How To Cultivate A Magnificent Indoor Garden
The interiors trend for bringing nature into our spaces is reaching new heights in 2022. We asked three plant stylists and garden designers to share their expert advice on how to grow an indoor garden. By KATIE BERRINGTON
Keep growth in mind
Maryah Greene, plant stylist, consultant and founder of plant-care website Greene Piece, explains how our experiences of the past two years have expanded our need for nature. “What [this] looks like physically is creating a nook or space that you’re able to make your own, so that you are able to witness some growth,” she says. “I think that’s a really rewarding thing to see; to know you’ve had an impact on growing [something], especially in a time of experiencing so much loss. We started to bring the outside in for more than just aesthetic reasons – [it has given] us something to do.”
Assess your space
“First, you need to assess your light, and any other factors that might contribute to a plant’s survival, before getting creative and deciding how to decorate the space,” says Greene. “Once you determine how much light you’re getting and whether there are any obstructions that are inhibiting it, you can work out whether it’s a little Amazon or if, maybe, it’s more of a desert environment, where you might want to focus on cacti and succulents.”
Don’t go overboard
“I’m all for quality over quantity,” Greene cautions. “During the pandemic, we all got very plant-happy and saw a lot of Instagram posts of people with hundreds of plants in their space – but no one takes into account the maintenance!”
“You have to let go of all these preconceived notions that you don’t have a ‘green thumb’
”MARYAH GREENE
Forget the ‘green thumb’ myth
“You have to let go of all these preconceived notions that you don’t have a ‘green thumb’,” she says. “This idea that you’re born with an inherent nature to care for plants is actually a big myth. You want to dismantle those thoughts so that you can dive in and start afresh.”
Get creative to let nature in
“In my book, Wild Creations, I provide many creative DIY projects to bring nature into your space, regardless of how much light you might have” says plant/interiors stylist and author Hilton Carter, whose other titles include Wild at Home and Wild Interiors. “One of my favorites is creating a propagation wall, which not only works as a piece of living art but helps you to grow your plant collection. Also, there’s a project that I call Jungle by Numbers, in which you can create a paint-by-numbers jungle mural on your wall. The idea of life can ease the mind, not just the inhabitants of living greenery.”
Greene is also an enthusiast of living memory walls. “Whenever I go somewhere, I try to take a cutting of a plant, if I can. Then, when I’m home, I find nice vases or jars and let them live in there to curate a wall or space of living memories.”
Tap into the joy
For Isabelle Palmer, city-garden designer and founder of The Balcony Gardener, it’s all about focusing on the moments of satisfaction. “Gardening has become a hobby and pastime for so many people to focus on: the sowing of seeds, seeing them shoot and grow, or the wonder of a flower blooming; [it’s] so reassuring when everything has been in flux. Whether it’s a house plant, a window box, a garden, a balcony or a roof terrace, our green spaces have become a pivotal part of our lives.”
Maximize any outdoor space
“Approach planning a balcony [or terrace] the same way you would any other room in the house,” says Palmer. “This is a good way to zone what’s needed in the space and outline furniture and accessories. For pots and planters, I normally use odd numbers and sympathetic materials, such as terracotta, zinc and steel – the bigger the pot, the better! I think a mix of wild and more naturalistic planting works well in containers to really give you a sense of nature – and also the use of trees in containers.”
Incorporate sensorial extras
“Appeal to your senses [by adding] water features or the sounds of swaying leaves and grasses,” Palmer continues. “Add highly scented flowers and herbs, too, plus lighting for ambience to make the space usable at night.”
“So many people have decided to bring plants indoors to bring life into their spaces
”HILTON CARTER
When it comes to plant shopping, here are the experts’ tips…
How to choose your indoor plants
Greene: “If you have medium to indirect light, something I recommend is the monstera deliciosa. It grows fairly quickly with the right light and every leaf looks different. The reward of seeing the fenestrations (the arrangement of holes in the leaves) is always inspiring to new plant parents. If you want something quite low-maintenance, I recommend the sansevieria sayuri, which is a rarer version of a common snake plant and only needs water once every three to four weeks. If someone is looking for a larger statement plant with a big pop of green, then I recommend the bird of paradise – [perhaps contrary to belief], if you choose a large plant, the care is often low-maintenance because the soil stays moist for a long time [thanks to] the larger pot.”
Carter: “Depending on the climate you live in, purchase plants that thrive in any given situation. You have to be mindful of the light you have in each area of your home as well. If you have a balcony on the south side and under an open sky, you might not want to have a collection of ferns, which would die under that much direct sun. So, bringing in succulents and cacti would be a better option. I’d recommend the following plants to those who are just starting out and might not have a lot of light: Chinese evergreen, golden pothos, snake plant, Zanzibar gem and rattlesnake calathea. They are all low-maintenance and low-light tolerant.”
Palmer: “My absolute favorite is the fiddle-leaf fig for height – [because it] adds architecture to the room – and my rubber plant, which introduces drama. Both are easy to look after, too: just place in indirect sunlight and away from draughts or radiators. For incidental greens around the home – on bookshelves and tables, for example – I love succulents and geraniums for their scent. Peperomia, kalanchoes and ferns are also wonderful for adding different hues of green around the space.”
“Our green spaces have become a pivotal part of our lives
”ISABELLE PALMER
RELATED READING
BLOOMING LOVELY
5 items
The people featured in this story are not associated with NET-A-PORTER and do not endorse it or the products shown