The Best Indoor Plants And How to Care For Them
- Written by Daniel Fudge
A house feels more like a home when you have some indoor plants decorating the place. It also adds a touch of nature and serenity to the home. Which indoor plants are a good choice and what will you need to do to take care of them so they remain healthy?
This article will be a short guide on choosing the right plants, as well as how to take care of them, which plants need some sunlight or shade, how often to water them and the optimum temperatures to keep your plants at.
Devil’s Ivy
Also known as Epipremnum Aureum, Devil’s Ivy is a popular choice of indoor plant that is found in many Australian households and offices.
It’s more of a vine than a plant and it grows very fast. When choosing this plant, the best way to have it in your home is in a hanging basket. This makes it ideal for patios and balconies.
One of the biggest advantages to Devil’s Ivy is it’s a low-maintenance plant. It’s extremely drought-resistant, so if you’re the kind of person who forgets to water your plants often enough, then Devil’s Ivy is a great choice. You only need to water it once a week in the warmer months to keep it hydrated and healthy, and once a fortnight in winter.
As far as temperature goes, this plant can survive both hot and cold conditions, but it does thrive with some sunlight. Pruning is best during spring and summer.
Rubber Plant
With leaves in hues of dark green and burgundy, the rubber plant is a fine addition to any home environment. These plants can actually grow into trees, but the size will be confined by the size of the pot you grow it in. To keep the plant small, maintain it in a small pot for indoor decorating.
Indirect but bright light is perfect for the rubber plant to survive and thrive and it’s very resilient to a diverse range of temperatures.
During the winter this plant can survive for a month without watering, but a weekly dose of water during summer is highly recommended.
Rubber plants have shiny, attractive leaves and colouring and they are super easy to maintain.
Anthurium Andraeanum
This hardy plant is similar in appearance to the rubber plant when it comes to colouring. It’s become a staple within Australian homes and gardens, but originates from Columbia.
This plant produces stunning leaf-like flowers in a number of colours, which include pink, red and white. What’s more, the flowers are a very attractive heart shape. Shiny leaves in shades of deep green make the Anthurium Andraeanum a fantastic and attractive choice for indoors.
Bright light is required for this plant to remain vibrant and healthy, but direct sunlight is not recommended. Keep the plant drier in winter, but constantly moist during the warmer months of the year. Originating from a tropical climate, this plant loves moist and humid conditions.
Use a high-phosphorus liquid fertiliser once a fortnight during summer and spring.
Bromeliad
The Bromeliad is actually a low-maintenance house plant that is quite simple to grow and look after. With rosette-shaped leaves in green and red, it’s an attractive plant that will liven up any living space.
Once again, direct sunlight is not recommended, but the Bromeliad does thrive best in medium to bright light conditions. It doesn’t require a lot of watering, only once a week in summer and considerably less in winter. The best way to deliver water to this plant is by “filling the cup”. In other words, by pouring water into the hollow in the centre of the plant.
Fertilise once a year.
Maidenhair Fern
Maidenhair Ferns require a little more maintenance than the other plants on this list, but they do make for an attractive addition to the home. They are also the perfect hanging plant.
Place it in a warm, humid location that’s not too bright and this plant will thrive.
For watering and to create a micro-humid environment, place a saucer with pebbles beneath the plant and fill the saucer with water. This both hydrates the plant as well as creating the humid conditions it requires.
The Takeaway
Many plants will thrive indoors in Australia. It’s all a matter of knowing which ones to choose and how to look after them.
Author Bio:
Daniel Fudge is the managing Director at Hort Culture, a Sydney based garden services provider specialising in maintenance in the residential, commercial and strata sector. He has been in the Horticulture industry for over 15 Years.
