In these modern times, as people seem to be separating themselves more and more from their vital connection with nature, it is possible to regain some of that link by bringing plants into the living space. Plants bring warmth and life into dwellings, as well as creating a peaceful ambience in homes. Decorating with plants also brings out creative talents and nourishes one’s caring instincts. Plants can be appreciated as living beings, instead of inanimate things.
Even the humblest abode can be transformed into a natural palace with the help of ornamental plants, and modern architecture with its cold, straight lines and empty spaces can be overhauled with plants to create a humane environment. Some may already be “green thumbs” when it comes to decorating with tropical plants, while others may be just starting.
The following will provide each plant lover with tips for more successful decorating and caring for tropical houseplants. When designing any interior decoration, you might keep in mind the following: flowers, ferns and foliage plants.
Flowers provide color and variation over a limited time space, while ferns and foliage plants lend a constant background to your decorating theme with flowers. An orchid bloom may last only days or weeks, but it can be displayed amidst a backdrop of tranquil green ferns and colorful foliage plants.
Flowering plants can be likened to the actors on a theatrical stage, while the ferns and foliage plants are the stage props. Fortunately, the plant nursery business in Costa Rica has grown tremendously and it’s possible to find an excellent selection of these plants in practically every town across the country.
Many pueblos have several nurseries and may offer different specialties in tropical plants. You’ll find nursery shopping can be just as exciting as “malling” these days. It’s impossible for me to list all the wonderful houseplants that can be found in nurseries these days and much of what you choose will depend upon your own personal preferences, but the box on the right suggestions for each of the friendly triad of plants I mentioned which are available in many nurseries.
The art of plant decoration with these three types of plants involves mixing the cooler greens of the ferns and palms with the brighter colors of flowers and foliage plants to create a contrast that is pleasing to the eye.
If you are interested in learning more about home decoration with tropical plants, add these two books to your home library: “Garden in the Tropics” and “That Tropical Look” by Timber Press.
Tips on caring for tropical ornamental plants Using plants as decoration indoors requires a certain amount of dedication to caring for them. Without the proper care, plants can often perish in a week’s time. Here are a few tips to keep your plants healthy and looking good.
Light, Air, Water and Soil The leaves of plants are much like solar panels, which absorb the sun’s energy and store it in the form of dextrose through the process of photosynthesis. Many annual flowering plants require full sun at least during the morning hours, while foliage plants and ferns prefer partial shade. Sunny windows and porches on the eastand southeast side of the house are the best locations for flowering plants, while foliage plants can be located in the shadier regions of the home.
It’s also beneficial to periodically clean the leaves of foliage plants, since accumulated dust can interfere with the plant’s ability to photosynthesize. Air is also important in a plant’s growth. Ferns and foliage plants require humid air, while flowering plants often achieve better growth in drier conditions, which prevents leaf diseases.
Water is another important element. For some plants, such as ferns and foliage plants, their roots need a continual level of moisture. Misting these plants is beneficial for their leaves. Other plants, like aloe vera and cacti, require watering only one or two times a week.
When purchasing plants at a nursery, ask the watering requirements of each plant. At home, set up a schedule for watering your plants that takes each plant’s needs into consideration.
Once a month, soluble fertilizers can also be dissolved into your watering canto feed your plants. Be sure to apply the correct fertilizer according to each plant’s requirements. As plants grow and age, their potting soil becomes depleted of nutrients.
To keep your plants in good shape, change the potting soil every year. Remove the old soil, prune back the roots and, if possible, use a larger pot to insure new, healthy growth. Most nurseries carry prepared potting soil mixes or you can try making your own with this recipe.
For every wheelbarrow, add the following ingredients:
- 1/3 of loamy soil
- 1/3 of sand
- 1/3 of peat moss or rice hulls
- 1 quart of aged compost
- 1 cup of lime, preferably dolomitic limestone
Pests
Usually, indoor plants suffer from few insect pests and diseases; however, small, soft-bodied insects can sometimes become a problem.
Use a soapy water mix on your plants to take care of these problems. Nurseries also carry friendlier, natural insecticides for your indoor plants.
You will find the product called KILOL, which is made from the extracted oil of grapefruit seeds, is an excellent preventive spray against plant leaf diseases. This harmless spray can be applied once a month with a mister.
Meet the Plants that Nicely Decorate Any Home
FLOWERS
Chrysanthemums – Known as Pomas in Spanish. They are at their peak of blooming at this time of the year and come in an incredible array of color combinations.
Orchids or Orquídeas– These plants tend to have their peak blooming during the dry season and require a special shaded area outside the house during most of the year. Blooming orchids can be brought into the house as a center of your decorating display.
Poinsettias or Pastoras – These famous plants bloom around Christmas and into the dry season and come in Brillant reds and yellows. Older plants can be transplanted outside.
Petunias – These potted plants lend a colorful blend of blues, pinks and whites. Impatiens or Chinas – Potted plants that bring a bright, cheery touch of colors and bloom much of the year. Christmas cactus or Bailarinas –These are lovely as hanging potted plants with flowers in tones of red and orange.
Gloxinia – Potted plants with velvet textured flowers in reds and purples.
Shrimp plant or Camarones – A perennial that provides unusual flowers of yellow and white.
Fuchsias or Gorriones – Try these hanging potted plants that bring on blooms of pastel rose.
FERNS
Leather-leaf fern or Metro y medio – A large fern with meter-long fronds with leathery, coarse-toothed, heavy textured pinnules. One of the most common ferns found in nurseries. Maidenhair fern or Aliento de niño – A delicate fern with fan-shaped leaflets of afresh green color.
Crisped blue fern – This fern has large beautiful leaves of a milky-blue color.
Bird’s nest fern – An unusual fern that has shining green fronds that are erect.
Staghorn fern or Cuerno de venado – A spectacular fern with outward-thrusting, antler-forked light green fronds.
FOLIAGE PLANTS
Aglaonemas – A very popular, hardy green and white foliage plant for home or office. Dracaenas – These are the most common tropical foliage plants that come in a variety of colors and shapes. Warneckii, Marginata and Massangeana are common varieties.
Crotons or Crotones – These foliage plants add bright, warm colors to any plant decoration scheme.
Spider plants or Mala madre – An excellent choice for hanging baskets, this foliage plant has delicate, white and pastel green leaves and new plants that emerge from the tips of the plant.
Wandering Jew or Cucaracha– Another terrific choice as a hanging basket plant that has colorful leaves of purple and silver hues.
Ti plant or Cordelinia– This hardy potted plant has showy leaves of bright luminescent red, silver and green colors.
Coleus – These plants are easy to grow and have practically an infinite variation in colors and patterns.
Figs or Ficus – A group of tall foliage trees with wide, shiny green, rubbery leaves.
The Benjamin fig has smaller, green and white leaves that are very popular as potted plants.
Sansevieria or Lengua de suegra – These are the hardiest of indoor plants with long, spear-like leaves that come in variegated patterns of green, yellow and white.
Palms or Palmas – To add a truly tropical touch to any decorating theme, palms are just the right choice.
Aloe vera or Sábila – Large potted aloes can create a cactus-like effect in your decorating design, and they provide useful medicines as well.
Schefflera – A large evergreen plant with shiny, palmate, compound leaves that adds a special tropical effect indoors.
