Regardless of whether the house was styled by an interior decorator that thought of the yin and yang of the living area, or perhaps Feng Shui was the inspiration, or the home owner never quite mastered nor cared about home décor, here are some houseplants perfect to turn that house into a home.
For most people, talking about azaleas and primulas is like speaking in Latin and almost everyone cannot understand a word, unless if for some awkward reason they’re all starring in a tasteless remake of the Exorcist. This is why an illustrative guide by Mineke Kurperhoek called Flowering House Plants (1997), would be particularly useful.
The guide contains a range of selected flowering plants for everyone, with sound advice on how to care for them.
A Window Facing North
A north-facing windowsill receives plenty of light, but not direct sun, and there is a large variety of plants that will thrive under these conditions, says Kurpershoek, such as the Fuchsia.
This is a pretty plant that blooms in the summer with distinctive pendent flowers, these plants can survive for many years if they’re well looked after – “Fuchsias like a bright, shady position… keep the compost moist… and feed them once every two weeks,” states Kurpershoek.
East or West Facing Windowsill
This type of windows only receives limited sun; even so, when the sun rises the temperature is still cooler than when it’s the end of the day, when the sun is in the west. The best type of plant under these conditions would be one that prefers a lot of light but less sun, states Kurpershoek.
The Browalia speciosa originating from South America is a stunning shrub-like plant with “white-throated blue flowers,” which will bloom for extended periods. Remember to pick off flowers that fade, and water it to keep the compost moist. However, it becomes a bit like a white elephant after it is done flowering, consider disposing of it.
Another option is the Brunfelsia from Central and South America. This plant tolerates plenty of light, which means it can be placed outside in the summer, but not where it will be exposed to direct sun, says Kurpershoek, it has violet-blue flowers that should look magnificent in any area.
South Facing Windowsill
There are fewer plants that can take exposure to full sun, which makes this the most challenging window position.
A good option would be the Catharanthus from Madagascar, a plant with striking veins and single flowers in white or various shades of pink. They like a sunny area but it should not be too hot, states Kurpershoek, it is important to keep the compost moist and to feed at least once a week.
There are numerous plants out there, but before buying one because it looks pretty at the onset, do a bit of homework to see what plants are best suited to what space in the house.
Further Reading
Also see the article about other flowering houseplants featured in Mineke Kurpershoek's book, only on Suite101.
Further Details
Kurpershoek, Mineke. Photographer: Nico Vermeulen. Flowering House Plants. Rebo Productions, 1997. ISBN: 1901094642 9781901094640
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