What is an Indoor Jungle? 4 Types of Houseplants for Your Indoor Jungle 1. Plant Placement 2. Light Levels 3. Humidity and Temperature Choosing the Right Pots for Your Plants Terrariums More and more people want a sense of peace in their homes in the midst of the urban concrete jungle, but this is easier said than done. Many use houseplants to bring nature indoors to create an indoor jungle. Houseplants have well-documented benefits on our mental well-being, air quality, and feelings of tranquility. Not to mention, a home overflowing with greenery and nature looks simply stunning. So, what exactly is an indoor jungle, and how can you transform your home into a green, rejuvenating space?
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From the home of Hilton Carter, a sunny corner with a cozy chaise that is surrounded by a jungle of large potted plants, with smaller cacti and succulents on the windowsill. (from Hilton Carter via Essence)
What Is an Indoor Jungle?
An indoor jungle can incorporate just about any plants that take your fancy. The magic combination is care and curation. Just like a jungle in the wild, try to mix and match a variety of houseplants. The more diverse and vibrant, the better! Hilton Carter, a Baltimore creative and plants/interiors guru, recently spoke with Pinterest about the transformative impact of his own indoor jungle. He described how it gave him an entirely new perspective on life: “I was someone who, before bringing plants in, was a very stressed individual. In caring for plants, it helped me understand that you have to put the time in, you have to watch for the smaller changes, the little nuances that develop to understand something a bit better. It was in plant care that I found my source of meditation.” Of course, before you can enjoy the enriching qualities of indoor plants, you’ve got to pick the right greenery for your space.4 Types of Houseplants for Your Indoor Jungle
Some common household plants to use in your indoor jungle include:1. Philodendron
A philodendron is a type of jungle plant that gets its name from the Greek words for “love tree.” It's a great option for beginners because the plant will give you a visual indicator of its needs. If the leaves are spread apart, it needs more sunlight, and if the leaves are yellow, it's been overwatered. If you tend to forget to water your plants, get a philodendron. These plants thrive on little water, needing a small amount once a week or less. Philodendrons also tolerate low-light conditions.2. Spider Plant
Spider plants are grassy bush plants with thick stems and narrow, grassy leaves. These plants grow quickly and produce smaller baby plants that look like spiders, which is how this plant gets its name. If your home has consistent temperature and humidity year-round, your spider plant should thrive. Water your plant every week and place it in a well-lit area for the best results.3. Orchid
An orchid is a perennial that has lovely flowers with a variety of color options, from pure white to vibrant purple. Its leaves are light green, which will get darker in poor lighting conditions. This plant is easy to take care of. All you have to do is water your orchid once a week and place it in bright, indirect light to keep it looking beautiful. Since orchids get moisture and nutrients from the air, they like high humidity.4. English Ivy
The English ivy is a climbing vine plant with long tendrils that can grow several feet long, so place it on a shelf or mantel so that its vines can hang down. This hanging ornamental plant will bring a unique look to your indoor garden and works well as a wall cover if you want a topiary look. You'll need to regularly prune your English ivy plant to keep it from getting too big. Keep your English ivy plant in a shady area if you want it small or in a sunny spot to encourage growth. It can tolerate different humidity and light levels.What to Consider When Creating Your Indoor Jungle
Here are three key things to keep in mind when designing your indoor jungle:
An empty corner comes alive with an old desk topped with a modern lamp, and tons of potted plants. (via Pinterest)
1. Plant Placement
Don’t make the mistake of choosing a plant before you’ve got a place for it! Different plants thrive in different conditions. There are many variables to consider, from the amount of space and light in your home to temperate, climate, and humidity. As a rule, don’t squeeze a plant in a small space where there isn’t much airflow. Good circulation is crucial for maintaining a steady temperature. It results in healthier, longer-living plants, lowering the incidence of many diseases.
The solution for small spaces: an indoor plant wall. Get the look on the left with our faux Spanish moss in a wall pot. (both images via Pinterest)
There’s a further bonus. Plants improve the air quality in your home by releasing oxygen and using up carbon dioxide, so placing them in a prominent position is a win-win.
A light-filled living room with tall ceilings is perfect for these slender and super tall cacti, succulents, and a large agave in a big and tall ceramic planter. (via Pinterest)
2. Light Levels
Select plants that thrive in the light levels your home enjoys. No one wants to look out at sad, limp houseplants. Pick your exact spot and do your research before heading to the garden store. Aloes and succulents, for example, need a lot of bright direct sunlight, so they won’t be great in a dark corner. Assess what direction your windows face. Southwest-facing windows will give high light levels, east- or west-facing windows will supply medium light levels, and north-facing windows provide low light levels.
A bathroom becomes a green oasis with lime green walls, emerald-hued tiles, bath linens with leafy print designs, baskets, and a variety of plants. (via Dunelm)
3. Humidity and Temperature
Just as different plants need different light levels, certain plants need more humidity and higher temperatures. Most homes have low humidity due to heating and air conditioning (A/C) units drying out the air. Don’t put your plants directly next to radiators or A/C units for this reason. If you’re looking at tropical plants, such as Bird of Paradise or Philodendrons, you’ll probably have to mist them daily.
Tall bookshelves can hold potted plants. (via Studio Pepe)
Choosing the Right Rots for Your Plants
You’ve found the ideal plant for that unfilled spot in your home. Great! The next step is picking picture-perfect pots. When creating an indoor jungle, variety is important, so don’t be scared to play around with your colors, textures, and styles. You can mix stone effect pots with natural wood bowls and wicker baskets.
Don't have a green thumb? Get this urban jungle look with a mix of artificial potted plants in wood pots. Draw the eye up with a long monstera leaf garland hanging in the window.
You can add additional interest to your indoor jungle by adding statement pillar candles and metallic lanterns to give a touch of glamour. Grouping plants and pots of various sizes and looks is key. Just make sure the result matches your home décor and, of course, the size of the plants themselves.
A garden urn and matching pedestal, terra cotta pots, and ceramic planters from "a lush bohemian corner of the Putnam & Putnam studio." – One Kings Lane
If you’re going for a modern look, for instance, small silver planters combined with raised standing nickel pots could be a great option. For a more traditional atmosphere, you can’t go far wrong with classic garden urns.Terrariums
For an extra wow factor, have you considered a terrarium? Terrariums can be made from just about any glass container, from hanging glass jars to display cloches or even intricate honeycomb candleholders.
Especially during the cold winter months, having a tabletop terrarium to take care of can help satisfy our need for greenery. – Better Homes and Gardens
They’re usually planted to look like a miniature garden or woodland encircled in its own little world. Moss, ferns, succulents, and air plants are particularly good choices, growing well with fine soil. You can decorate your terrarium with decorative sand and polished river stones for a natural effect. Vibrant celestite stones, which are said to bring mental calm and clarity, or white tumbled marble will give a striking modern look to any planting scheme.
The look with less: A very mature monstera plant creates the 'urban jungle' look all on its own. (via Pinterest)