Using Indoor Plants to Brighten Your Winter
By Alison Draper, Lic. R.E. Salesperson in our West Side Office
Beat the winter blues by brightening your space with indoor plants that add life and vibrancy! They are a fantastic, versatile design element to add to any home – providing color, texture, personality, clean air, and a peaceful environment. If you don’t have a green thumb, there are plenty of fun and stylish low-maintenance choices.
Learn which plants will thrive best in the environment you wish to place them to get optimal life and enjoyment from them, and, if you have a pet, be sure to check their pet-friendliness. Below I’ve included six tips on adding plants to your home during the winter months.
1. Create depth and interest.
Placing a larger statement plant in the corner of a room will make the space feel bigger and more interesting. If your corner has a lot of light, consider a Bird-of-Paradise for its large leaves, ability to grow more than six feet in height, and its most stunning feature: a bird-like flower of orange and blue!
Other great choices for an exotic vibe are the Banana Tree or Kentia Palm. If you have limited space, choose a plant that doesn’t need too much root space and will use vertical space, such as cacti (Euphorbia ingens) or tall bamboo. Think of your plant’s container as you do your furniture so it melds seamlessly with your décor. Lastly, make sure the plant isn’t crowded so you can enjoy the peaceful and uplifting atmosphere it creates.
2. Add some color.
To add accents of color, small and medium-sized blooming potted plants work well. Consider placing these plants on a mantel, coffee table, side table, or shelf to shift the winter doldrums in any room. A good choice for a medium-sized plant is the Christmas Cactus. This durable plant with hanging branches of green, flat segments blooms gorgeous hot pink petals during the winter months!
If you want a more upswept plant, consider the Cyclamen, which comes in a variety of colors from red to pink to white. Smaller-sized potted flowering plants to consider are Begonias with a scarlet or coral bloom or African Violets in an alluring deep purple – perfect for a windowsill. Even a small single succulent, placed strategically, can make a difference in the mood of a room. So, play around and enjoy adding new life and energy to your space.
3. Choose a calming element for sleep.
If you want calm and clean air, add a plant to your bedroom. Some believe that simply touching a plant’s leaves can calm you down! The beautiful low-maintenance Rubber Plant is an air purifier and a powerful toxin eliminator with striking forest green leathery, glossy, ample leaves that are sure to soothe. If your bedroom is small, choose a small potted snake plant for a shelf or nightstand; its vertical leaves’ various shades of green will add tranquility while purifying the air.
4. Consider what’s trending.
Macramé hangers continue to be the rage and are a versatile way to bring plants indoors. Get creative about where you choose to hang plants, whether in the bathroom, above kitchen windows, in a corner, or even on a wall. You can choose your container to suit your style whether it’s a metal or ceramic pot (in a solid color or design to suit your décor).
Popular hanging plants include the delicate String of Pearls plant, which starts small but can grow tendrils of beads up to three feet long. Another is the Bird’s Nest Fern, which has ripple-edged fronds that grow out of a nest-like crown. Cacti and succulents are also in vogue to hang in clusters.
If you want to skip hanging, some on-trend plant favorites include the Monstera deliciosa or “Swiss Cheese” plant. As they age, its large heart-shaped leaves develop holes that resemble Swiss cheese. Another favorite is the Pilea peperomioides or the “Friendship Plant” which has smaller, fairly round leaves and is an Insta-star!
5. Fill negative space.
For areas that need a little something, liven them up with a living, breathing plant! This could be an area above kitchen cabinets, a lonely space on a shelf, or built-in alcoves along the top of a large room. Consider vine plants to fill these areas.
If the area is hard to reach, the low-maintenance exotic Hoya Plant – with its thick, waxy leaves and clusters of star-shaped flowers – is a good choice. It is easy to grow in low, medium, or bright light and doesn’t require watering until the potting mix dries out. If you skip a water or two, no need to panic: the thick leaves and stems store water for these instances.
Another plant to consider is the Boston Fern, which has earned its continuing popularity by being one of the easiest ferns to care for and maintain. This puffy plant is sure to liven up any neglected space.
6. Don’t forget the bathroom!
Low light, high humidity, and temperature swings are factors to consider when choosing plants for a bathroom. If you are looking for a hardy plant, the Cast Iron Plant is low-maintenance, hard to kill, and grows well in low or indirect light. Pot this plant in glossy white ceramic, a natural woven basket, or a planter with legs in a simple design.
If you have moderate to bright light, an airy, lacy Asparagus Fern is a good pick, as it loves the humidity of a bathroom. If you are tight on space, a few bamboo stalks in a skinny vase will be easy to incorporate. As a plus, according to Feng Shui, plants work well in bathrooms as they balance the space!
I hope this helps get you started. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have, no matter how general or specific. I would love to hear your ideas, too!