Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2020 i Essential Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom

My ’70s childhood was filled with houseplants. An enormous Boston fern was much prized by my Mum, and even my dolls’ house had its own plastic Swiss cheese plant. I now find myself in a city-centre flat with no outside space to call my own, so houseplants are even more important to make me feel at home. And I love the ritual of caring for them, even if I do have to store tools and compost in a wheeled storage box nicknamed ‘the under-bed potting shed’. I don’t think this love of plants is entirely down to upbringing. It’s far deeper, something more like a remnant of an ancient instinct. And there’s a scientific link between plants and our health and happiness. Living With Plants is your guide to choosing…

“Think about scale when choosing your plants, as they can appear dwarfed by large pieces of furniture such as sofas” For most of us, the living room is the focal point of our home and more often than not the space that best reflects our sense of style. Houseplants can be used to accentuate the overall look of this room, whether it’s adding a bit of boho chic with lush green foliage spilling over a shelf, or modern elegance with architectural leaf shapes adding colour and interest to neutral, bare walls. They also introduce a sense of life and energy, which is a real bonus when you consider how much time we might spend in this room during the wintry months in an effort to escape cold, wet weather. It’s…

1. Bright ideas If you have plenty of floor space, why not fill it with block colours, acid brights and eye-popping shades in the form of these hand-woven baskets? Bound to lift the spirits and bring colour to your home, they’re made by weaving cooperatives in Kenya, Ghana and Swaziland. Different sized baskets from £10 , www.thebasketroom.com 2. Industrial style This sturdy standing storage basket is the perfect space-saving solution for a smaller home. Made from iron with sleek lines and a jet black finish, it’s understated and ideal for creating a mini indoor oasis. Fill it with ferns or healing aloe vera, or why not plant a small, fragrant herb garden for your kitchen or conservatory? £169, www.hurnandhurn.com 3. Peacock blue Elevate your favourite plants and turn them into…

Summer Rayne Oakes takes a love of houseplants to the next level. Currently the owner of more than a thousand plants in her Brooklyn apartment, she is also the host and producer of YouTube plant advice channel Plant One On Me. Her blog and Instagram (@homesteadbrooklyn) are some of the best places to go online for plant-based inspiration and advice. The author of forthcoming book How To Make A Plant Love You, Summer trained in environmental science and entomology, and has years of experience trying to make the world a more sustainable place to live, including with her work as a business owner and as the world’s first ‘eco model’. She describes her mission as helping people “become more attuned to nature in the city through something as humble as…

1. No prob-llama Showing off smaller plants should cause you no drama thanks to this little llama. Made from shiny white porcelain, with adorable features and four sturdy feet, this cute camelid has plenty of space to spare on his back for cacti, cuttings and houseplants of the teeny-tiny variety. £14.99 , www.firebox.com 2. Arty party Time for some texture! Inspired by the outer leaves of an artichoke, this beautiful ceramic planter is the perfect home for a prized succulent. Finished with a glossy teal glaze, its organic, vintage-style design will look great whether it graces your desk, dinner table or bookshelf. From £8 , www.gardentrading.co.uk 3. Cool head Let’s face it, this quirky pot is going to be a talking point whatever leafy pal you pop into it, but…

Personal style is how we all show off our individuality to the world. The same approach should apply when introducing greenery into your home. What will make your spaces different from those of your friends and family? How do you create that ‘wow’ factor? Bringing greenery into your home shouldn’t be as simple as going to a nursery, grabbing the first plant you see and then dropping it next to a window. However, the sad thing is that many believe this to be the case. For me, I see incorporating plants as one of the key requirements when designing an interior space, just as much as a couch or coffee table would be. Let’s break this down: the staples for a new home are a bed, a couch, a refrigerator…

If you want to work up to something as dramatic as Hilton Carter’s plant hammock (page 72), a simpler step is hanging some plants. These look great in groups, especially if you hang them at different heights. Let the texture of the pots play a part in the décor too. Here we selected neutrals but included woven and ceramic pots for an extra dimension that doesn’t take away from the lush greens of the plants. (Position your hanging hooks where there are joists in your ceiling to support the weight. Knocking on the ceiling will locate these.) A selection of ceramic, jute and seagrass hanging pots are available from £8 from www.gardentrading.co.uk…

1. Hippo-pot-amus Want to bring outdoor blooms and sprigs of foliage indoors, or looking for a place to put bunches of herbs so they’re on hand when you’re cooking? Add a touch of greenery to any corner with this quirky hippo wall vase by Gisela Graham. It’s also ideal for low maintenance air plants, which don’t need any watering. £23 , www.tch.net 2. Box clever Made from metal with a soft, burnished brass finish, these box-style shelves are a pretty but practical way to display your houseplants. With open sides so taller plants have space to breathe, they’re perfect for your living room, bedroom or hallway, and come in two different sizes. £55 , www.coxandcox.co.uk 3. Into the blue Mix and match these beautiful ceramic planters to create a gallery…

What is kokedama? A variant of bonsai, it’s the Japanese art of creating potless plants using a unique soil mixture, moss and string. It takes its name from ‘koke’, meaning moss and ‘tama’, meaning ‘ball’. As a hobby, the art of making kokedama is as rewarding as it gets. The act of putting our hands in direct contact with natural materials literally grounds us. The wrapping process is very meditative, the action requires bilateral co-ordination – that is, using both hands simultaneously and independently. And because both hands are required to wrap, it’s very difficult to think about anything else. You become completely present in the moment. “Kokedama are perfect as they’re so versatile – they can be made in any size, shape or colour to suit the setting” Kokedama…

How often are we guilty of not looking upwards? Try it and you can find all sorts of new décor opportunities. This approach is great for a bathroom, where the practical fittings fill most of the floor space. A box shelf like this one creates an imaginative vignette when filled with trailing plants and succulents, and could pack twice the green punch if you add a piece of mirror to the back. Our display is created with the Farringdon Box Shelf, courtesy of Garden Trading. The steel industrial-style structure is good for a bathroom, where the metal with weather well in the humid atmosphere. £35, www.gardentrading.co.uk…

A home office or homework space often faces a wall of shelves or a board pinned with an excessive number of ‘to do’ lists. Even this kind of uninspiring corner can be transformed in minutes with some new green friends that need not encroach on your desk space. Pop a trailing plant on the end of a shelf or hang even the smallest woven basket to create a fresh feeling in your working environment. For a selection of ceramic and hanging woven pots, try www.gardentrading.co.uk. Hanging pots pictured, from £8.…

Olle Eriksson has the dream job of plant consultant. Check out his feed for striking photos, stories, top tips and a chance to ask him questions. @upleafting Urban jungle enthusiasts Tina and Alex take gorgeous photos of the plants in their home – and of their cute assistant, toy poodle Kewpie. @forrest.fig Ghent-based photographer and stylist Lore Mingels showcases houseplants in all their dramatic glory. We love her use of shadows on glossy dark leaves. @min__lor Christopher Griffin has packed more than 80 plants into his Brooklyn apartment, and a love for all things botanical overflows in this joyful account. @plantkween Swedish plant consultant Olle Eriksson currently lives in Panama, where his green obsession continues to thrive. @upleafting Jamie Song fills his London home with creatively displayed plants that make…

REPOTTING MADE SIMPLE Whenever you take a plant out of its pot, you should take the opportunity to perform a few helpful maintenance tasks to ensure the roots re-establish themselves as quickly as possible. Steps 1 and 2 First, unpot the plant. If the pot is planted in a plastic nursery pot, you can squeeze the base of the pot as you gently pull the entire plant out. If the pot is rigid, you can use a small trowel to separate the root ball from the outer edges of the pot as you pull up the plant. Step 3 Check for any rotting roots – they’ll be dark brown or black and mushy. Remove these! Step 4 Using a chopstick, gently tease apart the root ball as much as possible…

“This popular succulent has been found in homes for generations” The jade plant, commonly called the money plant, is a very popular succulent houseplant that’s been found on shelves for generations. (It’s not to be confused with the money tree, which is the common name for Pachira aquatica.) Once established as a mature plant it forms a tree-like structure, with a thick trunk and branches. Leaves are thick and fleshy in a deep, glossy jade, sometimes with a red tinge at the edge. New growth starts on stems of the same colour and texture as the leaves, but this hardens into a brown, woody stem over time. They’re very easy to care for, provided they have plenty of light. As they store water in their fleshy leaves, they don’t need…

“The glossy leaves create a fantastic impact with their perforations” The Swiss cheese plant was a ’70s classic, and its retro-chic appeal makes it just as popular today – and rightly so. Its glossy, heart-shaped leaves create a fantastic impact with their perforations and lobes, which develop as the leaf matures. It’s actually a climber, using its aerial roots in its native rainforests to scale enormous heights. Grown indoors it needs space and looks great in a hallway, conservatory or a corner of an open-plan living space. Monstera deliciosa is easy to care for so long as it has moist, warm conditions. Wipe the leaves occasionally to remove accumulated dust. Care & information Light Prefers bright, indirect light but will tolerate moderate shade. Avoid direct sunlight. Water Water when the…

“This plant is perfect for hanging baskets or cascading from shelves” Senecio rowleyanus is a wonderful succulent with amazing, trailing stems of oval, bead-like leaves, each with a vertical, semi-translucent line running to its tip which assists photosynthesis. Flowers appear on tall, slender stems as small, white fuzzy daisies. String of Pearls plants are relatively fast growing so give them room to trail for green impact – they’re perfect for hanging baskets or cascading from shelves. This is a close relative of Senecio herreianus – AKA String of Beads. Care & information Light Bright, indirect light. Some morning or late afternoon sun would be a bonus. Water Senecio are very drought tolerant, storing water in their leaves. Allow the soil to dry out between watering. Do not over-water or allow…

While you’re dreaming of discovering the perfect container for your new terrarium (see page 14), plan a feature wall for your living room with Sanderson’s new Glasshouse wallpaper range. Its Terrariums design is filled with botanical beauties (cacti and orchids) printed with extra mica on the paper to create the gleam of glass domes. Choose from a Chalk background (as shown), Botanical Green, Rhodera (a passion-filled pink) or the dramatic black Ink. The range includes fabrics too. Wallpaper is £79 per roll. Go to www.stylelibrary.com for samples and details of your nearest stockists.…

The kitchen offers plenty of opportunity to try something a bit different when it comes to houseplants. While luscious green leaves look great in all rooms in the house, edible plants are the go-to choice to place on a sunny windowsill within easy reach of the chopping board. Herbs are the obvious choice, adding fresh flavour and zing to home-cooked dishes. Varieties such as basil, mint, parsley and lemon balm all thrive indoors and can be grown in small- to medium-sized pots so you don’t need to sacrifice a lot of›room if countertop space is precious. Another advantage of being on the small side is that they’re less likely to be knocked over in a busy kitchen! “Basil, mint, parsley and lemon balm all thrive indoors and can be grown…

We spend a third of our life in bed, so it’s important we get the peace and tranquility we need in the bedroom to encourage a great night’s sleep. While splashing out on luxurious bed linen and a high-quality mattress might be a bit of a stretch, houseplants are more within budget. Whether you go for an interesting shape, glossy green foliage or colourful blooms to reflect your style, any of these characteristics will add plenty of flair. “Mother-in-law’s tongue is one of the few plants that converts CO2 into oxygen at night as well as during the day” Not only that, some types of houseplant improve your sleep pattern, too. Scientists at NASA found that houseplants improve indoor air quality by removing organic pollutants and storing them in their…

Plant stores seem to be sprouting up left and right these days, some specialising in succulents and purifying ficus trees, others crammed with dried leaves and flowers for DIY decoration. Friends get together on the weekend to swap plant cuttings, and a Pilea plant now makes a much better gift for a party hostess than a bouquet. Bearded men deliver flowers by bike, and online subscription services deliver seeds right to your doorstep. Enter any concept store in search of fashionable clothes and you’re likely to leave with a cactus in hand or a macramé trinket crafted by the designer herself. Lush motifs climb our walls and our clothes, and flower garlands are flourishing on social media. Nature is everywhere! This return to nature is actually a very good sign,…

What happens when your mother offers you an extremely large philodendron, but you don’t have any more floor space for it? Well, for me, I decided to look up. Realising we weren’t using the high ceilings in our home effectively, I suggested to my wife, Fiona, that we hang the philodendron on the wall – and not just any wall, but the wall behind our bed so a plant could hang over it like a canopy. “Once we’d mounted the hammock on the wall and added the philodendron it surpassed our expectations” Of course, her first concern was that I was losing my mind and her second was that it might fall on us as we slept. However, Fiona had been creating some macramé hangers for a few of our…

Lush, verdant, vibrant and life-affirming, green is a constant in our lives. “Green offers us the chance to reconnect with Mother Earth, bringing the outdoors into our homes” Intrinsically linked to the natural world, green can be energy-boosting, mood-enhancing and grounding. Green is the colour of new growth, of country gardens and meadow fields, deep ancient forests and vast fertile plains. We long to surround ourselves with optimistic and rejuvenating shades of fresh grass, zesty lime and decadent emerald. Yet softer shades of sage, olive or pale mint speak of sanctuary and a sense of restored balance and wellbeing. Tropical greens call to mind balmy days spent relaxing in sun-dappled courtyards. In hot climates, living spaces tend to spill out into open-air rooms, patios and terraces, and these outdoor spaces…

Typically found on forest floors, a fern’s soil mixture should include plenty of organic matter and coarse fibre. Ferns love growing under or on the rotting carcasses of fallen trees, so try to imagine and replicate this kind of environment for them. A portion of coconut mulch is a good tree corpse substitute. It takes longer to break down than ordinary wood chips, but still provides the same humid atmosphere for fern roots. They just love exploring stuff with their little creeping roots, so having a good texture inside the ball helps them to feel like they’ve found a great home. The other guy who loves good tree carcass is moss. Moss and ferns are best buds. If you can harvest some live moss from a nearby forest or damp…

Not all of us are lucky enough to have outdoor space, or even a window ledge deep enough to grow plants on, but everyone can find room for a houseplant. Once you have the houseplant bug, you won’t be able to walk upstairs without wondering if a Boston fern could fit on a plant-stand in the corner of the landing, or consider if a spider plant might add the finishing touch, suspended in a macrame pot-holder in the hallway. Rather than seeing empty spaces, you’ll be seeing potential for a houseplant. “ If you have a shelf or surface in an awkward spot, don’t be put off – you just need to find the right plant ” While you’ll know the plant-shaped nooks and crannies in your own home, there…

1. Rebel, rebel Perfect for your spider (from Mars?) plants, this Bowie plant pot is as wonderful as the late rockstar himself. If you love this adorable mini ceramic plant pot as much as we do, be sure to check out the rest of KraftyKDesign’s creations – there’s even a mini Frida Kahlo, complete with her iconic unibrow. £14.50 , www.kraftykdesign.etsy.com 2. Find your feet They’re fun and just a little bit freaky, but we love them! Wherever you choose to put them, these ceramic planters from Madriguera Workshop will be a real talking point. Choose from the sitting, sprawled and hanging planters, or get your hands on all three and create a trio of leafy friends. €38 , www. madrigueraworkshop.com 3. Good chemistry If you’re a bit of a…

At Home With Plants Ian Drummond & Kara O’Reilly (Mitchell Beazley) This essential book is invaluable for anybody who’s just starting off in the world of houseplants. Everything you need to know about keeping plants indoors – from pots and practicalities to displaying and maintaining – is covered here, all clearly laid out, with tips dispensed in a friendly way. The sections that look at keeping plants in specific place – such as bedside tables, working spaces or areas for children – are particularly helpful, with informative and often-fascinating details that offer a good insight into the health benefits of plants too. Each page inspires with excellent photography that shows exactly what’s possible with the not-so-humble houseplant. How To Make A Plant Love You Summer Rayne Oakes (Portfolio) In this…

LEAF CUTTING Plant types: Begonia, Peperomia, Saintpaulia You will need Secateurs, rooting aid/hormone (optional), propagating pots or tray filled with soil Step 1 Using secateurs or scissors, trim off a healthy leaf close to the stem. Remove the petiole (the stalk that joins the leaf to the main plant stem) so only the leaf remains. Step 2 Dip the cut end into rooting hormone (if using). Step 3 Place the cut end partially into soil. Make sure the tip of the leaf cutting is above the soil’s surface. Water the soil thoroughly, ensuring it’s drenched, but allow the soil to drain to avoid the pot sitting in water. Step 4 Put your cutting on a bright windowsill that receives dappled light. It often helps to place the cutting in a…

“Its graceful outlines will add a cool, sophisticated accent to any room” Fully deserving of its common name, cast iron plant, the aspidistra is extremely resilient and has a wonderful ability to thrive on very little care. The fact that it also copes with pollution gives rise to its alternative name, bar-room plant. The aspidistra is an elegant foliage plant with tough, leathery leaves, perfect for a shady corner where other plants may fail. It can also be kept outdoors during warmer months. A firm favourite with the Victorians, Aspidistra elatior is an excellent choice for the modern home. Its graceful outlines will add a cool, sophisticated accent to any room. Smaller plants are ideal in a pot to complement the surrounding décor, while larger specimens make a bold, confident…

“The large glossy leaves are valued for their air-purifying qualities” Epipremnum aureum has large, glossy green leaves with irregular cream and yellow streaks and blotches, and is valued for its air-purifying qualities. The variety Golden Pothos also tolerates lower light levels without losing its variegation and looks best displayed in a hanging pot. Pinch out the tips for a bushier plant. Common names for this plant are devil’s ivy, ivy arum and Ceylon creeper. Latin synonyms are Epipremnum pinnatum Aureum (mainly in the US and Canada) and Scindapsus aureus (in Europe). Care & information Light Medium light conditions. Water Water when slightly dry. Drought tolerant. Too much water will kill the plant. Temperature  Happy in normal room temperatures from 10-24°C. Humidity  Prefers increased levels of humidity but will tolerate normal…

“The perfect plant for those of us who like low-maintenance room-mates” The parlour palm was popular with the Victorians and remains a firm favourite. An elegant plant, easy to look after, with excellent air purifying qualities, it’s undemanding in terms of light, water, temperature, humidity and feeding, making it perfect for those of us who like low-maintenance room-mates. Chamaedorea elegans has bright green leaves on slender, arching stems. The leaves are pinnate, meaning they have feathered leaflets arranged on either side of the stem. With the parlour palm, these leaflets form opposite pairs and there can be as many as 40 leaflets on each leaf. Small yellow flowers appear on mature plants if they have sufficient light. Chamaedorea elegans also has the Latin name Neanthe bella. Its other common name…

“Easy to care for, shade-loving, air-purifying… these plants have it all” Sansevieria zeylanica is a tough, hardy plant. The long, sword-like leaves are dark green with wavy lighter green and white bands. They have rather a rugged, shabby-chic appearance. Sansevieria zeylanica aren’t as common as Sansevieria trifasciata, but they are just as bullet-proof and just as stunning. Easy to care for, shade-loving, hard to kill, air-purifying... these beautiful plants have it all. Care & information Light Best in moderate to bright, indirect light but will adapt to low light conditions too. Water Allow the soil to dry out before watering, then water thoroughly and allow to drain freely. Do not allow the plant to sit in water as this will cause root rot. Temperature Happy anywhere from 15-23°C and as…

Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’) One of Earth’s most ancient plants, this is a great air purifier. It also boosts indoor humidity and counteracts the drying effects of central heating and air conditioning. Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) Nature’s little caretaker, not only does this plant dispose of airborne nasties such as formaldehyde, but it traps dust in its leaf wax. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) The popular peace lily is as helpful as it is pretty. Not only does it filter out benzene, formaldehyde, ammonia, toluene and xylene, but studies show it can also remove airborne mould. Dwarf French lavender (Lavandula dentata) Lavender has been cultivated for centuries for its ability to calm anxiety and promote better sleep. Dried, it makes beautiful potpourri. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) Turns out Shakespeare was on…

Thoughtfully designed kitchens have done away with many of the familiar storage tricks of previous decades. Remember floor-standing pan racks with shelves sized to fit your range of saucepans – why not bring them back as plant stands? Great for a forgotten corner of kitchen or dining space, they can hold a pleasing number of pots. Hunt out retro racks or try this three-tiered number from Garden Trading in Charcoal or Greengage powder-coated steel for £50. www.gardentrading.co.uk…

“Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better”ALBERT EINSTEIN The fabulous houseplants in our ‘Perfect Plants’ guide are just a fraction of what the internet’s most stylish plant store, Hortology, has to offer. Search its extensive site by plant name, the room you want to buy for or even hunt by the latest green trends. “Put simply, plants are cool,” Hortology says. “The positive emotional and therapeutic impact they have on our wellbeing is one of nature’s little miracles. We believe in the power of plants to lift the spirit, calm the mind and clean the air.” Beside the plants themselves, you can buy pots from some of the finest artisan producers, whether you’re looking for rustic, ultra-modern or textured containers for a hygge home feel. All…

Two years ago, we’d decorated every room in our home apart from our bedroom. Colours, design and ideas had come easily and styling decisions were made quickly. But I was stuck in a round of “what about…?” or “this colour is on trend” conversations with my husband. “I’m not sleeping in a pink room” and “We could have a wall-mounted TV” were typical reactions. So I did what I do whenever I can’t make up my mind: I wrote a list. Must-haves and must-definitely-not-haves. I wrote ‘Monstera plant’ in the first column and ‘TV’ in the second. That was how it started: my relationship with my magical Monstera. “Every image on my ‘bedroom décor’ Pinterest board had a large plant as a focal point, in most cases a Monstera” Every…

You will need Rope (hardware stores and ships’ chandlers offer a good choice), large metal rings, wall hooks suited to your type of wall Step 1 Measure out a piece of rope 14ft (4.3m) long. Align that cut piece with your roll of rope and cut 11 more pieces of the same length. You should now have 12 pieces of rope, each one measuring 14ft (4.3m) long. Step 2 On a flat surface, take the ropes and loop them halfway through one of the hitching rings so you now have 24 pieces of rope to work with, each approximately 7ft (2.1m) long. Step 3 Attach the ropes to the ring with a gathering knot. To do this, measure and cut a 60in (152cm) piece of rope. Make a 5in (13cm)…

Often the smallest room in the house with low light, high humidity and warm temperatures, the bathroom might not seem the most obvious place to grow houseplants. However, there are plenty of varieties that will thrive in the heat and moisture created after a hot bath or shower. “ Orchids, peace lilies and ferns can be displayed on windowsills, shelves or even on the top of the cistern ” Tropical beauties such as orchids, peace lilies and ferns can be displayed as single specimens on windowsills, shelves or on the top of the cistern. They can also be used to create a focal point in an otherwise plain bathroom or disguise damp patches or areas that might be in need of freshening up. Alternatively, if space and budget allows, be…

1. Out of this world Designed by Anna Mercurio, a graduate of The Institute of Design in Naples, these sleek, simple three-dimensional spheres turn your plants into striking works of art. You can see why they’ve been named Saturno – they look a little bit like the planet’s rings. There are five colours and three sizes to choose from. From £53 , www.limelace.co.uk 2. Tuscan charm Bring Tuscan-inspired terracotta to your home with these hanging plant pots from Scaramanga. Each one is handcrafted from clay and vintage metal, with integral hooks so you can hang them from one another. Why not create a chain of trailing ivy, tiny succulents and striking spiky cacti? £8 each, www.scaramangashop.co.uk 3. Tray chic Trays aren’t just for breakfast in bed –they can be a…

As Botanica Studios, Alice Dobie runs a thriving business selling plants online and at markets in Bath and Frome in Somerset. And as an in-demand stylist, her speciality is creating “greener, calmer and more welcoming environments” in communal spaces from offices to cafes and shops. For Alice, growing plants is more than just puzzling out light, shade, soil and water – it’s about looking after something beautiful, and enjoying the peace and positivity plants can bring. Can you tell us about your career so far? I studied graphic design in London eight years ago but life at a desk was never for me. I’ve done many jobs since, originally design and then in a start-up. Plants have become such a big passion that today I spend half my week working…

Plant ladder A set of steps makes an interesting – and mobile – houseplant stand. A device like this makes it easy to have a temporary display, or it can be a great alternative to net curtains (just make sure your plants are sun lovers). Skinny shelves Quite a generous plant can be happy in a 15cm pot, so a dedicated shelf unit needn’t be much wider and could be tucked neatly against the wall. Open-sided shelves let the air circulate well. On the rails A simple system of rails – as many as you like – hold plant pots safe with butchers hooks. These are easy to water and to re-arrange when you feel like it. You’re one step away from a living wall! Undiscovered spaces Angle the sofa…

TOOLS Very little specialist equipment is needed for good plant care but as your obsession grows you might like treat yourself to an elegant mister and miniature gardening tools. LIGHT The basic building blocks for every plant’s survival are light, water and carbon dioxide. Our school biology classes may remind us why they’re crucial: a plant ‘drinks’ water, ‘breathes’ carbon dioxide and harnesses light to photosynthesise, using the chloroplasts (which give a plant its green colour) in its leaf cells to convert light energy into sugar, or, in other words, plant food. Oxygen is a by-product of this process. If any element is missing, the plant cannot make food and will die. Although the brightness of light needed by each plant varies, they do all need light to some degree…

Hilton Carter Plant stylist Hilton is the author of Wild At Home: How To Style And Care For Beautiful Plants. Turn to page 52 where he shares his expertise on how to choose plants to suit your living space. Emma Sibley Emma’s love of gardening under glass started when she was a student. She has since founded London Terrariums to inspire others too. Make your own terrarium with Emma on page 14. Summer Rayne Oakes Enviromentalist and writer Summer founded her blog, Homestead Brooklyn, as an attempt to get closer to nature in an urban environment. Discover more about her life with plants on page 30. Anna Starmer With more than 20 years of expertise, Anna has travelled the world gathering inspiration for her successful colour consultancy business. Turn to…

“The leaves are much larger than on other Ficus, with a fabulous fiddle-like shape” If you’re looking for a Ficus with a difference, this one packs a punch. Ficus lyrata has huge, glossy leaves with prominent veins. The leaves are much larger than most other Ficus, growing up to 30cm long and 13cm wide, with a fabulous fiddle-like shape. They often have brown spotting and markings, particularly on the underside, but can drop off if there’s insufficient light. If you trim the plant into shape it will ooze a sticky latex that can be an irritant, so it’s a good idea to wear gloves. Care & information guide Light Ficus lyrata prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate some shade and some direct (but not harsh or midday) morning or…

“This plant filters out airborne toxins such as formaldehyde and benzene” Spathiphyllum wallisii Lima is a mid-sized peace lily with lots of beautiful, glossy, dark green leaves and large white spathes that last for weeks. This plant filters out airborne toxins – including substances such as formaldehyde and benzene – so it’s good for you as well as looking wonderful in your home. Care & information Light Moderate to bright, indirect light preferred. Will adapt to lower light levels. Water Keep the soil moist at all times. Allow the top of the soil to dry out slightly before watering. The plant will start to droop if it needs more water. Ensure adequate drainage. Temperature Average room temperatures from 18-24°C but can cope with as low as 12°C in winter. Humidity…

“The pinkish purple undersides of the leaves add a romantic hue” Love will definitely be in the air with this charming, trailing semi-succulent vine. Ceropegia woodii has small heart-shaped leaves with a delightful green lace pattern that grow in opposite pairs along a trailing vine. The pinkish-purple undersides of the leaves and stems add a romantic hue. Also known as rosary vine or chain of hearts, Ceropegia woodii is not truly a succulent, but it does store water in its stems and you’d look after it in much the same way as a succulent. It’s extremely easy to look after and very tolerant of neglect. It’s perfect for hanging baskets. String of hearts vines are coiled by growers to protect them in transit. On opening, gently unfurl the coils and…