The indoor garden

Wintertime is when house plants and the benefits they bring really come to the fore, says Anne Swithinbank, as she selects a range of examples for every need

- Anne Swithinbank

IN the depths of midwinter when colder weather and long dark evenings keep us indoors, house plants are especially appreciated. In my office alone there are 17 and working among their greenery makes me feel calm and happy. Between them, they originate from four different continents and I find it awesome that plants from temperate and tropical regions all over the world can thrive so well in our homes.

Looking at pictures of house plants on social media, two trends jump out. One is the canny staging of plants in attractive containers dangling from ceiling hooks, cascading from shelves and raised on small tables. The other shows a sleuthlike tendency to track down unusual cultivars, often displaying flamboyant colours and variegations.

House plants that are old friends

If my plant collection seems a little dated, this is because most are old friends. The Swiss cheese plant dominating our sitting room has belonged to my husband’s family since the 1960s and the Clivia miniata and Begonia ‘Lucerna’ date back to the 1980s. Rosary vines, string of beads and maidenhair ferns seem perennially popular. I have far too many cymbidium orchids and even the newest acquisition, an Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri) has been resident for seven years.

The secret of success lies in canny positioning, whether you choose the plant for the room or the room for the plant. In this way each can enjoy the optimum range of temperature, light and humidity available. Arranging them in groups looks natural and helps create a humid microclimate, preventing brown leaves and dry roots.