To those of us who live in the city a garden is a luxury. The problem is, in every one of us there seems to be a compulsion to reconnect with nature. And although it is a luxury to have a garden the need to link with nature is not, it is more a necessity. Nature has a way of relaxing us and inspiring harmony in our lives, both these feelings are essential in a home. Our home should be our haven, a retreat from the harsh wheeling and dealing we face daily in our offices. Our home-décor could very well benefit from bringing a bit of nature inside.
Incorporating plants into our home decoration is not difficult; there are just a couple of guides we need to remember before we get started. First take a good look at the space you have, and think about the conditions in which the plants will need to thrive in. Ask yourself if 1. There is a small balcony or ledge where you can bring the plants so they can receive sunlight once every two weeks? Even if the plants are categorized as indoor plants we still need to expose them to the sun every now and then. 2. When inside your home will the plant receive sunlight, if so how much? 3. How much space can you afford to use for the plant or plants? This will tell us the size of the plant or plants we can get and is very important when planning our home decoration in relation to proportion.
When you go to the garden center ask or mention the following to the salesman 1. How big the plant will be once mature. Sometimes we buy a small plant thinking it will stay relatively the same size. Please inform the staff of the space you can afford the plant to occupy. The salesman can then advise you better. 2. Tell the salesman the conditions in which the plant will be living in, where you plan to situate it, the sunlight it gets or the alternative form of light it will be exposed to if no sunlight on a daily basis is available. The salesman may suggest partial-shade plants which are the plants that only need moderate exposure to the sun and will be able to survive when place in the interior of your apartment. Be sure to ask the staff of the garden center if the plant still needs to be acclimatized and how to achieve that for the plant you will be buying. Plants do not like drastic changes so acclimatization might be needed. I may take a bit more effort by doing this but it will be worth it to see nature as part of your home decoration.