Greenery is frequently used in interiors and is a trendy addition to homes, offices, receptions, and other spaces. However, the selection of plants for interior greening, to be placed in a style-appropriate manner, must be done skillfully to avoid disrupting visual harmony and to ensure proper care for the greenery.
Aspects of Flowers in Interior Design
Flowers, like other plants, can make a home or workspace feel more alive, stylish, and comfortable. Interior greening is especially relevant in urban environments, where everyone needs contact with live plants. Flowers are ideal for natural interior decoration. However, it is essential to choose types that do not require special and complicated care conditions.
Selecting Suitable Plants for Interior Design
While some people prefer paintings and posters depicting plants or artificial flowers, floral experts may recommend low-maintenance live flowers and other greenery. Well-chosen plants not only blend seamlessly into the overall space but also serve as natural air filters and contributors to a healthy microclimate. Trends in specific types of plants may change periodically. For example, geraniums were extremely popular and could be found in nearly every home a few decades ago. Today, they are rarely seen in interiors. Current trends favor so-called "graphic" representatives of flora. These plants are known for their intricate leaves and have a striking appearance. Among flowering plants, the following are worth considering:
- Succulents, such as Rhododendron, Echinocereus, Schlumbergera (Christmas cactus), Cinnamon Grandiflora, Delosperma, Hamecereus, Echeveria, and Ottonia succulents.
- Zamioculcas.
- Aglaonema.
- Pelargonium.
- Dracaena.
- Cacti.
- Azaleas.
- Ficus.
More demanding in terms of care but worth it for interior decor are:
These flowers integrate well into both office and home environments when cared for according to guidelines.
Caring for Interior Plants
Interior greening with plants requires adhering to proper care guidelines. Regardless of the type of flower, consider the following:
- Avoid extremes, such as excessive watering or allowing the soil to dry out completely, full darkness, or too much direct sunlight. Many plants cannot tolerate extreme conditions and thrive best under moderate lighting, temperature, humidity, and watering conditions.
- Regularly remove dry leaves and flowers.
- Isolate sick plants in a quarantine zone, separate from healthy ones, until they recover.
- Don't forget to apply fertilizer in a timely manner.
- Water properly. While some flowering plants benefit from regular misting, others should only be watered by adding water to the tray.
- In winter, most plants require reduced watering.
- Most flowers tolerate temperatures between 13-24°C (55-75°F). However, if you have exotic plants that require higher temperatures or, conversely, cold-tolerant flowers, they should be kept in a separate area with the required temperature levels. Cacti and succulents are the most versatile in this regard, as they naturally handle sharp temperature fluctuations and thrive at almost any temperature.
Vertical Greening
Vertical greening is one of the most low-maintenance, intriguing, and cost-effective ways to bring greenery into your interior. Instead of placing pots on horizontal surfaces, consider the following options:
- Vertical wall modules made of plastic, felt, and other materials. Each module can hold an individual plant.
- Phytocanvas, a picture composed of moss, ferns, succulents, and other low-maintenance plants that require minimal care and little soil.
- Hanging pots, suspended from the ceiling, with flowers and other plants that have trailing stems.
- Shelving units can be used to create vertical compositions and are ideal for zoning spaces or placing near walls. These units can be made from various materials, with wooden structures and models with wrought-iron elements being particularly popular.
- Various wooden structures with any number of shelves and different configurations.
For vertical greening, the following types of plants are often used:
- Trailing and hanging plants such as philodendrons, ivy, scindapsus, and cissus.
- Bromeliads, including echmea, guzmania, and tillandsia.
- Ferns, such as maidenhair ferns and nephrolepis.
- Stabilized forest moss.
Many of these plants naturally thrive in shaded forest environments, making them suitable for low-light areas in apartments, offices, and other spaces. Green panels are currently a popular trend among interior designers due to their minimalistic care requirements.
