"Caring for houseplants can bring joy and peace to your home. They lift your emotions and also create a healthier space to live in. Human beings are meant to interact with nature, and bringing greenery inside is an easy way to do that. Houseplants is a guide for all homeowners: the ones with green thumbs, those with no experience, and those who have never met a plant that didn’t wither on their watch. Read about easy-to-care-for varieties, plants that need low or bright light, and even some that thrive just on the moisture in the air. Here’s advice on succulents, cult favorites like the fig tree and monstera plant, and even ways to grow citrus plants indoors! So grab a pair of gloves and a mister and brighten up your life!"
Nurturing Nature • The instinct is strong: humans are drawn to green, leafy nature, to environments that promise bountiful food and cool, shady hiding places.
LIVING WITH NATURE • Whether the atmosphere is casually cool, romantic, modern or traditional, there is a place in every home for plants. Don't have the time or inclination to pamper vines, bulbs or blooms? A low-maintenance living wall may be the way to go. For zero-fuss plant appreciation, many people turn to botanical prints, wallpaper and textiles. Read on to discover more about living with nature.
Tropical Vibes • Plants that trail or climb evoke tropical landscapes and have become a mainstay of interior design. Softened natural light filters through lacy strands of foliage. Leafy plants twist up walls and drip from overhead.
Anatomy of a Living Wall • Masses of green and growing plants from floor to ceiling—it’s a plant lover’s fantasy. Artsy types create arrangements of texture, color and form to serve the dual purposes of wall art and vertical gardening. These arrangements, commonly known as living walls, enhance spaces in other ways, too, by humidifying dry indoor air and absorbing noise.
A Nudge to Mother Nature • What could be better to chase away winter blues than a pot of yellow tulips blooming on the kitchen counter? “Forcing” bulbs like tulips to bloom indoors and slightly out of season is like giving nature a little nudge.
Botanical Illustration • America has nature on its mind—and on its walls. Maximalist wallpapers with brilliantly hued botanical art feed our appetite for plants, plants and more plants.
Sensuous Calla Lily • Calla lily (Zantedeschia) originates in sunny wetlands of central and southern Africa where seasonal rains keep the ground saturated for months at a time. Coming from that extreme natural habitat, this is a tough plant.
Tiny Plants for Tiny Places • Scores of pocket-sized plants make finding one just right for your small space easy. Whether winding up a mossy support, dangling from a tiny hanging basket or spilling over the lip of a footed vase, miniature plants enliven interiors just as the large ones do.
PLANT LOVE 101 • Not every houseplant is a diva demanding daily misting and precisely blended growing medium. Some have specific needs but are easy to grow if those needs are met. Understanding the basics of plant love-repotting, watering, giving them light-along with choosing plants that are undemanding and containers that suit both us and our green friends will bring results.
No-Fuss Flora • Houseplants that tolerate forgetfulness and neglect are the best ones to have. Plants that find ways to let us know what they need are second best. Since all living things are programmed to grow and reproduce themselves, these plants are not hard to find. Dozens and dozens of perfectly wonderful houseplants could be classified as “no-fuss flora”—we’ve rounded up a few for you to admire.
Containers with Pizzazz • Do you have a container crush? Are you mad for footed clay pots? Stuck on ceramic? Breathless over Italian terracotta? Indoor gardeners have an...
