Using plants in the house

There are so many varieties in shape, colour and living conditions relating to indoor plants that it is possible to find something for every situation in the house. They can be acclaimed not only for their beauty, but for their utilitarian aspects. Among the latter, mention must be made of the immense value of the climbing plants in making room dividers. These are most applicable to living quarters designed on the open plan. One very practical device is a light screen, made by training, say, Ficus pumila or any of the ivies, for separating the drawing- and dining-room areas of a room, in which the contrast between the dining furniture and that of the living-room might be quite incongruous. It might equally well serve as a screen to conceal the remnants of a meal when entertaining. Sometimes there is a place for a much denser divider, in which case Cissus antarctica, Philodendron scandens or Tetrastigma voinierianum might be excellent subjects. In a modern bed-sitter, such a plant might, for example, make a very attractive barrier between the living section and the sleeping quarters, or it might hide from view the cooking utensils. From a more aesthetic angle, climbers can be beautiful if they are allowed to frame a window.

In a house with a garden, the view of the garden from the window is probably one of its most treasured features. Many who live in a flat or a house in a town are deprived of this joy. It is possible, however, to capture some of this lost pleasure with indoor plants. Two or three of them, of varying heights, growing on the window-sill, will produce a delightful effect. The more ambitious plant grower might even replace the window-sill with a full-length trough and make an indoor garden. In this case a Venetian blind should be set to exclude both sun and frost. House plants can be used to hide an empty fireplace during the summer, or all the year round in houses where central heating has been installed. The chimney, however, should be blocked with a piece of cardboard or hardboard, particularly during the winter, to prevent the cold draughts from damaging the plants. It should always be remembered that being situated away from the window, they are in a dark place, so plants requiring less light should be used, or, far more delightful, the display should be illuminated with a spotlight. Even as part of interior decoration, indoor plants have some practical uses. They may be valuable tools in the hands of the designer, especially in contemporary houses, where they can do much to soften some of the starkness of much modern building. An unembellished white wall, for example, can be transformed by a single specimen of Ficus elastica 'Decora' in the foreground. The lofty ceilings of an elegant drawing-room can be optically lowered by the presence of a spreading Philodendron selloum. An arrangement of colourful house plants, lit with fluorescent bulbs, can turn a dark corner into a light, bright environment. Climbing plants carefully trained to break up the surface can also bring beauty and relief to an undesirable expanse of empty wall; in addition, the gaunt balustrades of an ill-designed staircase can be hidden by the verdure of their fresh leaves. Another excellent way of giving relief and interest to empty walls is to fix suitable containers on brackets on them, and plant both bushy and trailing horse plants in these.

The many shapes, sizes and colours of house plants give enormous scope to interior designers to meet the personal tastes of almost all their clients. They enliven and bring great charm to a room and do much to finish off with perfection many decor schemes. They can be most successfully accompanied by the many flowering pot plants to give cheerfulness to any room in the depths of winter, when everything outside is dreary. On hot days, by contrast, they can bring a freshness and light-hearted gayness. Again, the large, shiny, rich green surfaces of the leaves and their boldness of design, like those of some of the philodendrons, Monstera deliciosa and Fatsia japonica, can lessen the fussiness of a small fabric design, while the small-leaved and variegated foliage of other plants can do much to relieve effectively the starkness of curtains and soft furnishings in plain materials. These are but a few ways in which interior decorators can turn their ingenuity to using these very beautiful plants.
Be warned, however: the use of house plants must not be overdone. The dedicated indoor gardener is recommended to set aside a spare room, amply lit with fluorescent lighting, for his hobby. In the house, generally, indoor plants must be kept under control and used with imagination. They should accent a room, but not become the main feature.

Perhaps some of the most fascinating of displays are procured in bottle (carboy) gardens and terrariums, in which the plants grow in a totally enclosed atmosphere. The making of such gardens is described on page 127-31. It needs some skill and is an intriguing hobby, for the results are very lovely and attract much attention. One very effective way of utilizing a bottle garden is to convert the bottle (after it has been plan planted out) into a table lamp, making sure that the plants are still accessible for future care. This use certainly ensures that the plants will be well lit. Bottle gardens can be employed to fill an empty corner, or to be stood on a table, and can be very effective at the head of a staircase, where their details can be observed by anybody mounting the stairs.

Some people like to grow their house plants in miniature gardens in which are incorporated diminutive garden features, such as paths, pools (made of mirror), lawns of mossy plants, bridges, etc. Sometimes cacti are planted instead of house plants, but it is unwise to mix them. Constructing a miniature garden can be both fascinating and instructive, especially for a child, see page 127.

Dish gardens and troughs are a favourite way of growing indoor plants. These are also discussed in greater detail on page 127. Here it is sufficient to say that the choice of plants for this purpose is extremely important. They must all like the same growing conditions. To be aesthetically pleasing, the selection must include plants of varying heights, with a taller one as a leader; and they must be more or less equally vigorous so that none over-runs its neighbours. An interesting, more recently introduced innovation is to sink into the compost glass or metallic florist's tubes, which allow the inclusion of cut flowers to give continued interest and increased beauty.

Many types of containers and troughs are suitable for a dish or trough garden. A pleasant trip around the antique or junk shops, according to the depth of your purse, might produce the ideal container; perhaps it would be a soup tureen, a washhand basin or a copper preserving pan, while the modern boutiques can often supply wooden troughs, ones made of basketwork and wrought-iron ones with a metal lining. Sometimes conical baskets or clay dishes mounted on contemporary designed wrought-iron legs or other fascinating vessels suitable for indoor gardens, can be procured. Even the pedestal vases, that are so popular with flower arrangers, can be used  to make the loveliest miniatures.

Then there is, of course, the specimen house plant growing in its individual pot, in which it can be seen at its very best, and which certainly does most of all to give accent to the decor. But whatever is chosen as a container for a single plant or a grouping must not detract from the beauty of the plant itself. Indeed, how often does one see a house plant at its very loveliest in a humble clay pot!

The manner in which house plants are displayed is vitally important to the decor of any room. There are glass-top wrought-iron tables, corner stands with several shelves, and other furniture of modern design. And, it is amazing how oldfashioned furniture, such as long abandoned corner wash-stands (if possible complete with utensils), whatnots, three-tier round tables and those monstrosities, such as brass and mahogany pot stands in which our Edwardian forebears flaunted their aspidistras, are so miraculously resuscitated when their woods of walnut, mahogany and rosewood mingle with the soft, fresh foliage of our present-day house plants.