The ancients knew that late autumn was a time to bring greenery indoors, allowing the spirits of nature to enter your homes.
Nowadays we do the same with houseplants and, while we can enjoy our indoor gardens all year round, the darker months are when they come into their own.
But it’s easy to be wrong: I speak as someone who has managed to kill many houseplants over the years.
However, with a little knowledge we can find the perfect position for each one.
Grouping plants together can help create a microclimate and make watering easier. Most prefer a constant temperature and do not like to sit in cold drafts.
Think about where they grow in nature and place them in a location that best replicates those conditions.
HUMIDITY LOVERS
Baths are ideal for plants that love humidity and do not need direct sunlight.
Maidenhair ferns (Adiantum) are notoriously finicky plants that come from the American tropics, where they grow in moist shade, so a steamy bath is ideal for them.
Bath Time Treats: Prayer Plants from Brazil That Stay Warm, Moist, and Shaded
Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) grow in the swampy margins of the South American rainforest. They will tolerate shade but need indirect light to flower.
Prayer plants (Maranta leuconeura), so called because at night the leaves fold like two hands in prayer, come from Brazil and like to be kept warm, moist and shady.
If you have a sunny windowsill, consider an aloe, native to South Africa, where
They are used to living in dry and rocky places. They won’t mind being near a radiator. Cacti are happy in a bright, warm location where you can let them dry out a little, but then water freely.
GREEN PURIFIER
The flamingo flower (Anthurium andreanum) has rich red flowers and removes xylene from the atmosphere, a compound found in computers, making it ideal for the home office.
Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) also filter out artificial chemicals.
Many houseplants are known to purify the air and are especially good for bedrooms. These include the bird’s nest fern (Asplenium nidus), which prefers warm, moist, shady conditions.
The palm-shaped dragon tree (Dracaena marginata) brings an exotic touch to the room and filters benzene from gasoline fumes and cigarette smoke from the air.
Living rooms are good for showy plants that like to stay cozy and enjoy bright but indirect sunlight, a bit like humans.
The Kentia palm was so popular in Victorian times that it was known as the parlor palm. They are slow growing and can remain in the same pot for years. But they are poisonous to pets, so avoid them if your dog is likely to chew them.
One of my favorite houseplants is the chain of hearts (Ceropegia linearis), which falls from our bookshelf. Coming from South Africa, it can resist drought.
For shady corners, consider a snake plant (Sanseveria), jade plant (Crassula ovata), begonias or African violets (Saintpaulia), as all will tolerate low light levels.