Decorating with Houseplants in My Winter House
Whenever I entertain, I always fill my home with beautiful houseplants.
Houseplants bring life to any room. I love all kinds of container plants, and over the years I have amassed quite a collection of specimens. Most of my potted plants are kept in the greenhouse, where they can be maintained properly. This week, I am hosting two very important business meetings, so I decided to decorate several rooms in my Winter House with a wide assortment of potted plants that provide interesting and expressive foliage.
Enjoy these photos.
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- Not only do houseplants enhance the overall appearance of a space, but they’ve also been known to increase creativity, reduce stress, and eliminate air pollutants. For my meetings, my gardeners, Ryan and Brian, brought in a variety of ferns, begonias, Peperomia, rhipsalis, alocasia, dracaena, haworthia, and this sedum – all so lush and green.
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- This fern is an interesting looking fern with large fronds and a pleasant green-blue color. Its ability to tolerate lower-light conditions and relatively easy care make it a great choice for any fern lover.
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- I have lots of ferns here at the farm – in my gardens and in pots. A fern is a member of a group of vascular plants that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers, but instead, very interesting fronds.
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- Peperomia caperata ‘Ripple Red’ has iridescent purple-red leaves with very distinct ripples. The small heart-shaped leaves grow into an attractive mounding habit. Peperomia are great succulent lower light houseplants.
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- Here is a green Peperomia. It also has heart-shaped, puckered, deeply veined leaves. The leaves can come in various shades of green, dark red, and gray.
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- Guests always admire my Chinese money plants, Pilea peperomioides. The Pilea peperomioides has attractive coin-shaped foliage. This perennial is native to southern China, growing naturally along the base of the Himalayan mountains. It is also known as coin plant, pancake plant, and UFO plant.
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- Here’s another fern in front of a window in my Green Parlor. This Crocodile Fern, sometimes known as an alligator fern, a crocodyllus fern, or a crocodile plant, is native to Southeast Asia and Australia where it is found growing epiphytically on trees in warm, brightly lit and humid jungles.
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- It derives its name from the flat tessellated fronds that resemble the patterning on crocodiles.
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- Ryan and Brian brought in several begonias. Begonia is a genus in the family Begoniaceae. The genus contains at least 1500 different plant species and numerous hybrids. They are native to Mexico, Central and South America, Asia and South Africa – regions with tropical and subtropical climates. There are different types of begonias, including tuberous begonias, semperflorens begonias, rex begonias, and rhizomatous begonias. Rhizomatous begonias are grown for their interesting and spectacular leaves. They come in an array of sizes, colors and textures, and can be small or large, smooth or veiny, decorated in bold accents of red, copper and silver or subtle shades of green.
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- Because these plants store water in the rhizomes, which are their thick, fuzzy stems, it is important not to overwater them. Only water these plants when the top one-inch of soil feels dry.
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- Here is another begonia with dark green leaves and chartreuse colored veins. Begonias grow best in light, well-drained soil. Begonias are remarkably resistant to pests primarily because their leaves are rich in oxalic acid – a natural insect repellent.
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- This is a potted rhipsalis, native to the rainforests of South America, the Caribbean and Central America. Rhipsalis is a cacti genus with approximately 35 distinct species. I have many types of rhipsalis growing in my greenhouse. Rhipsalis specimens have long, trailing stems making them perfect choices as indoor plants on pedestals or tall tables.
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- Here’s a closer look. Also known as chain cactus or mistletoe cactus, the thread-like succulent stems are narrow, green and can grow several feet long.
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- Ledebouria Socialis plants are geophytic succulents from the subfamily Hyacinthaceae. It is also known as Silver Squill, Violet Squill, Wood Hyacinth, and Scilla. It is a popular bulb succulent that makes an excellent houseplant with its thin leaves and green and silver leopard print pattern.
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- Dracaena’s narrow foliage may be completely green or may include stripes or edges of green, cream, red, or yellow.
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- Graptopetalum paraguayense is a species of succulent plant in the jade plant family, Crassulaceae, that is native to Tamaulipas, Mexico. It is also called ghost plant because of the powdery coating that envelopes the leaves, also known as pruinose. This covering gives the leaves a pale or “ghostly” appearance.
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- Echeverias are some of the most attractive of all succulents and they are highly valued by plant enthusiasts for their gorgeous colors and beautiful shapes. The leaves are also fleshy and have a waxy cuticle on the exterior. The echeveria plant is slow growing and usually doesn’t exceed 12 inches in height or spread.
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- Succulents grow in so many different and interesting formations and colors. Succulents are best planted in clay or terra cotta pots with proper drainage holes because the vessels dry quickly, and prevent water from building up.
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- In this plant stand on my enclosed porch, Ryan placed an alocasia and four smaller potted ferns.
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- Alocasia is a genus of broad-leaved, rhizomatous, or tuberous perennial flowering plants from the family Araceae. There are more than 95 accepted species native to tropical and subtropical Asia and Eastern Australia. Alocasias have large, arrowhead-shaped leaves with flat or wavy edges on slender stems.
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- This is a frond of the lemon button fern – a dependable plant that grows well indoors with little care. Button ferns are small compared to other fern varieties – they only grow 12 to 18 inches tall, making them ideal candidates for small spaces. It has arching fronds densely covered with small, round leaflets that grow more oval in shape as it matures.
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- Haworthia is a large genus of small succulent plants endemic to Southern Africa. Like the aloes, they are members of the subfamily Asphodeloideae and they generally resemble miniature aloes, except in their flowers, which are distinctive in appearance. Hawthorias thrive in bright indirect to direct light.
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- The plant is characterized by its rosette-shaped, tightly packed leafy clusters. Some are firm, tough, and dark green, whereas other species are softer and even translucent. Those of the firm, dark green variety are typically dotted with white spots and can turn a rich hue of purple-red when exposed to full sun.
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- And here is a gorgeous potted orchid sitting on the servery counter in between my kitchen and sitting room. This orchid is Laeliocattleya C.G. Roebling var. coerulea ‘Beachview’ – a beautiful hybrid between Cattleya gaskelliana and Laeilia purpurata. The large light blue-white flowers have a pleasant fragrance and an indigo blue tubular colored lip. The next time you are entertaining, consider using houseplants as decorations – they are sure to liven up any room. In my next blogs, I’ll talk about the delicious foods I served at these business gatherings – stay tuned.
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