Don't limit your enjoyment of nature to your lawn. Bring the
beauty of the outdoors into your home with low maintenance foliage
garden plants. Foliage plants look great year
round and many of them need very little light to thrive. Here are some
of the most popular indoor garden plants and advice on how to care for
them.
Palm Trees and Plants
Palms are most popular in warmer, more
humid climates. Known by their long thin branches that sprout verdant
fan-shaped leaves, many varieties of palms are large enough to fill a
large atrium-style room or poolside garden. A light-filled atrium
should provide enough light needed for the light-craving Cataractarum
Palm or an Areca Palm. If the room is less sunny, place a Kentia Palm;
it can thrive six to ten feet away from direct sunlight.
Gardening Tips for Palms
Palms are generally easy to care for.
However, guard against over
watering as water that fails to drain
through the soil can cause the root to rot. To this end, you'll also
need to empty a palm's saucer about an hour after watering to prevent
water damage to the plant.
Ferns
Ferns are probably the most ubiquitous indoor garden
plant, possibly because they are easy to care for and are relatively
inexpensive. Kimberley Queen Ferns and the Bird's News Fern are often
used to brighten a corner while the more dainty Button Fern or Hare's
Foot Fern might be situated atop a counter or breakfast table. They are
also popular plants to hang from baskets; those that work best may
include the Boston Fern, Macho Fern, or the Dallas Fern.
Gardening Tips for Ferns
What makes ferns so easy to care for
is their ability to thrive in very little light. Those with sturdy
leaf-like fronds will typically be most resilient. Ferns with wispier
fronds, however, will likely need some direct light and occasional
misting unless you live in a humid environment.
If you think
you don't have time to take care of indoor plants, but still want to
enjoy all their benefits, talk to your
lawn care provider about adding
house plant maintenance to your list of services. A cleaning service
may also offer house plant care, though you may want to speak to their
references to make sure they truly have a green thumb.
Sarah Clark is a freelance writer based in the Washington metro area.
