Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Feb 21, 2010 9:37 pm I grew up with a lot of indoor plants, when I moved out of home I had at least 1-2 indoor plants in each room, it was always a pain to dust the leaves but I did it anyway. I noticed that none of the display homes have indoor plants and there are barely any indoor plants in any house photo's on here, or even when I think about family and friends houses I don't see them anymore. I don't have any right now either as we have had little one's that just eat the dirt so moved them all outside years ago. Now I'm looking at moving them back in again, I want them in the new place too and have been thinking about where they will go and how much light they will get in different rooms. What are your thoguhts? Are they just out of fashion as part of interior decorating. Re: Where have all the indoor plants gone? 2Feb 21, 2010 9:43 pm I think they are great. My Mum has them everywhere, she is a real green thumb and they look great. No trendy fake orchids for her, she has the real thing!!! Unfortunately for me, I did not inherit her talent, I kill everything . Have tried numerous times to keep indoor plants, but they all ended up dead when I forgot to water them. Lucky my kids are a bit more vocal - I haven't forgotten to feed them so far.... MagicJ I finally have my own reno thread: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28335 The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue! Re: Where have all the indoor plants gone? 3Feb 21, 2010 9:56 pm Fernyhouse I grew up with a lot of indoor plants, when I moved out of home I had at least 1-2 indoor plants in each room, it was always a pain to dust the leaves but I did it anyway. I noticed that none of the display homes have indoor plants and there are barely any indoor plants in any house photo's on here, or even when I think about family and friends houses I don't see them anymore. I don't have any right now either as we have had little one's that just eat the dirt so moved them all outside years ago. Now I'm looking at moving them back in again, I want them in the new place too and have been thinking about where they will go and how much light they will get in different rooms. What are your thoguhts? Are they just out of fashion as part of interior decorating. Good point! I'm certainly not a gardener (Mrs zeke makes up for me in this, though) BUT - I love indoor plants. It doesn't matter to me if they are in fashion or not....in fact I'd prefer them not to be too trendy as I like being a bit different. One humble little aspidistra in a lovely pot is one of the nicest things to go into our new home at least in "bang for buck" terms. Other plants will join it soon.....I think palms are great - even if a bit unimaginative. And plants can look fab in bathrooms. And they won't date as quickly as those dried sticks in all the display homes will. Like everything else, though, it's important not to overdo it. A few really good, carefully positioned plants looks far better than a jungle IMHO. Cheers zeke Re: Where have all the indoor plants gone? 4Feb 22, 2010 8:47 am Quote: What are your thoguhts? Are they just out of fashion as part of interior decorating. Absolutely. Big in the 1980s but who does indoor plants now? They really aren't a great look IMHO. Re: Where have all the indoor plants gone? 5Feb 22, 2010 10:03 am I don't know why this trend has largely dissappeared, but its a good thing! I have attended a good number of seminars on INDOOR AIR QUALITY. One notable speaker was Professor Peter Dingle, the environmental toxicologist. He spoke about indoor plants, and the notion that they are good for cleaning the air. It is said that plants absorb CO2 and give off oxygen. Whilst this is true, he gave demonstrations that to achieve any significant benefit from this, we would almost need to fill our homes with so many plants, we could hardly move (negligible benefit)! BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, even with a few plants, we by introducing billions of spores and microbes into our home living environment, would VERY SIGNIFICANTLY create an unhealthy home. Plants in the outdoors are in a balanced environment, with sunlight keeping microbes etc in check. But when we create an artificial environment like our homes, (sealed and insulated buildings) and introduce these organisms, things can really get out of whack very quickly! Besides that, I've seen lots of damage to floorcoverings from pot plants being over-watered. So they might lookm nice, but not good I'm afraid! Ash. Re: Where have all the indoor plants gone? 6Feb 22, 2010 12:13 pm Hrmmmph! Next you'll all be saying our 4' hanging macrame monstrosities are out of date! OK, we know and they've been relegated to the shed to await a 70's revival. Seriously though, with all due respect to Dr Dingle, there are many authoritative opinions to the contrary out there. I have worked in the IAQ field myself and my opinion is that any house that has such poor ventilation that it can't cope with a few indoor plants is an unhealthy home regardless of the plants. I'll keep the plants, take my chances and enjoy being unfashionable. I will concede though that I was once involved in an investigation of an unpleasant odour in an office and a particular over-watered plant with a nasty soil fungal infection was the culprit. And I have seen the devastation a leaking pot plant can cause to carpets. So, I can see both sides of the argument. Like everything else, though, I think there's an ideal balance and for me that is not a sterile, plant-less indoor environment. Judicious use of green things and a bit of common-sense is my preference...... Cheers zeke EDIT Just wanted to add a pic of my humble aspidistra.......who would want to turf this little fellow out? Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Where have all the indoor plants gone? 7Feb 22, 2010 7:26 pm I have to agree To have any change or impact on a rooms air quality that you'd have to fill the home so full of plants you'd need a rope to swing from room to room. The poor old indoor plant Even hard to find in nurseries these days. A good selection anyway. One of the best is the one pictured above, the Aspidistra. I love the flowers on these because they come up on the soil and not from fancy spikes or similar. The other is the amazing ZZ plant. Even better still. Forget to water it for a few months and it looks the same These get better and better as they get bigger. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ What isn't noted about benefits to a room is the feel they can give. They add an ambiance that is unique. granted this needs to be done right but with the right balance of simplicity and plant choice it is doable Kentia palms also are great indoor plants. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ With indoor plants if you ever let them dry out, for gods sake don't try to water them inside. The water won't absorb into the soil. It just runs down the sides and out the bottom. Overflowing onto the floor. Fill the laundry sink and soak them till the bubbles stop coming out or take them outside and give as many as 5 to 7 waters with a slow soft shower of water from the hose. Harsh nozzles and higher pressure shower settings are not really appropriate. Let them drain for a bit and then bring them inside Slow release fertilisers are fairly well suited to these plants. Let the soil dry on the surface but make sure it is moist just under. Re: Where have all the indoor plants gone? 8Feb 22, 2010 7:54 pm I love Kentia palms!! MagicJ I finally have my own reno thread: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28335 The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue! Re: Where have all the indoor plants gone? 9Feb 22, 2010 8:00 pm Oh, we have lots of indoor plants. Alicia (*cough* my 20 year old maiden hair fern *cough* ) will definitely be coming to our new home. As will all of her friends. I think indoor plants look great and they clean the air ...and before you ask, not all of our indoor plants have names.... Re: Where have all the indoor plants gone? 10Feb 22, 2010 8:04 pm Oh I want to get some indoor plants but I'm just kinda lazy and not got around to it yet! I spose that's why my christmas tree is still up (yes in February!!) 'A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world.' Louis Pasteur Vegie garden: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=27637&start=0 My Backyard Adventure Re: Where have all the indoor plants gone? 12Feb 22, 2010 8:40 pm I'm dying to get myself an indoor plant but I can't decide where to put one or which one to get. At the moment I'm thinking either a nice white orchid or a ZZ plant. The problem is that I can't find an orchid I really like, I'm yet to come across one that actually looks healthy in the store. I did see the ZZ plants in Ikea on the weekend and now I'm regretting the fact that I didn't buy one. Oh well, looks like I just found my excuse to go back again. C Re: Where have all the indoor plants gone? 13Feb 22, 2010 8:53 pm Rowena Christmas tree still up? Lisa, are you still waiting for Santa? Yes?? I like seeing it, it's a happy tree It will go away in the next week though as if my family see it again I really will not hear the end of it!! Plus, it fills the space nicely 'A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world.' Louis Pasteur Vegie garden: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=27637&start=0 My Backyard Adventure Re: Where have all the indoor plants gone? 14Feb 22, 2010 10:12 pm lisanne Oh I want to get some indoor plants but I'm just kinda lazy and not got around to it yet! I spose that's why my christmas tree is still up (yes in February!!) It's not "still up", it's up early in my eyes. Glad I'm not the only one that likes a well placed indoor plant. Careful selection, careful pot choice and careful placement is the most important thing. Part of the decor in my eyes. 0 4705 thanks. the above one is white Mat tiles and have gripness so going for this Mat tiles for both indoor and outdoor. Beaumont told it can be used in both indoor and… 2 1675 Murraya could be a great option for you. It creates a great tall screening hedge but doesn't drop fruit like lily pilly. The flowers smell divine. 2 10247 |