Pantone’s 2017 Colour of the Year is Greenery, which means that if you want to stay fashionable, you definitely need to keep some plants in your home. Shades of green and tropical styles, soft foliage and wild blooms are perfect if you’re looking to brighten up your home or make an impact with indoor plants and trees. Here are some that are easy to maintain and suited for our tropical weather.

 

Calathea

(Calathea)

Height: 20-60 cm
Watering schedule: regular, small amounts of water, generally when the surface is dry.

 

Calatheas come in many colours and have many names: zebra plant, peacock plant, or rattlesnake plant, based on its leaf markings. Keep the plant away from direct sunlight (or place near a north-facing windowsill) to avoid the risk of losing the plant’s colour or burning its leaves. Calatheas enjoy being watered regularly, and its leaves need regular misting to stay healthy and bright.

 

Asparagus fern

(Asparagus aethiopicus)

Height: 30-90cm
Watering schedule: regularly and thoroughly.

This houseplant belongs to the lily family, despite its name. Its small leaflets give it an airy look. It is lightweight, and great on tabletops or in hanging baskets. We use them in our bouquets too!

The plant is a safe choice for beginner gardeners. To keep it neat, trim stems and report the plant into a larger container after a growth spurt. Drooping leaves are a sign of too much sunlight or dry soil. Be careful not to overwater the plant, as a lot of water is stored in its roots.

Spider Plant

(Chlorophytum comosum)

Height: 15-30 cm
Watering schedule: keep the soil most and fertilise twice monthly.

This plant’s stringy pale green and yellow leaves will take all the sunlight they can get. It is considered to be one of the most adaptable houseplants, and is ideal for hanging baskets, which also allows them to rotate for maximum light. Young spider plants produce small white flowers called spiderettes, which group around the adult plant. You can easily replant them in potting soil.

 

String of Pearls

(Senecio rowleyanus)

Height: 30-90cm in length

Watering schedule: Thoroughly once a month.

This plant is actually a succulent that grows well in bright light with good draining soil. Its perfect for hanging pots with its plump, round leaves spilling out of its container. The plant is easy to maintain and is very drought tolerant. When the plant arms get too long, prune them and replant them in another pot of soil.

Fiddle-Leaf Fig

(Ficus lyrata)

Height: 1-3 m tall (indoors); up to 15m in its natural habitat.
Watering schedule: Only when the top layer of soil is dry. Depends on humidity.

The fiddle-leaf fig easily dresses up any room its placed in, with its thin trunk and expressive and glossy green leaves, making it a popular choice for many people. However, they are moody and difficult to maintain. Indirect sunlight and the right air temperature and humidity levels are essential, alongside regular cleaning of the leaves. Keep an eye on excess water before reaching for the watering can.

 

Snake Plant/Monther-in-Law’s Tongue

(Sansevieria)

Height: 15-30 cm tall
Watering schedule: every two weeks, together with fertiliser.

This plant is recognisable by its long, upward-pointing leaves that are a strong green with a  yellow tint around the edges. The plants actually a succulent, and is very forgiving and can withstand a little neglect. A sunny spot by the window is ideal, though a shady place works too. Unlike other houseplants, the snake plant coverts carbon dioxide into oxygen at night, making it perfect for the bedroom.

 

English Ivy

(Hedera helix)

Height: English ivy will grow as far as it is allowed to, but usually 5-20 cm.
Watering schedule: weekly.

English ivy is one of the most effective houseplants for filtering harmful toxins and pollutants from the air. Its leaves require lots of indirect sunlight to maintain their colour. Good drainage, regular washing of the leaves, and misting will keep the plant healthy, as will monthly fertilisation.

 

Of course, how the plants are displayed is also important! We have a small selection of pots and vases available for purchase at our studio, and we’ll be selling potted plants in the near future. For now, visit us when we pop up at various markets to get your fresh flowers and potted plants!

 

Photos are via notonthehighstreet.com, homedit.com, convoy.tumblr.com, roomoftuesday.com, suburban-bees.com, nordicdays.blogspot.sg