Plants

Houseplants for Growing Vertically

If you’re short on space, a fantastic way to showcase an array of beautiful plants indoors is to create your very own vertical garden. Although this might sound challenging, provided that you invest in the right plants, this is a straightforward task.

Thankfully, there are hundreds of plants suited to indoor spaces, which makes picking the best options for your living space, bedrooms, or bathroom a slightly easier task. If you’re on the hunt for some houseplants to grow vertically, here are a few of our recommendations…

Pothos

One of the most popular indoor plants, especially for low-light environments, is the vining plant Pothos (Epipremnum sp) also known as Devil’s Ivy. This low-maintenance species can easily be persuaded to climb walls or to hang from shelves as an alternative.

Provided that this plant has a little light, it grows extremely speedily, sometimes to lengths of 20 feet. If it begins to take over your indoor space, simply cut it back to manage it effectively.

Cretan Brake Fern

As long as growing conditions are tip-top, the changeable Cretan Brake fern (Pteris cretica) thrives indoors. It’s unable to grow in dry soil though, which means regular watering is a must!

With its pale green fronds, the Cretan Brake plant perfectly complements plants with darker leaves. It’s a great option for those looking for a plant that is more delicate in style, which is fitting as the name Pteris is Greek for ‘feather’.

Rabbit’s foot fern

Rabbit’s Foot Fern (Davallia fejeensis) gets its name from its fuzzy little ‘feet’, which grow from its base. These cute roots are able to easily establish themselves indoors. For best results, place this species in an area that benefits from low or indirect light.

Lipstick Plant

If you’re looking to populate hanging baskets, the Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus radicans) is a great option and one that benefits from dry conditions and low lighting.

This free-blooming shrub boasts rich green leaves with hints of burgundy hues, which cascade freely wherever they’re placed. When in bloom, expect a series of rich, red flowers that are certain to pack a punch – they look like lipstick tubes, hence the name!

Wedding Vine

The sweet-smelling Wedding vine (Stephanotis floribunda) grows extremely quickly, is super tolerant to dry and wet conditions, and makes the perfect addition to an interior wall.

This picture-perfect evergreen shrub boasts an array of oversized, tubular blooms in a shade of pristine white. These vines are ideal for a larger space as they can grow up to 20 feet in size if left unmanaged.

Philodendron

In its natural habitat, the Philodendron is a tropical plant that grows in the top reaches of trees. If you’re looking to fill a large space, Philodendron blooms are an ideal choice, as they boast a series of aggressive aerial roots.

Heartleaf, Brasil, and velvet-leaf varieties are all great options for vertical interior gardens.

Dracaena

Featuring strap-like leaves, Dracaenas are prevalent shrubs for the home environment, especially for upright gardens. The various variegated leaves come in shades of cream, white, red, and yellow. They grow easily in a variety of temperatures but tend to thrive better in warmer environments.

They can withstand lower light conditions, however, this sometimes causes the colours of the leaves to fade a little. These plants prefer drier, elevated areas so think carefully about where you might put them.

Crotons

This vibrant shrub features leaves that are leathery in style, which thrive in bright light. In low light, the new leaves of croton (Codiaeum variegatum pictum) grow a little on the small side and are of a lesser pigmented hue.

For best results, allow the soil to dry thoroughly before watering and place Croton plants in rooms that offer high humidity.

Peace Lily

Peace Lilies (Spathiphyllum wallisii) are both low maintenance and popular for interior gardens. They’re the perfect option for areas that feature lower light and lower humidity.

Peace Lilies are an ideal choice for those looking to create an interior garden complete with attractive blooms, as even the matured flowers look pretty when they begin to fade.

Air Plants

Part of the bromeliad family, Air Plants (Tillandsia) come in the shape of cute shrubs that add a fun element to your interior vertical garden. There are thousands of awesome species to choose from, meaning there is a variant to suit all tastes and styles.

These plants excel in environments offering indirect, yet bright light. Their nutrient and moisture intake is not through their roots but through their leaves. To help them thrive, soak air plants in room temperature water every few weeks.

Sword Fern

The Sword Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)is one of the easier ferns to grow indoors. It prefers a moist environment, as it is native to a tropical, humid rainforest. To ensure optimum growth, place these plants at the base of your vertical garden, as this way they’ll be able to soak up more water.

Baby Tears

The hot-hued leaves of Baby Tears (Soleirolia soleirolii) form a soft mat of greenery, meaning they are perfectly suited to interior spaces, especially if you wish to add a hit of green to an otherwise low-key space. To ensure they thrive in your home, place these plants in a space that benefits from moderate light.

They can grow in brighter light, provided that it isn’t too intense though. It’s important to ensure the soil remains moist but not overly soggy, so try to avoid it becoming dry to the touch.

Rubber Leaf Plant

Rubber Leaf plants (Ficus elastica) boast stunning, larger-than-life leaves in an oval-shape. Their dark-glossy foliage is the perfect addition to your living room, especially if you wish to invest in plants that grow upwards rather than horizontally.

Fiddle Leaf Fig

The Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) is another great option for an indoor space, be it an office or home environment. It boasts oversized green leaves in a light hue, and waxy, slender foliage. This species is a brilliant choice for those wishing to create a bold statement.

There is a species, style, and size of the vertical plant to suit any space, including choices for both amateur and professional gardeners. If you’re starting from scratch and have an empty space in your home that needs an injection of lush colour, a vertical garden will certainly allow you to bring the outdoors in.

Sources: huffpost.com, gardeningknowhow.com

Lily Calyx is our in-house flower whisperer, an expert on all things botanical and an enthusiastic orchids collector. She loves discussing the insights of the secret world of flowers, shares her gardening tips and hacks and moons over the latest additions to Serenata Flowers flower range. Ask Lily anything about flowers and we can guarantee she will have the answer.

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