10 Great Plants for Interior Planting

How to Let Nature In; 10 Amazing Suggestions of plants for interior planting for lush, vegetated, indoor spaces.  Do plants grow indoors? Definitely Yes! Do all plants grow indoors? Definitely No! If you aspire to create an amazing indoor garden or simply have a pot on your desk, choosing the right plant is of vital importance. As argued in the article: 8 Common Mistakes in Interior Planting, “We could never expect a palm tree to thrive in Antarctica. Why should every plant grow indoors? Site specificity is a “must” when planting in an interior space.” This article presents 10 plants that grow beautifully in indoor spaces. There are several others that could be included as well. Plant selection depends on many factors whether discussing interior or exterior spaces.

Plants for Interior Planting

1. Howea forsteriana Kentia Palm Tree, the indoor planting icon. When asked about indoor planting, Kentia Palm Tree is the first thing that comes in mind. Its connection to indoor planting is almost iconic. Kentia Palm Tree is native to Australia. It thrives on Lord Howe Island, a small volcanic piece of land between Australia and New Zealand. However, it made its appearance in Europe early in the 19th Century. As an indoor plant it grows anywhere in the world as long as there is moderate light and well-drained soil. The dark green foliage spreads from the plant crown almost covering its trunk and base. Kentia Palm Tree is excellent when used individually planted in a pot or combined in clusters made of plants of various sizes for a more lush result. WATCH >>>  Kentia Palm Indoor | House – Home Of Indoor & Office Plants Picture Collection

3. Spathiphyllum wallisii Spathe flower, a flowering plant for indoor spaces. Spathiphyllum wallisii is a true life-saver. It adapts and grows easily providing a spectacular result in any case. It is a great choice for small and confined spaces since it could easily grow even in a small pot. On top of that it is a flowering indoor plant, with white or red flowers that offer special interest and beauty to the space. One of its hidden virtues is that Spathiphyllum wallisii is also an excellent air purifier. In this case not only you enjoy an amazing plant, but also a great improvement to the indoor atmosphere.

4. Caryota mitis Fishtail palm, a choice off the beaten track. Caryota mitis is a multi-stem palm tree with light green foliage. Fishtail palm is native to Southeast Asia. Its leaves look like fine lace or elegant fish tails, as its common name reveals. It is a very original choice if you love interior planting and you look for a special addition to your collection. Caryota mitis is a plant that tolerates high air humidity. This is a quality that could be useful for certain places such as areas with water features or small interior ponds. 5. Codiaeum variegatum Garden Croton, a plant in red. The most special characteristic of Garden Croton is its color. The spectacular red leaves could create an impact whether among other species or planted on its own. A beautiful way to incorporate this plant to your design is a cluster of three to five pieces, depending on the area available. The cluster should be placed among other plants. The darker the color of the adjacent planting, the greater the impact of the Garden Croton plants. The columnar, upright shape of Garden Croton allows also using it as an individual element, like a natural work of art. 6. Aloe vera True Aloe, the interior space cosmetic, Aloe vera is a succulent plant with light green, fleshy leaves. It is very well known for its use in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical fields. Unlike most plants, True Aloe absorbs carbon dioxide during the night, not during the day, which makes it a great plant for a cleaner atmosphere overnight. It requires little care and a very moderate amount of water to grow. Aloe vera is excellent for pot planting. See below how to take care of the plant and remove the baby leaves if you would like to pot them and create new plants. WATCH >>> Aloe Vera Plant Care – Removing Pups and leaves 7. Ferns A variety of beautiful choices. Ferns are the interior planting queens and it is very hard to distinguish which of the numerous fern species is the most popular. The feathery fern leaves present a variety of shapes in shades of light green. They never bear flowers, however they have a high aesthetic value and could work well on their own or combined with other species. Ferns could form a dense understory vegetated area for taller plants such as Ficus benjamina. They require medium to bright light and moderate soil humidity to grow and provide a lush, vigorous planting. Among the numerous species, there should be suggested: Nephrolepis cordifolia, Microsorium musifolium, Platycerium bifurcatum. 2. Ficus benjamina Weeping Fig Tree, an all-time classic. Weeping Fig Tree is an evergreen tree with dark green leaves and smooth, light brown bark. It thrives both in a pot or in larger planting surfaces and it grows fast and vigorously. If there is enough space it could become a nearly fifteen-meter tall tree. Weeping fig tree grows towards the light. When the lighting source is above the planter Ficus benjamina develops lush foliage on the upper part leaving the bark and the stems exposed. In that case, regular pruning to allow light to reach the lower levels and a dense understory planting zone is recommended in order to maintain a balanced result in the planted area. Instructions on how to care for Ficus benjamina: WATCH >>> Gardening Tips & Tricks : How to Care for Ficus Benjamina

8. Ficus Lyrata Fiddle-leaf fig Fiddle- leaf fig is a good option to create an interesting focal point in an indoor space. The foliage consists of wide, glossy and leathery leaves that make a big impact. The trunk, though strong, is very thin, which allows the foliage to become the main characteristic of Ficus lyrata. It requires high levels of luminosity so make sure there is plenty of light where installed. Fiddle- leaf fig is quite sensitive with the water amount it requires. There should not be either too little or too much water. The plant appearance is affected immediately and it could start losing its leaves.

9. Alocasia macrorrhiza An Elephant Ear (Taro) in your room! Alocasia macrorrhiza is a beautiful plant of large to very large size. The impressive leaves, formed in clusters, resemble an elephant’s ear, which has produced the plant’s common name. The leaf surface can reach an incredible size, which depends on the plant’s exposure to sunlight. It is adequate for planting in a pot but it is also combined well with other species such as Fatsia japonica, which comes next. 10. Fatsia japonica Japanese Fatsia Fatsia japonica is native to Japan…obviously! It has dark green foliage that forms long stiff stems. The fatsia leaf has the shape of a human palm, only with too many fingers. Japanese Fatsia requires very low maintenance. a little sunlight and a small amount of water is enough for them to grow. However, it should be pruned once a year in order to remove any damaged leaves and control plant growth. They make very good container plants. WATCH >>> Maintaining & Pruning Shrubs : How to Care for Fatsia Japonica

Well, there seem to be too many options for what to plant indoors. Which plant or plants would you choose? Go to comments Recommended Reading: 

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• You Can Draw in 30 Days: The Fun, Easy Way to Learn to Draw in One Month or Less by Mark Kistler

Article by Eleni Tsirintani

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