My last post this year….

So in about a little over 24 hours , we will be welcoming 2016. For me this year has literally raced by. I thought my last post of 2015 should definitely be about plants. I love indoor plants and have quite a collection and they have been great companions and given me so much joy. Styling your home using plants is such a good idea.I really enjoyed it. Here are some ideas to display indoor plants in your home.

Display your plants in a sunny corner of your home using a collection of different sized planters and plants. Plants on the shelf styled with a range of succulents and climbers provide interest and is balanced very well with the large planter by itself. http://www.lobsterandswan.com

If you have some space or an empty corner in your living room, place a big plant like this Fiddle Fig leaf in an oversized planter and the effect you get is a wow!!

Have a side table dedicated to your small plant collection. It is more likely to get more attention placing them together than in different places in a room especially with small planters.

Club all your small and interesting planters on a console table. Place it in the hallway if there is space, it will make such an impact. http://www.we-are-scout.com

If you have absolutely no space, you can still own a few small planters with the hardy succulents which will take up no space and can be displayed with your other much loved curios.

The staircase is such a good place to display your plants…..and if they are all put in white planters then nothing like it to really highlight the beauty of these lovely plants indoors. http://www.refinery29.com

Put a single green large leaf in a plain glass bottle to make an impact.

Hang a few pots using interesting jute macrame plant hangers to make an instant impact. http://www.anthropologie.com

A common ivy in a coloured bottle is a lovely way of getting some green into your space. The roots in the bottle makes it a unique display.

Have a sunny window ledge? Line it with your collection of potted indoor plants….instant impact. http://www.flickr.com

Have a bookshelf? Display your plants in combination with all your curios and plants in a bottle……

Create your own interesting mix of planters….big or small does not matter….plants are good for our homes.

I hope you enjoyed these images full of green inspiration. I am signing off wishing everyone a very happy, peaceful and wonderful 2016.

Gardening in small spaces……..starting small indoors!!!

Hello!! This is my first post in a series where I will be writing about gardening in small spaces starting with introducing plants indoors where there is absolutely no outdoor space (a reality for a lot of us who live in cities and high rise apartments). It is easy just a bit of your time and loads of enthusiasm is required…….:)

In an increasingly urban world where space is a constraint, one has to think of really unique ways to garden. Having plants in our environment is beneficial to us in many ways. Space need not be a constraint either if you want to enjoy a little green, a small windowsill with a little bit of sunshine, some time and enthusiasm is all that you need. I want to share a few innovative ways to garden in small spaces.

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Start with a single planter. A succulent is the easiest plant to look after and keep       indoors. They are fuss free and beautiful. They need minimum sunlight and watering. These lovely plants are always on trend in the interior world, so you will definitely not be compromising on style either.

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Recycle a few old bottles. Fill them with water and put a few branches of Hedera Helix or English Ivy. It will not only look nice, they will actually grow, all you need to do is occasionally refill the bottles with water…….:)

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A few good plants apart from Hedera Helix which thrive well in water may include a few of the following:

• Philodendron
• Pothos
• Arrowhead
• Wandering Jew Plants

The best part about most of these plants are that you only need enough space to put a bottle, just as simple as using a flower vase.

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Utilise a sunny window sill and keep a few plants there. To make the arrangement eye-catching you could collect some quirky , handmade or vintage planters.

Start a small garden in a sunny window sill. http://www.popsugar.com

Apart from the fact that you are utilising your window sill to start your first garden project, it also liven up a dead and dull space.

Would you start a garden in an unused window sill?

An interesting assortment of succulents as seen in sfgirlbybay.com

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The easiest way to test your abilities with plants is to grow your own herbs. There are a lot of High Street shops where you can buy self-starter packs. This is simply the best way to introduce greens into your space. Take a look at a few inspiring images…..:)

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Orla Kiely planters? Oh yes!!! http://www.cuckooland.com

Use your empty tea tins to start a herb garden. melissacamarawilkins.com

Another way to bring in a bit of green into your space is by starting small. A lot of garden centres offer succulents or easy to look after plants in small, tiny pots. The advantage of these are that it will hardly occupy any space, are totally cost-effective and easy to look after for first time gardeners. I have put my small planters in a photo frame……:) Take a look.

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My collection of tiny succulents……

These planters are tiny enough not to hassle you and good enough for you to test your green fingers….:)

A beauty….

How will you start your own garden indoors?

Lovin’ the common garden ivy…..Hedera helix!!

The common ivy, Hedera helix is an all-rounder in the plant world. It provides excellent ground cover, thrives very well in shade, it cleans your air and can withstand really harsh climatic conditions. It is also widely used for decorative purposes and as fillers in floral arrangements. Some images to inspire you to get one of these easy to look after plants into your own homes.

The common ivy is so easy to grow, their leaves are glossy and pretty and it will definitely liven up any corner of your home. The ivy in an antique bottle.

It is a hardy plant and does not need much looking after.

It looks great in combination with other plants.

The common ivy is a popular choice as a houseplant, it can be trained in a topiary form. http://www.sandandsisal.com

It’s one of the low maintenance houseplants and also looks so good. http://www.domino.com

It’s a beauty……the Hedera helix !! http://www.thedesignfiles.net

The common ivy is a great indoor plant which also cleans the air. It looks fantastic in the String Shelf. http://www.thedesignchaser.com

See how well the ivy sits in this open shelving unit…..it breathes life into it!! dustjacket-attic.com

Introducing plants into your life might be the best thing that you decide to do in 2015. Learn how to make your own hanging potless plant via Design Sponge. http://www.designsponge.com/2013/03/hanging-pot-less-plant-with-a-pop-of-color.html

Instead of a vase of flowers, try using a pot of ivy as a centre piece. it works very well.