Lately, humble houseplants are garnering a lot more attention than ever. magazines are filled with fiddle leaf figs and Pinterest is brimming with do-it-yourself terrarium projects. Australian boutique owner and author Bree Claffey is fascinated with how plants can minimize stress, purify the air and connect communities. Bree’s Melbourne shop, Mr Kitly, is stocked with elegant stands and self-watering pots made by local artisans (including her own dad). She even uses ‘Plant Consultations’! In her first book, indoor Green: Living With Plants, Bree explores our desire to bring the outdoors in and reveals the best houseplants to try in your own home.
Fiddle leaf figs are one of the most popular houseplants ideal now. When choosing the right plant for your home it’s crucial to consider size, shape, texture and color, and to read the label to see if the plant’s needs match up with your home environment. along with watering, fiddle leaf figs need regular misting and to have their leaves cleaned occasionally.
Care tip: “Once it finds a spot it likes, a good idea is not to step it,” says Bree.
This converted mattress factory in Melbourne houses a variety of rhipsalis and hoya, which both like bright light and a limited amount of water. On top of two colorful milk crates, an indoor elephant ear enjoys indirect sunlight.
Care tip: Elephant ears are tropical plants, so using a humidifier in your room is a good idea.
Devil’s ivy totem is a terrific plant to tuck in a corner, so long as it gets enough sunlight. It can be placed on a shelf where it will trail over, or can be taught to stand upright with a stake. “It’s one of the most versatile and forgiving plants,” notes Bree.
Care tip: “Brown spots on leaves indicate it is being kept too cold and over-watered. Vines with very long gaps between leaves normally lack appropriate light,” says Bree.
A pony tail palm (pictured on the left behind the chair) is one of the easiest indoor plants to care for because it can tolerate periods of neglect. It originates from the desert and can store water in the base of its trunk. textile artist Shabd Simon-Alexander has a pony tail palm and plants of all sizes in her Brooklyn loft.
Care tip: “Over-watering is the primary way to kill pony tail palms,” says Bree. during hot, dry weather, water once every three weeks.
Shabd’s ficus alii leans over a pile of her textiles and needs strong support. sunlight can also help your plants stand tall. “They just want to get as close to it as possible, so positioning and turning your pots frequently helps them stand up straight,”says Shabd.
Care tip: If you notice the leaves of your ficus alii dropping it may be too close to your heating or cooling vents, or you may be over-watering it.
Australian designers Mary and grant Featherston’s home takes loving houseplants to a whole other level. internal gardens are grown on different levels and wax plants climb a wall next to a small indoor pond.
Care tip: You can keep wax plants in the same pot for years because they don’t mind being root-bound.
The Featherston’s have a dining area overlooking their indoor pond. Ferns, creeping moss, fruit salad plants and calathea grow happily in the moist environment. The calathea’s variegated white leaves add graphic contrast to the green space.
Care tip: Calatheas like distilled water that’s been sitting out. try watering them with leftover water from beside your bed in the morning.
Jewelry designer Anny Postolidis uses plant stands and hangingKurver for å vise stueplanter i forskjellige høyder i Melbourne -studioet hennes. Maidenhair og Boston Ferns (avbildet på et stativ og hengende fra taket her) er populære valg, men kan være litt temperamentsfulle. “Vann dem hver dag med et fullt glass vann, og tåke bladene med noen få dager,” antyder Anny.
Omsorgstips: “Hvis du vil at Boston Fern skal fortsette å bli større, må du potte den hvert ett til to år om våren,” sier Bree.
Hvis du har en stueplante (som fruktsalatplanten som vises her) og er bekymret for at røttene vokser ut av potten og ser skjemmende ut, bekymrer deg ikke. “Luftrøtter er et tegn på en gledelig og sunn plante,” sier Bree.
Omsorgstips: Å sette en fruktsalatplante på en høy bokhylle lar røttene henge fritt.
Huseierne i dette dusjrommet tenkte på å bruke botanisk bakgrunnsbilde på badet, men de kunne ikke bestemme seg for det ideelle mønsteret. I stedet satte de en Heartleaf Philodendron i bunnen av den ene veggen, og seks år senere er den klatret oppover veggen, og dannet et levende tapet.
Omsorgstips: “Gule blader er typisk symptomet på overvannende og brune kanter kan være et tegn på svidd,” sier Bree.