CHOOSING THE RIGHT PLACE

Every home will provide a surprisingly wide variation of environments, and it is important to select the right plant for the right place. This does not only mean choosing the plant that looks best in a particular loca­tion; it also means finding plants that will be happy in the conditions provided. The major variables are light levels and tem­perature; these are dealt with in more detail in Chapter 3.

Living rooms are probably the most popular areas for plant displays, since they are the rooms in which we tend to relax and enjoy our surroundings. Many plant lovers, though, like to have decorative plants in virtually every room of the house. Of course, each house will be different, but there are some general points that apply to most homes.

Halls

 

 

The hall is often the first part of your home a visitor sees, and plants help to create a pleasant, welcoming atmosphere. It can be a difficult location for plants, however, since it is often narrow, restricting the room for plant displays, and receives little natural light. Halls are usually cooler than the living areas of the house. Opening and closing the front door causes drafts and temperature fluctuations, and if the stairway is situated in the hall, warm air will tend to rise, causing an updraft. The front door is often used only by visitors, so plants near it tend to be forgotten.

Living rooms

 

These rooms are generally fairly light, with plenty of windows, and they often face the sun. They are usually fairly large rooms, where taller, architectural plants can be most easily accommodated. They

 A bedside table is the ideal place for an exotic orchid (above). What better way to greet the morning than by

Nothing could be more inviting than the prospect of a meal under a leafy vine in a sunroom (left)full of colorful plants such as abutilon and campanula, which love the light.

are usually comfortably warm while the family is at home, but the temperature may drop considerably at night and if the house is empty during working hours. Time-controlled central heating can also cause wide fluctuations in temperature.

Central heating also provides a dry atmosphere, and most plants will appreciate some extra humidity. See p. 197 for more details on how to provide this.

Kitchens

 

Many families spend a lot of time in the kitchen. And while you are likely to be busy there peparing meals and cleaning up, plants help to create a welcoming, pleasant environment. A large kitchen may also be used for eating and as a general family room where many activities take place. This sort of kitchen tends to be kept evenly warm and is often reasonably light; it is therefore suitable for many types of plants.

Older houses or apartments may have small, cramped kitchens, which often face away from the sun and have small windows. Temperatures there tend to fluctuate widely, rising considerably during cooking but cooling down quickly afterward. Humidity levels in kitchens are often high, due to steam from cooking, washing, and so on. So plant leaves can quickly become coated with greasy, sticky deposits and thus need frequent cleaning. Consequently tough, glossy-leafed specimens may do better than those with soft, delicate foliage.

The kitchen is primarily a working area. Plants must not get in the way and should never compromise safety when people are working around hot surfaces.

Wicker pot covers tie in with the wickerfurniture in this living room. Foliage plants, which need less light, stand at the back of the room, while the pelargonium enjoys a br

Bright light, warm colors, and plants such as bamboo, orchid, and bromeliad, which thrive in a warm, humid atmosphere (below), make this a bathroom to luxuriate in and enjoy.

SUNROOMS

 

Increasing numbers of houses now have sunrooms, not just for growing plants, as was the case years ago, but to provide extra living space. Most modem sun­rooms are fully heated and furnished, but the high light levels they enjoy still make them excellent places for a wide selection of plants.

Temperatures can become extremely high in summer, and ventilation and blinds or some other form of shading is nearly always necessary to prevent leaf scorch and to lower the temperature to a more comfortable level. Unheated sun­rooms will obviously be cold in winter and are unlikely to be suitable for many houseplants, although some warmth will be obtained from adjoining rooms.

Bedrooms

 

Although the bedroom may be the room in the house where we spend most hours, we are asleep and unappreciative of the delights of plants for much of the time. Many bedrooms face east, and the bed­room windowsill is a popular place for a few undemanding plants. A special effort needs to be made to remember to water them, however, since they can easily be forgotten in the family’s often-rushed morning routine.

Bathrooms

 

Although many bathrooms receive little sun, modern bathrooms have the advan­tage of being evenly warm throughout the day, with high levels of humidity, providing good conditions for plant growth. Light levels are often good, with frosted or obscured glass giving the bright, diffused light favored by many plants.

But beware: the temperature will rise rapidly when a bathtub or shower is in use, then it will fall quickly, leading to the cool, moist conditions that make plants prone to fungal disease.