If you are too concerned about the environment and want to go green but do not know where to start from, start with your home. The first step you can take is to reduce the number of objects you use to decorate your home. Those wall hangings, show pieces and large cases require high degree of maintenance otherwise they gather dust and bacteria and encourage the use of plastic and other non-biodegradable substances or harmful chemicals used in paints and dyes in manufacturing these objects. With living spaces getting smaller by day not everyone has the luxury of a lawn, where you can sit and relax and enjoy the green view of carpeted grass, while you sip your morning tea. But you can always use potted plants to green up your home and use them both decoratively as well as to clean the air you breathe at home.
Plants not only give an attractive look to your living space but also lend a fresh, lively, youthful yet a peaceful look to your home and speak volumes about your love for nature and care for the environment. Moreover, they are cost effective, demand simple care, like regular watering and putting them out in the Sun for some time, once or twice a week, the care you will love to take and it will be worth it. And you experience that million dollar feeling of nurturing something that has life, that grows and is more meaningful than lifeless objects of decoration.
Here are some decorative indoor plants you can deck up your home and your office with:
Areca Palm: It is one of the most commonly used plants for home interiors and commands attention and a tall areca palm does away your need for that corner show case. These plants need indirect sunlight, else, their leaves turn yellow in direct sunlight. They have a life span of about 10 years and can stand trimming without much harm. A tall areca palm can be quite expensive so you can buy a small table-top plant and grow it.
Snake Plant: It is also known as mother-in-law’s tongue or ribbon plant. It has thick, waxy leaves and requires least amount of care, so it is a must have for regular vacationers who like to keep indoor plants. It can remain pot-bound and yet thrive. It is widely known to purify indoor air and is a cheap buy, hence, keeping this at home is a win-win situation.
Bromeliads: They are brightly coloured foliage plants and add an exotic look and interesting texture to home interiors. They need medium to bright light and can grow in shallow pots hence, do not require a thick layer of soil. You can water it once, twice or even thrice a week, depending upon the humidity level, to keep its roots moist throughout, yet not keeping the soil soggy. Too much water may rot the crown. They make a great center table or countertop décor. You should place the plant a little away from direct sunlight as leaves are likely to scorch with too much light.
Devil’s Ivy: it is one of the most common houseplants and renders a fresh and bright green colour to your space. It requires weekly watering, low light and can stand high humidity. It can grow up to 10 feet tall.
Chrysanthemums: They are great floral houseplants. They purify air and add colours and vibrancy to your indoors. They need a good amount of air, bright but indirect sunlight and watering with luke warm water only, the soil should be allowed to dry fully dry before watering the next time.
Some other low maintenance houseplants include spider plant, ferns, peace lily, aloe vera. If you do not mind putting in some extra efforts you can also go for terrace and balcony garden and consider the relatively new concept, foodscaping.
By
Vani Rawat
