|
Design
Tips for Houseplants -
Getting
creative with plants indoors
There are many
reasons to keep houseplants: to clean the air, to absorb carbon
dioxide, to have someone to talk to who doesn’t interrupt.
But with a pinch of creativity, a houseplant can also be an artistic
masterpiece. Here are three easy ways to increase your plants’
decorative qualities:
Unusual
Containers
- Almost anything
can be used as a container, even an old shoe. If you can’t
drill a hole in the bottom for drainage, set a slightly smaller
plastic pot inside. Or, put down an inch of gravel and pot the
plant on top of it – but be very careful not to over water.
- You can find
a wealth of interesting containers in antique shops in the form
of old serving dishes, teapots, vases, and bottles.
- Try planting
a tall vase with a plant like ivy or pothos that will trail down
the side.
- Train ivy
or another climber around the handle of a rustic basket.
- For particularly
striking plants, opt for a plain container that won’t attract
attention away from the plant.
Plant
Groupings
- For an instant
arrangement set two of the same plants on either side of a mirror
or painting.
- Surround
a large plant with several small ones with the same form. For
example, a tall spiky dracaena flanked by several small snake
plants.
- Buy several
of the same style pot in contrasting colors.
- Buy the same
style and color pot in different sizes.
Grouping
Several Plants in One Container
- You can’t
go wrong with a cactus garden. Buy a shallow pot and plant three
or more small cacti in it. Finish it off with a layer of colorful
gravel on top.
- Group several
plants in a basket. You can leave them in their pots and fill
the space between with moss. Line the basket with plastic so the
straw doesn’t rot. This is an easy decoration that can be
changed seasonally.
- Plant several
African violets or cyclamen in a large container. Mix two different
flower colors.
- Disguise
plants with ungainly stems by surrounding them with smaller plants.
- The best
groupings have some sort of theme. Pick plants with similar color,
form, texture, or shape.
There are as
many ways to design with houseplants as there are people, so let
your creative impulses run wild. Mix and match until you find a
design you love, and then sit back and wait for the compliments
to roll in.
|
