Plant power: The growing love for house plants

With short days, long dark nights and plummeting temperatures, it’s a perfect time to focus attention on the healing power of nature indoors.

Pictures of lush, miniature rainforests, with green tendrils draped artfully down over interiors of homes and cafes, are ever-popular Instagram fodder. Aside from aesthetics, the rise in popularity of houseplants is down to the benefits for mental health and wellbeing, as well as the joy of being surrounded by greenery.

Plenty of us seek out green space and nature to get a break from city life so it’s only natural that we should also want to bring it into our homes.

Bristol24/7 sought out those who can help ensure our indoor ecosystems thrive.

There is a growing community of plant lovers in Bristol – photo: Ellie Pipe

Wild Leaf on Gloucester Road is one of a growing number of dedicated house plant shops in the city. The team there provides free ongoing care and advice to try to educate people on plant care.

“Our philosophy is that plants are not just accessories for your home, it’s about teaching people to look after and care for plants so they last for years,” says Robi Moore (main photo), the commercial manager at Wild Leaf.

“There was a mentality for a while that plants were just disposable and for aesthetics in the home and that is slowly changing. We have a lot of conversations with customers. If they have a specific place they want to put a plant, we ask a series of questions, such as how much light it gets. We try to match plants with suitable locations.

“We also ask what experience people have with plants – are they looking for a rarer and harder to care for a plant or are they beginners?”

 

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The team at Riverside Garden Centre in Southville also offer plant care and tips. They warn that winter months may be ideal in many ways to turn attention to indoor plants but to be careful not to leave plants too near heaters as this can dry them out and turn leaves brown.

The growing community of plant lovers in Bristol is evidenced not just in the number of plant shops, but also in the workshops and events, such as plant swaps, that are growing in popularity. Wild Leaf hosts a free quarterly plant swap, where people can bring their plants or cuttings to swap with others.

Joe Rees and Heather Carmichael turned their passion for terrariums into a business – photo: Joe Rees

Joe Rees and his partner Heather Carmichael turned their passion for terrariums into a business.

As well as selling the miniature ecosystems, the pair run workshops from Ome’s premises in Old Market.

“I think terrariums, although still lesser known in the plant world, are gaining a lot of popularity,” says Joe.

“During Covid-19, we were all cut off from nature to one extent or another and I think it triggered or strengthened a yearning for a connection with the natural world. House plants are one way to satiate this craving, but terrariums are a step further. You’re getting a living, breathing ecosystem filled with a variety of life that thrives in harmony with one another. It’s a beautiful symbol of a healthy ecosystem.”

Terrariums – natural ecosystems in a jar – are growing in popularity – photo: Joe Rees

Top plant care tips:

• Watch light levels to check if plants are right for the space you have. Will they get direct sun, partial or no sun at all?
• Pick the right plant for you: How much do you want to be caring for it? Some are more high maintenance regardless of where they are.
• Don’t over water. Plants generally need to be watered far less in winter. Check care cards and see how dry the pot needs to be before watering again.
• House plants love rain water – but make sure not to shock them with cold water. Store rain water in watering cans and keep it inside for 24 hours before watering.
• House plants prefer temperatures between 16-21 degrees. If you fancy putting the heating on, make sure to move your plants away from radiators. Radiators will quickly dry them out and cause their leaves to turn brown.
• British-grown house plants tend to be hardier as they were grown in our climate.

And for terrarium care:

• Keep your terrarium somewhere that receives bright but indirect sunlight.
• Don’t place your terrarium on a windowsill or anywhere where it can be exposed to highly fluctuating or extreme temperatures.
• Keep an eye on water levels. Black, mushy leaves and mould can mean too much, says Joe. If you think your terrarium is over-watered, leave the lid off for a day or so. A dry, crispy interior means too little water so give your terrarium a gentle spray.

Main photo: Ellie Pipe

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