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Indoor Plants As a landscape designer my ultimate goal is to bring people closer to nature. The reality of seasons means that nature isn’t always accessible, so as we shift into winter it’s time to bring the great outdoors in.
NASA have named it one of the 12 most useful plants for the job, earmarked to join the astronauts on the space station.
When I moved house recently it wasn’t until the indoor plants arrived that our 1890‘s cottage really felt like home. Plants make a space feel lived in and loved, and are just as important inside as they are out. Here’s three that I wouldn’t be without.
PHALAENOPSIS
EPIPREMNUM AUREUM, GOLDEN POTHOS
If you’ve had a hard time keeping house plants alive, this vine will prove very hard to kill. The bright, cascading foliage grows in any spot you choose, regardless of light level. And unlike most plants you can’t over water it. It also acts as a living air purifier –
Growing tip: Keep wet to maximise growth.
Under the right conditions these beautiful orchids have been reported to flower continuously for over ten years, although that plant was said to have received better care than the grandkids! They’ll often last for several months in the hands of the most novice gardener, so when compared to the cost of fresh cut flowers this is a much more affordable, and equally beautiful, option for brightening your home. Growing tip: Find a bright spot without direct sunlight and water it once a week with two ice-cubes left to melt.
WIN WITH VERVE & IAIN STEPHENS FLORAL DESIGN UP4GRABS: A PHALEYNOPSIS ORCHID (POTTED IN A WHITE CERAMIC POT) BY IAIN STEPHENS FLORAL DESIGN.* Interested? Be in to win this exotic gift by visiting www.vervemagazine.co.nz. Select the competitions tab at top left of the page. The rest is self-explanatory. *Delivery not included. If you are selected as the winner, you will be required to collect your gift.
CHAMAEDORA MICROSPADEX
Go bold and large with this hardy bamboo palm. The strong vertical trunks of this graceful plant are perfect for filling awkward spaces in your home, and provide maximum impact with minimum use of floor space. I have a three metre tall pair of these in my living room and they’re quite at home in an old copper wash tub around 50cm wide. Growing tip: Water regularly but allow the surface to dry completely before the next watering. Low to medium light.
Words: Liam Greenway from The Outsiders 021 355 069 lbgreenway@gmail.com theoutsiders.co.nz