Style: May 07, 2021

36 Style | Gardening
Plants are brilliant in a bedroom. Apart from
the fact they produce oxygen during the day
so you go to bed in an oxygen-rich environment,
they add a calming atmosphere to the room.
And, of course, they do that sucking-the-nastychemicals-out-of-the-air
thing of which we are all
now aware.
GOOD BEDROOM COMPANIONS
Hydrangeas, azaleas and cyclamen
enjoy the cooler temperature of a
bedroom, and this cooler atmosphere
also helps to prolong their flowering
time. For a splash of exuberant colour,
try a begonia, hibiscus or cheerful
potted chrysanthemum. Potted-up
annuals can also be used as shortterm
flowering bedroom plants for a
few weeks, with the idea they will be
discarded when flowering has finished.
Consider using Primula obconica,
P. malacoides or Impatiens species.
If you have a particularly sunny
bedroom or windowsill, you could try
a lavender plant or two as it is known
to be a remedy for sleeplessness; it’s
also a handy moth repellent.
Because the bedroom is a lessused
space than the front room,
it would be wise to consider how
often you will notice your plants.
If you feel you may neglect them,
choose more forgiving plants such as
Aspidistra elatior, called the cast-iron
plant for obvious reasons. I have five
big pots of these that can be used
just about anywhere in the house,
including the guest bedroom. They
make a good ‘emergency’ filler plant.
Also forgiving is Epipremnum aureum
(golden pothos), which makes a good
plant to hang off a shelf or use in a
plant hanger. A basket or bowl with
a few ivy plants in it would be simple
to achieve. If you have a sunny
bedroom or windowsill, you could
consider using easy-care succulents.
I like the idea of using softer, more
rounded foliage in the bedroom
rather than sharp-edged spiky plants;
it just seems more conducive to
relaxation. Maybe that is a kickback to
the feng shui period I went through
years ago when, apparently, swordshaped-leaved
plants gave off the
wrong sort of energy.
Bedrooms are often shadier rooms,
so this will steer your choice of plants.
If you can commit to watering and
misting, then ferns would look lovely;
they would like the cooler bedroom
air more than the drier air in a hot
living room. If you were looking to
have just one or two plants, then a
sizeable palm such as a Kentia palm
(Howea forsteriana) would look
handsome, as would a small ‘tree’,
such as a weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)
or a Fatsia japonica (particularly the
good-looking variegated one). But
try out different plants, as long as
you think about their heat, light and
humidity requirements.
BE ATTENTIVE TO THEIR NEEDS
Keep a small watering can in the
bedroom/en suite for top-up
waterings – and perhaps a small pair
of secateurs or scissors for any repair
work. Every so often, plants could
be put in the bath or shower for a
good dousing. Repot or top-dress as
needed. Liquid feed regularly or use
a long-term fertiliser for container
plants. Turn the plants occasionally to
avoid lop-sided growth.
One of the advantages to having
plants in your bedroom is that you
can do what you want as it will mainly
be you who sees it. There will be no
judgement – it could even be in ‘bad
taste’ – it doesn’t matter, as long as
you enjoy it. Choose your boudoir
plants to suit yourself and your plantgrowing
capabilities.
ABOVE FROM LEFT: Indoor plants can offer attractive flower power as well as oxygenate the room;
Annuals, such as Primula obconica, can add a short-term bust of colour to your bedroom.