Decorating with Houseplants

They are as picturesque as paintings and as appealing as any collectable, decorating with houseplants really livens up any living space. Indoor plants add color and texture to any room. Often, houseplants are the finishing touch that create an intimate feel in large spaces and magnifying depth to small spaces. All the while they purify the air you and your loved ones breath.

Bromeliad

Bromeliaceae

Growing a Bromeliad as a houseplant is easy and brings an interesting texture and color to the interior garden. The wide leaves are sword-shaped or scoop-like and grow around a central 'cup'. Water needs are easily achieved by filling the cup. Bromeliads like high humidity, so set the pot in a saucer of gravel filled partially with water. They can grow 1' to 3' tall and wide, with flower stalks ranging from a few inches to 1', depending on the variety.

Chinese Evergreen

Aglaonema

This easy-to-maintain and very popular houseplant is a highly decorative plant with several interesting varieties. Most Aglaonemas have attractive 6" to 12" variegated, lance-shaped leaves growing on short stalks. It prefers moderate indirect light but will tolerate lower light quite well. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Depending on the variety, these plants can grow 1' to 3' tall and 1' to 3' wide. This plant is moderately toxic to pets and children.

Snake Plant

Sansevieria trifasciata

Also known as the "Mother-in-laws tongue", this houseplant is easy to grow and tolerates a great deal of neglect. It has stiff, spear-like, rigidly upright leaves that can have yellow or green edges with dark green horizontal markings. It prefers part indirect sun to shade. Let soil dry between waterings. It can grow 4' - 5' tall with a 3' - 4' spread.

Croton

Codiaeum variegatum

Crotons come in a wide variety of leaf shapes and colors. Leaves can range from green to shades of yellow, red, orange, cream, pink and black to a combination of all these. Pefers bright light and high humidity, so regular misting is advisable. Water only when the top of the soil is dry to the touch. Grows to 3' high and wide.