Using indoor plants to maximize drama and minimize stress
The Conservatory at Bourne and Hollingsworth Buildings.
Have you ever wondered why your indoor plant displays don’t quite live up to the vision you had in your mind?
We all know using plants indoors is one of the biggest trends right now, but sometimes it can be tricky to pull off.
Good news: here we talk to plant expert and H+H consultant Rob Kerr who is going to let us into some key trade secrets so we can all become masters of our own indoor green sanctuary.
Rob has worked on some of the most inspirational indoor plant installations in London with his company Rob and the Plant. His most iconic has to be the Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings in Clerkenwell London where he has created a stunning lush oasis as pictured above.
That’s right Rob is going to talk us through: What we need to consider when selecting our plants? How to pull off an eye catching design? And how to ensure that the plants thrive?
Sounds good?
LET’S GET STARTED.
A Philodendron at our Eastwood Road project.
Consider the room environment: It’s all about light
“The light within the room needs to be strong enough for you to be able to read a newspaper at a minimum”.
What are the natural light conditions within your room? Is there a sunny space which receives direct sunlight for a good chunk of the day? This would be called bright light. Or are you looking at a space deeper within the room? Or an easterly aspect? This would be indirect light.
Now we know the light conditions we are working with but which plants should we choose?
“The easiest way to understand a plants requirement is to think about their natural living environment and popular plants fit into two main groups.”
Jungle Plants: luscious plants with big green leaves. They originate from the undergrowth and so are suited to indirect light. For example Asparagus Fern or a Philodendron.
Desert Dwellers: minimal and sculptural plants who need bright, direct sunlight. For example Cacti & Succulents.
In short select plants suitable to the light in your space and you have taken the first step to ensure your plants thrive.
Pendant light display at our Brading Terrace project.
A towering Schefflera at our Eastwood Road project.
Consider the space: bigger is better
“The bigger your container the better chance of your plant surviving and thriving as it is less likely to dry out.”
This is the fun part - you want to create an eye-catching feature that makes an impact.
Consider your plant displays when you are laying out your room: treat them like a sizable piece of furniture, the more floor space the better.
Be brave. Using varying heights grouped together will create a striking display.
Where floor space is limited look to alternative spaces; hanging containers, vertical displays, open shelving and wall mounted propagation displays.
A word of caution:
“The higher you go the warmer the environment so the more likely your plants will dry out and they are easier to forget.”
A Monstera in an oversized wicker container at our Cleveland Road project.
Container no-brainer: only the best
“A planter is for life - it’s worth investing in”
As we have already mentioned pick the biggest size that you can, it will stop the soil from drying out and allow the plant to grow.
We’ve all done it; forgotten our poor house-plant and then drenched it, over-watering and causing the roots to rot.
So here’s the thing, we need to think about drainage. You can use a pot with a tray or a smaller plastic pot inside a decorative over-pot. If you choose to plant directly into a closed pot be warned:
“You need to be very attentive to your plants needs.”
If you really want to go the whole hog invest in a sub-irrigated planter. These slowly release water enabling you to drop down to monthly watering.
As for material you want an aesthetic that matches your scheme. Natural materials such as clay or wicker will really complement an eco vibe. Whereas cleaner materials such as metals or plastic will give a more minimal architectural look.
A Snake Plant at our Mount Park Road Project.
A climbing Epipremnum at our Percy Road project.
Health and happiness: what can plants do for you?
By now you’ll have realised that with a little attention and planning anyone can create their indoor green sanctuary but that ‘s not all.
Want to know the best part?
Aside from creating a visual design statement in your home, house-plants can have a significant impact on you.
Studies show that being surrounded by living plants can lower your heart rate and reduce stress.
All plants produce oxygen throughout the day boosting the levels within your space. Moreover there are plants who continue to produce oxygen at night, for example the Snake Plant, making them ideal for the bedroom or a late night workspace.
There are also plants which can absorb volatile organic compounds filtering the air, for example a Draceana. Refer to NASA’s list of these plants which they created as part of their Clean Air Study.
A tumbling Monstera at our Cleveland Road project.
Get your plants flourishing: use TLC
Robs final tip for us today,
“Treat your plants more like a pet and less like furniture”.
Be aware of what upkeep is required of your plants and jot it down. Understand requirements relating to watering, feeding, pest control and pruning.
A distressed plant will drop its leaves and be more susceptible to pests.
Encouraging plants to thrive can bring you great joy but be realistic in the amount of time you want to be investing in your installation. If you are time poor, or go away regularly, pick forgiving plants who will revive easily if neglected, for example the Ficus or a Monstera Swiss Cheese plant.
“Think of it as a journey - at the start you may make mistakes but you will grow in confidence as you gain experience.”
A simple installation at our Stanmore Gardens project.
Final word
So it all adds up to this.
Consider the natural conditions you are working with and be generous with the amount of space you allocate to your plant installation.
Purchase the best containers to enable your plants to thrive and maximize both the visual aesthetic and health benefits to you.
Invest a little time in both upfront planning and ongoing care and you will reap the rewards.
SO GIVE IT A GO. BE BRAVE.
Take a look at our Pinterest page for more inspiration.
And if you have a bigger project in mind then get in touch.