Indoor Oasis: Elevate your Indoor Garden Game with Expert Tips

Winter remains a baleful time of year where much activity is in the doldrums and landscapes often appear bleak and unforgiving. 

While the outdoors languish, many gardeners seek the bright and warm solace of the indoors. And it is in this space that a few choose to cultivate an indoor garden oasis. Secluded against the harsh elements, many houseplants flourish, each more exotic and colorful than the last. Here’s how you can create an indoor oasis of all seasons with these expert tips. 

Basic tips for successful interior gardening

Almost everyone is acquainted with a houseplant fanatic, whose house is laden with a myriad of houseplants as far as the eye can see. Perhaps you are that enthusiast yourself. Though houseplants often gain a reputation for being stuffy and boring, the truth is, they are the unsung heroes for those with limited space or whose climates are not conducive year-round. Even a little bit of greenery around the house can alleviate stress and improve air quality. When grouped together in pleasant arrangements, houseplants help create a meditative environment with restorative and curative properties. 

• Choose the right indoor plants.  When choosing indoor plants, there are several factors to consider, including aesthetic appeal, level of maintenance, and functionality. Popular indoor plants that are low maintenance include orchids, Chinese money plant, and lucky bamboo. Some, like Christmas cactus, can be treated like dirt and will still bloom reliably year after year. Aloe vera is known for its healing properties; lavender has a soothing aroma that promotes peaceful sleep. While most houseplants aren’t particularly picky, some are more adaptable to low light conditions than others, such as snake plants, pothos, spider plants, and peace lilies.

• Maintain humidity and temperature levels. Ordinary house plants will tolerate room temperature, but tropical ones prefer milder, sunnier conditions. Avoid drafts and locations where temperatures can fluctuate wildly. As many houseplants are of tropical provenance (ferns, philodendrons, orchids, African violets), supplemental moisture can help them thrive. Consider investing in humidifiers or misting them – but not on plants with fuzzy leaves, as it can lead to permanent spotting. 

• Provide adequate ventilation. Ventilation allows fresh air to circulate to plants, which promotes transpiration. In many cases, a humidifier or oscillating fan can get rid of stale air if it becomes an issue. However, many problems arise due to inadequate light or watering, rather than poor air quality.  

• Integrate plants naturally into your home. Each area of the house will have slightly varying temperatures and humidity levels that are more suited to certain types of houseplants. Elegant, showy plants are situated for the living room, where they provide welcoming backdrops against a sofa or couch. The low light levels and high humidity of bathrooms can accommodate Boston ferns, pothos, and vining philodendrons. Herbs will thrive in the bright light filtered from kitchen windows. Air plants, which don’t even require soil to survive, will look delightful inside terrariums, fish tanks, or on top of large crystal clusters. Improve dead spaces by reclaiming them with greenery: dangle plants from bookshelves, squeeze them behind stairwells, or hang them from ceilings.  

Unique indoor design ideas and tips

One need not live like a king to create harmonious configurations of houseplants. Oftentimes, it is a freeform endeavor that shouldn’t be very strenuous – gardeners can group plants together based on leaf texture, cluster by care requirements, or mix and match based on color and size. In a time of flux and upheaval, take the time to create a dedicated space that will uplift your spirits. 

• Grow aquatic plants.  The very term “oasis” connotes water, a commodity made all the scarcer in parched deserts. Aquatic water plants are not only limited to root cuttings or spongy aquarium plants, but can consist of elaborate hydroponic systems with both practical and ornamental value. These miniature ecosystems are intended to emulate the outside world to some extent, from salt-lake estuaries to Japanese imperial gardens. Typha Minima Europa, java moss, bacopa, and submerged plant cuttings are just a few of the plants you can grow. Some more ambitious gardeners also choose to add fish if the space is large enough. 

• Manage all your houseplants with a greenhouse cabinet.  The Wardian cases of the Victorian era may have become obsolete, but its successor can be seen in the indoor greenhouse cabinets of today. Due to a renewed interest in antique and vintage items, the DIY greenhouse cabinet has seen a revival. As it can be difficult to track every houseplant, this modern indoor greenhouse is the ultimate hack. Not only does it provide an elegant and controlled environment for all your houseplants, but it greatly enhances your interior design. 

• Create an indoor terrarium.  Those who are not very DIY inclined can replicate an indoor greenhouse on a much smaller scale with a terrarium. Whether made of faceted glass and interlocking iron strips or rotund vessels, indoor terrariums are a great way to unleash your creativity. Basic terrariums may contain a single plant while more complex ones will incorporate statues, rocks, and sheet moss for dramatic sculptural style. Because of their hardy nature, succulents and air plants are ideal for terrariums.

• Group plants by color.  Sometimes, the simplest design choices can have lasting impacts. Grouping plants by similar foliage or bloom colors can help achieve a cohesive look. A charming Southern plant, Jubilation gardenia, is often seen adorning regal estates, yet its diminutive form can be grown indoors in planters. Pair with other white flowers such as amaryllis and white orchids (Dendrobium nobile) for a luminous effect reminiscent of moonlit gardens. The cascading vines of white jasmine conjures the teeming wilderness of a jungle, and tall vases of paperwhite narcissus add a calming touch to dinner tables. 

• Maximize space with an elevated rolling planter.  Elevated rolling planters are a unique way to store houseplants or transport more delicate outdoor varieties. The interlocking wheels make it easy to move around, presenting a versatile and modern storage solution. Its earthy tones and smooth surface ensure that it won’t look out of place, whether on a balcony or near a wall ledge.