allow the water to drain away after a deep water. You should probably only need to water say once a week.

Senecio rowleyanus or String of Pearls

Now, this latin name might amuse teenage boys but it’s also a very cool plant. The leaves are actually shaped and feel like peas, but they are not edible. They hang on strings and almost look plastic..but they’re real. These are easy to look after too and much the same as the Chain of Hearts need water about once a week. They don’t like too much water and will do well in a pot in a filtered light position. Leave them in the pot you bought them in and pop them into a decorative pot…So easy, almost no actual gardening required.

Cissus Rhombifolia or Grape Leaf Ivy

This is not really an ivy at all. It looks great in a hanging container in a filtered light space and long tendrils will wander all around your walls and door frames as long as it has something to wrap itself around. It’s a really soft, pretty plant with lovely green leaves of various shades that need small amounts of water and regular (say monthly) dusting the leaves to make them look shiny and healthy.

Phaleanopsis or Moth Orchid

These fleshy green-leafed plants have stunning large (usually white) moth shaped flowers on long stems. They look great planted out into barky orchid potting mix in a clear glass bowl. You must leave the “leggy” looking roots hanging out over the edge of the container. Once the flower is finished cut off the stems at a height that you are happy with and they will flower again from the spot where you made the cut. Don’t overwater these at all, they grow in nature in trees, so really need no soil and in nature get their moisture from the humid air that they grow in. These are super easy to grow and look great on a bathroom countertop.

What can go wrong?

• Overwatering is the enemy of indoor plants! -Don’t overwater them, too much love is not required, stick your finger into the soil, if the soil particles stick to your finger then come back in a few days with your watering can.
• A little fertiliser is good-too much is not good! Every six months, give your indoor plants a holiday outside for an hour or two and give them a drink with half-strength liquid Powerfeed and let the water drain through before bringing inside-this seaweed solution can be a little stinky.
• Dust if you must! Dust the leaves of your indoor plants by wiping them gently with a damp cloth.

Containers are Key

Indoor plants lend themselves very well to all kinds of pretty containers that you can mix and match according to your decor. I like to browse through on-line to select the latest ones available and things that are a little different. Hanging pots can give you height in a room, allowing you to create an opportunity to really enjoy the beauty of say the String of Pearls or Chain of Hearts. Funky pots with faces in different shapes add a really cool on-trend vibe to your home, I like to plant succulents in these.

There you have it, that’s pretty much it…once you have let these babies into your heart, you will develop greater confidence and experiment with some other treasures. This comes with a warning, collecting indoor plants can be addictive.