Break the barrier between the indoors and the outdoors, by adding a touch of greenery to your décor.
Why plants?
Plants create a warm and welcoming ambience, and add aesthetic value to any space. Apart from improving the air quality and moisture levels in your home, plants have a restful effect on people — they calm the heart rate, ease mental fatigue, lower blood pressure and even reduce muscle tension. Studies have shown that plant life helps relax and focus, resulting in an increase in creativity and productivity. If used smartly, they can also absorb noise and reduce pollution. Potted plants placed along a window facing the road will absorb some of the noise.
Which plants?
Look for plants that go with the décor of your home. Plants with straight and clean lines are ideal for a modern home; leafy ones add a pleasing vibe to any kind of home while succulents go well with out-of-the-box décor.
What plants grow well indoors?
The following plants grow well with low to moderate daylight: Crotons, coleus, pelargonium (geranium), purple heart, Chinese evergreen, zebra plant, begonia, bromeliads, caladium, calathea (peacock plant), Ceropegia woodii (Rosary vine), chlorophytum (spider plant), dracaena (dragon plants), ferns, helxine (baby’s tears), impatiens (patient Lucy, busy Lizzie, touch-me-not), Maranta (prayer plant), palms, philodendron, devil’s ivy and tradescantia and zebrina (wandering Jew). Areca palm, rubber plant, money plant, snake plant and Boston fern are especially conducive to Indian indoor climates. Plant placement should be done keeping in mind aesthetics as well as the plant’s health. Most plants need exposure to daylight, so consider them as movable objects. Placing plants outdoors once a week ensures that they stay healthy. In planters?
Think beyond plastic, terracotta and ceramic — try old tins, barrows, jugs, tubs or trunks. You could also paint and stencil to give old things a new identity. Don’t think of a planter as only a home for your plant — it must also work with and add to the ambience of your home. Stainless steel boxes work well for ultra-modern and super-contemporary homes, terracotta and ceramic planters add country charm, while classic vases add a Victorian appeal. Line them up along the walkway, add a few at verandah corners or hang pretty ones along the patio railing.
Feng shui tips
The ancient Chinese philosophy of feng shui advocates the use of plants to create harmony in the home. Experts translate good feng shui into the ‘ideal balance of energies in a home’. Plants represent wood, the only one of the five elements (the others being earth, water, air and metal) that contains chi, energy or the life force. How does that translate into plants and their placement across the home? Feng shui recommends plants with more yin than yang in the bedroom (ferns and feathery herbs), along with hanging baskets and plants on windowsills. Plants with broad, full leaves are ideal for the kitchen, while a small water body surrounded by a variety of plants creates the best balance of calm and energy in the living room. Lastly, never keep a cactus on your night table — it will lead to fitful sleep and bad dreams.
