PLANTS' USEFULNESS IN FULL BLOOM.Byline: Gary Krino Orange County Register House plants house plants, varied group of plants grown indoors and requiring no special care. They are usually grown singly in pots, but can also be grouped and planted together in dish gardens and terrariums. can make a statement or blend into most any background. Here's a look at some of the ways they can be used in decorating: Room divider. A tall ficus benjamina The Weeping Fig or Benjamin's Fig (Ficus benjamina, Ficus benjamini) is a species of fig tree, native to south and southeast Asia south to northern Australia. It is the official tree of Bangkok, Thailand. tree (about $45 for a 5-foot tree) can visually divide spaces such as a living room and dining room that flow together. It's one of the more popular indoor trees. You can also use the fishtail palm fishtail palm n. Any of several tropical Asiatic palms of the genus Caryota, particularly C. mitis, having bipinnate leaves with toothed, oblique leaflet apices. Noun 1. ($90, 5 feet) and the bamboo palm ($60, 5 feet). Accent. The simple pothos ($4 and up) in a decorative pot can be incorporated into an arrangement of collectibles to soften and warm the grouping. It's also a trailer, which makes it good for shelves and fireplace mantels. Bromeliads ($20, 6-inch pot) are tropical plants and provide sculptural blossoms ranging from pink to orange. Chinese evergreens ($30, 2 to 3 feet) are low and dense and can be placed next to a chair or a fireplace or under a window, where a smaller plant is called for to avoid blocking the view. Inexpensive Wandering Jews and Creeping Charlies have been popular in the past, are easy care but tend to be short-lived. Corner softener. The lady palm (about $90, 5 feet) has fan-shaped, sculpted sculpt v. sculpt·ed, sculpt·ing, sculpts v.tr. 1. To sculpture (an object). 2. To shape, mold, or fashion especially with artistry or precision: leaves with a dense feel. Also, different varieties of dracaena dracaena Any of about 50–80 species of ornamental foliage plants that make up the genus Dracaena, in the agave family, native primarily to the Old World tropics. Most have short stalks and narrow, sword-shaped leaves; some have taller stalks and resemble trees. including the corn plant ($45, 4 feet) and dragon tree ($90 to $100 6-7 feet). Dracaenas can range from low and busy to tall and sculpted. The peace lily has delicate white blooms on slender stalks. Smaller sizes can be used as table plants ($30, 2-foot corner plant; $9, table size). Focal point focal point n. See focus. . These house plants make a statement and stand alone, almost as a piece of art. Good choices include the ficus benjamina, kentia palm, bamboo palm, dragon tree, weeping fig (a ficus variety), fishtail palm, corn plant, fiddle-leaf fig ($45, 5 feet), coco palm ($40, 5 feet), lady palm. Changing locations. You can move plants from one location to another. But be sure that the microclimate microclimate Climatic condition in a relatively small area, within a few feet above and below the Earth's surface and within canopies of vegetation. Microclimates are affected by such factors as temperature, humidity, wind and turbulence, dew, frost, heat balance, (light, humidity, air circulation) is the same for best results. Blinds. If you're going to position a plant in front of a window with blinds, be aware that the blinds, even when open, can cut light by up to 50 percent. Choose the plant accordingly. |
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