by Isabel Sacks

Created on: December 27, 2006   Last Updated: March 03, 2011

Houseplants can make an instant impact in any room, especially if well chosen and maintained. They have added health benefits of clearing carbon dioxide by recycling the air. Plants use this gas when they undertake photosynthesis to produce food from the light energy.

Before you but any plants, consider the windows in the room and the amount of light available. This can be the density of light, how strong or weak it is and the length of time the daylight is available. If you have a huge picture window that faces south you will have high-density light for long periods but if you have a small, north-facing window, you will have low density light for a short period of time. If you don't think about this, your lush, healthy plants will die!

Temperature and humidity are also important if you want happy plants. A bathroom will be warm and humid but a spare room is likely to be cold and dry (as it is not in regular use).

Choosing your plants

Architectural plants these add height or make a statement or act as a piece of furniture:

(i) In a bathroom corner, where you have an empty space, choose a tall Parlour Palm (Chamaedorea elegans) that has sweeping fronds that curl up towards the ceiling in a good clump.

(ii) French doors a majestic pair of Madagasca Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata), these love maximum sun and can grow to 5metres, will look fabulous in Greek style pots. Or a pair of Pony Tail Palms (Beacarnea recurvata) would look good as they sound like they look, a thick stem with a bouffant of grassy type leaves.

Plants to add colour to windowsills:

(i) In a shady semi-dark are, you can add colour by using African Violets. They just need to be kept moist and will flower for ages, and the dark green fleshy leaves are attractive in their own right.

(ii) On a bright ledge, use a spider plant as they have variegated leaves, which add interest, and when they send out runners, "baby" plants grow and this can be eye catching.

Plants to use around the room:

(i) Boston Ferns (Nephrolepsis exaltata bostoniensis) are excellent centrepieces for plant stands or in an empty hearth (in the summer when the fire is not needed). The colours and shape of the fronds add a freshness to any room.

(ii) Calathea like a bit of shade in the summer so are excellent away from the windowsill. These have lots of foliage that is variegated and some look like they have love hearts stencilled on the leaves.

These are just a few ideas, but once you have some gorgeous plants, don't forget to keep them healthy by not over-watering. This is killing plants with kindness only water when they are drying out, as most hate their roots to be waterlogged!

Learn more about this author, Isabel Sacks.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.