The best indoor plants for Australian homes and how to style them

Instill a feeling of serenity in your home with hardy house plants. Here's the pick of the bunch and how to style them.

Indoor plants will not only make your house feel tranquil, they purify the air by clearing out toxins and increasing oxygen, so give your home a botanical burst with a plenitude indoor greenery.

While some plants do better outdoors here in Australia, others can be brought inside for special occasions.

1. BOSTON FERN

Boston fern is a perennial favourite for its low-maintenance properties and resilience. It needs plenty of bright light and water in order to thrive.

2. ZANZIBAR GEM

Zanzibar gem is a great performer with underground swollen stems that hold water so you don't have to worry about watering it so often.

3. BANANA PALM

For a structural look, go for banana palm (Musa acuminate). Although it's often called a palm or tree, it is actually an oversized herb. It needs plenty of watering and thrives best in a bright spot.

4. CACTUS

With their shapely forms, cacti are great features in an indoor garden collection but need to be placed in light-filled positions. Only water each month and don't water in winter. Mix with softer succulents and ferns for a cool contrast.

5. MONSTERA

As a fast-growing climbing plant, Monstera deliciosa sometimes requires support such as a bamboo stick. It prefers a bright spot, but not in direct sunlight.

HOW TO STYLE INDOOR PLANTS

1. WINDOW SEAT

Dedicate a windowsill to plants only and fill it as such. Great options include foxtail fern (Asparagus densiflorus myersii) which has delicate high stems that look great with broad-leaved plants. It does best in a bright spot but not in direct sunlight.

Vary the shades of green, the leaf shapes and the plant heights or introduce colourful indoor plants to give your space depth, interest and a genuine garden-like feel.

2. NATURAL WEAVES

Furniture made of rattan adds to the natural botanical feeling. Surround it with greenery and you have a lush haven. New plants need time to acclimatise to your home's conditions so feed and water them well for the first few months then slowly reduce the feed to build their resilience.

To add extra visual interest, try rooting a few plants in water but make sure you change the water every week so it doesn't discolour.

3. CLUSTERS

Rustic terracotta and natural cement pots are where it's at. Select pots of different sizes to house your particular beloved plants. Create clusters and display them on a table or windowsill inside – always place the larger plants at the back and the smaller guys to the front.

Terracotta pots are porous, which means they lose moisture from the sides so the potting mix will dry out quickly. Moisture-proof them by painting the inside with a liquid sealant or lining with polythene or plastic.

Make small arrangements with succulents on your chest of drawers, dining table or on a side table, as pictured. Succulents, a variety of plants that includes cacti, have developed a unique way to store water and therefore are easy to maintain.

4. HANGING PLANTS

Hang your plants from the ceiling at different levels and mix plants that grow high and wide, such as ferns, with plants that grow over the edge and hang freely.

You can even make your own plant hangers out of rope. Use recycled rubber wall pots if you cannot suspend from a ceiling. Other great hanging plants are Dischidia ruscifolia, Hoya linearis and Senecio herreanus.

5. POTTED PLANTS

Bringing greenery into your living areas also creates a natural flow between the outdoors and the indoors. For a special occasion, lunch party or event, bring some of your outdoor potted plants inside for a few days – olives, citrus, banana or sun-loving succulents all add an extra punch when combined with your existing indoor plants.

Source - Homestolove.com.au