Five ways to bring the outside in

It’s often too chilly outside for herbs to thrive, so if you have a window in the kitchen that receives plenty of sunlight, bring them in and sit them on the windowsill. To make the most of the window space, try hanging herb pots from the curtain rod. To get this look, simply drill three equally spaced holes around the lip of a plastic pot and sand smooth. For the decorative touches, spray pot and saucer in white Rust-Oleum, then once dry, paint the top half in desired colour. Dab Sellys Liquid Nails around base of pot and secure to saucer. Allow to dry. Part-fill with soil, plant up, then backfill. Attach hanging basket hooks to holes, then hang.

One of the trendiest indoor plants at the moment is the fiddle leaf fig. Its large, leathery and glossy fiddle-shaped leaves add a certain architectural elegance to a room, especially when potted up in a sophisticated glazed black planter. Position it in a well-lit spot and water sparingly. If you are worried about the pot damaging your floors, stick felt pads to the underside just to be safe.

Freshen up the look of any room with a triple planting of devil’s ivy (Epipremnum aureum). They are easy to grow and require very little maintenance. If you plant them in self-watering pots, you can set and forget! Let them sit on a windowsill or table, so their long tendrils can drape over the sides.

Think outside the box and transform a piece of greenery into a work of art, just like this suspended branch. Tie thread or fishing line on different points of the branch, then position removable hooks on your ceiling (we used Command picture hanging hooks) to hang the branch from. You can also stick hooks around the branch and use to suspend glass baubles filled with air plants, like tillandsia. Gently drape old man’s beard over the branch and you have a beautiful and rustic ‘chandelier’!

Plants don’t just have to sit on the floor or table – hanging plants are a great way to add vertical interest to a space. Try suspending small pots along a hallway. First, drill one hole into the back of a plastic pot. Cut a 20cm length of galvanised wire, insert both ends into hole (making a small loop on outside of pot), then twist and pull apart ends to secure. Attach a hook to your wall, hang pot, then pop a plant (still in its pot) into the hanging pot. When it’s time to water, remove plant, water and allow to drain before returning. Try using plants with a delicate trailing habit, like rhipsalis or old man’s beard.

Keep your indoor plants happy and healthy with these hints on feeding and care:
1. Water plants only when the potting mix feels dry. To check, poke your index finger into the top 2.5cm of the potting mix. If it’s damp, leave watering until next time.
2. Feed biannually with a controlled release fertiliser that’s specially formulated for indoor plants. For a quick boost of nutrients, feed with a soluble fertiliser.
3. Occasionally wipe down the foliage with a damp cloth to remove dust.

Top plants for indoors:
– Bromeliads
– Peace lily
– Anthurium
– Zebra plant
– Calathea
– Parlour palm
– Zanzibar Gem
– Lady palm
– Dracaena
– Dumb cane