Greening My Inner Space
I love coming home to my little house in Sussex. When I open my front door and step inside, I’m greeted by a calm, leafy haven. Some might call it a small jungle, (one that doesn’t bite and mostly behaves, as long as I remember to water it occasionally). But for me, houseplants are so much more than just a trendy home accessory or something I awkwardly apologise to when they start looking crispy. They are part of my family, and have been for over three decades.
Why I Bother With Indoor Plants
Sure, they look nice, but these leafy mates are doing far more than just sprucing up my shelves. They’re constantly purifying the air, boosting my mood, and generally making my home smell less like last night’s dinner and feel more like a natural cosy woodland glade (minus the mud).
Plants are brilliant at hoovering up all sorts of airborne nasties; chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene that sneak in via carpets, paint, and cleaning products. They also pump out oxygen, help regulate humidity, and can even cut down on breathable bacteria and mould spores.
And it seems I’m not the only one catching on to this magic. The indoor plant market was worth nearly 20 billion dollars in 2023 and is expected to climb well past 28 billion by 2031. That’s a hell of a lot of plant pets!
Which Plants I Choose
If you’re thinking of adding some potted relatives to your home, I suggest starting with the easy ones. The ones that won’t throw a hissy fit if you forget to water them now and then. From my experience, plants like spider plants (you know, those familiar spiky pale green ones with little ‘babies’ that dangle?), snake plants, and simple ivy are those forgiving types who’ll soldier on through your busy week and poke up with occasional neglect.
I love adding a splash of colour with something flowering, or if I want drama without the maintenance, succulents rarely disappoint. I’ve even found some plants that moonlight as dehumidifiers, which is handy if your bathroom tends to feel like a tropical rainforest or you have poor circulation in any rooms. Ferns, English ivy, and peace lilies are particularly good at relentlessly sucking moisture from the air.
Planting Without the Plot
You certainly don’t need to live in a botanical garden or build an indoor greenhouse to start. A windowsill jungle, a vertical wall of herbs, or a cluster of pots on a shelf all count. I’m a big fan of using what you’ve got: old mugs, chipped teapots, that weird ornamental container you’ve never had a use for.
Hanging planters, terrariums, plant stands made from milk crates – if it can hold soil and a little hope, I say it’s fair game.
How I Try Not To Kill Them
The trick I’ve learned is to figure out where your plant comes from and to recreate its natural habitat (on a budget, in your lounge, of course!).
For my succulents? They like it dry, sunny, and not too clingy. My orchids? They want rainforest vibes; humid, dappled light, and no cold drafts. My spider plants? They’d rather be somewhere warm and steamy, like my kitchen near the kettle. And that’s because they are native to the undergrowth of forested areas, mountainous regions, or along riversides and bushes in tropical and Southern Africa. You’d typically find them thriving in warm temperatures between 18-32°C (65-90°F). They’re actually quite drought-tolerant thanks to their thick, fleshy roots that store water, which is probably why they’re so forgiving indoors!
My latest challenge is carnivorous plants. I need them to chow down on any stray biting insects that venture into my space. I’ve tried a few times in the past with limited success. Those hanging pitchers simply didn’t grow big enough to attract or catch anything. I’d absolutely love to try the UK native Sundew. But I’m a bit nervous about providing enough “food” for them – and, dare I say it, the risk of attracting even more flies through any open windows! But it’s a challenge I’m keen to tackle again.
At my place, things have got a bit out of hand. I’ve had some of my houseplants for over 20 years. They’ve had children. Some of those have had their own children. It’s practically a green family reunion in every room. I’ve taken in neglected stragglers from friends’ houses and even staged a rescue mission. When I saw a once-beautiful plant languishing on someone’s windowsill, slowly turning to toast. I brought it home like an abandoned kitten. Thankfully, it’s thriving now.
Caring for them has become a treasured part of my day. I check them over, dead-heading, watering, and encouraging them to climb or trail in the direction that avoids my furniture. And in return, they help me breathe easier, calm my mind, and generally stop me from ever having to worry about mouldy cupboards. Not bad for something that lives in a terracotta pot.
