The most elegant indoor plants to furnish your home with style

It happens to most people who live in the city to want a touch of green in their home but not to have a garden or a balcony large enough to indulge themselves in gardening and in the choice of plants and flowers. For this reason, more and more people are using indoor plants as an element of home decor, creating a real "refuge" from the outside world that also facilitates the release of stress and tension accumulated during the day.

For this reason we have selected the most elegant species of apartment plants, perfect for citizens - and not only - who are looking for a little bit of nature in their everyday life.

Flowering, green or succulent: the varieties of plants ideal for creating your indoor garden - and winter - are many. Each species has its own particularities and to choose the right one you have to rely on both your taste and your needs, considering the available spaces in the house. Finally, do not forget that plants tend to grow and thrive better when they are together with their peers, so why not make an area entirely green in the apartment? The choice is yours!

See also

Succulents for houseplants: the 10 best to choose

Indoor plants: are you ready to create your urban jungle?

Hardy houseplants: evergreen guide to denial

1. Orchid

For years, the queen of elegant indoor plants has certainly been her, the orchid. Available in many species, orchids conquer for several factors, among which their refined appearance, the multiplicity of colors and also the advantageous price at which they can be found stand out.

It is a fairly simple plant to take care of: the important thing is to be able to identify the right place to arrange it at home. In fact, if before the orchid was considered as a cultivation reserved for elites who own a greenhouse or a particularly humid place due to its origins. tropical, today it is available in varieties suitable for colder environments that are perfect for the climates of Europe. Usually it is advisable to place the vase next to a window but which provides not direct light, but rather shielded, perhaps by a curtain of shades To partially recreate the humidity it needs, we recommend using a water sprayer on the leaves and stem.

© iStock

As already mentioned, many orchid species can be found. Among those most loved by Italians are those that have three petals in the upper part of the flower and the labellum in the center of it. This conformation makes it easily recognizable and from that "elegant aspect to the plant that" has made it famous all over the world. The most characteristic colors are white, shades of purple - from the darkest to a more subdued lilac -, and yellow. These different shades ensure that the orchids adapt perfectly to any type of furniture in the apartment and become an integral part of it.

2. Calathea

Among the most elegant apartment plants there are not only the flowering ones, but also the green ones. One of these is undoubtedly the Calathea, native to tropical America. Calathea is very popular for its large, very decorative leaves. It can have different shades of green and fascinating streaks ranging from white to pink to purplish. Its leaves are very soft to the touch.

Given its origin from warm and humid countries, it is recommended to place the pot on well-wet expanded clay pebbles so that the roots can benefit from a moist soil. In addition to this, one must always pay attention to watering and exposure to light. The Calathea, in fact, prefers a diffused and not direct lighting.

© iStock

Taking the necessary precautions in terms of lighting and humidity of the environment, the Calathea proves to be an excellent piece of interior furniture. Its conformation and its colors mean that you can indulge yourself in the choice of a design vase so that the plant integrates with the atmosphere of an elegant and charming apartment.

3. Begonia maculata

Native to Brazil, Begonia maculata is a plant for those who want to leave the seminary. As a rule, everyone knows the classic Begonia, with its highly recognizable flowers ranging from white to pink. That of the spotted variety, however, sees its particularity precisely on the leaves. As the name implies, they have characteristic dots that can be either white or red.

It is quite simple to take care of. However, it is good to keep in mind that the Begonia maculata suffers in too dry environments and if an excessive amount of water is provided.The right compromise is to place it in a fairly humid position where the light is not directed, but shielded, such as, for example, near a window equipped with a curtain.

© iStock

Precisely because of its preference for humidity, this type of Begonia is suitable for decorating not only classic home interiors such as the living room, but also the bathroom. Once it has found the right environment, it will bloom during the months from May. in October. During the rest of the year it will remain a nice houseplant with its characteristic leaves.

4. Ficus

A "timeless green apartment plant" is the Ficus. With its 800 species, the elegant Ficus comes from tropical areas and has for years become one of the favorite crops to keep at home. When choosing a variety of this plant, it is good to think about its size depending on the area in which it is grown. you want to position or to the space of the apartment in general.

Ficus is very simple to manage. Just remember that being a native of tropical countries it does not tolerate too low temperatures, usually below 15 degrees. In addition to this, it will be sufficient to place the pot in a humid area or to vaporize the leaves with water quite often. Finally, in the presence of pets or children, care must be taken that the leaves are not eaten. In fact, they contain a toxic sap if ingested and can cause eye irritation if you do not wash your hands after touching them.

© iStock

Among the favorite species of Ficus, there is that of Ficus Benjamina, with its characteristic green, oval and glossy leaves, and the Ficus Lyrata. The latter is a real apartment tree of considerable height and, unlike the first, it has larger leaves that make it immediately recognized as a tropical plant. It is one of the favorite green furniture elements in recent times, especially by those who love a "slightly" atmosphere. jungle in your home in the city.

5. Strelitzia

Those who want not only an elegant atmosphere, but also a pinch of color and originality in their apartment cannot help but love Strelitzia. Coming from South Africa, this is one of the plants that is best suited to living in a different condition from that of "origin. It particularly fascinates for its characteristic flowers in the shape of a "bird of Paradise" or heron, orange with purple and / or blue details.

Strelitzia is not difficult to care for and this makes it perfect even for less experienced gardeners. It requires an "abundant quantity of" water and, therefore, it should be watered regularly, checking that the soil is never dry and always wet. The constant watering, however, must be decreased in the summer months, when the plant enters the so-called rest period. For this botanical species, light is fundamental: it can be positioned in a point with direct sunlight, except during the hottest days and hours. Finally, beware of drafts.

© iStock

Thanks to its flowers, Strelizia brings a touch of color to any room of the apartment. Furthermore, its large striped oval leaves seem to catapult into a tropical country.

6. Monstera Deliciosa

Until a few years ago, Monstera Deliciosa was not considered a house plant due to its size. For some time, however, it has been one of the most famous elegant plants because it has entered the favor of established interior designers. Also known as the Bread Plant, Monstera Deliciosa is native to Mexico. It owes its name to its typical size, which made it "monstrous" in the eyes of those who saw it for the first time.

It does not need particular attention, if not the precautions concerning its position in the house and the quantity of water. In the first case, it is a question of choosing both the right variety - there are different types of Monstera based on height and sophisticated dimensions - both to place the vase in a corner of the house with a lot of light but never hit by direct sunlight. As far as watering is concerned, these plants need an abundant dose of water, because the soil must never be dry.

© Getty Images

Thanks to its large leaves and its shades of green, the Monstera Deliciosa is perfect for creating a lush corner in your home and for those who want to surround themselves with a jungle atmosphere. Lovers of design furniture recommend keeping it in a vase of light ceramic, possibly white, so as to produce a nice contrast with the dark green of the leaves.

7. Christmas cactus

Finally, a specimen belonging to succulents could not be missing. As always happens, this variety of plants has divided between admirers and opponents. However, what we are about to recommend is one of the succulents that manages to make everyone agree a bit. In fact the Schlumbergera, also called Christmas Cactus, it is characterized by smooth, thornless and flat leaves. Its flowers sprout directly from the stems and can be white, pink or red.

Originally from Brazil, the Christmas Cactus cannot withstand the cold and needs places that are around 15-20 degrees. Despite this, never put it in direct contact with heat sources and direct sunlight. It should be watered regularly and the soil must dry out before the next watering. Otherwise, stagnant water causes the roots to rot.

© iStock

There Schlumbergera it is a perfect plant for those who want a small, flowery tropical botanical element. Since it needs non-direct light to flourish, it is particularly suitable for furnishing corners of shaded living rooms or shelves set up along the corridors of the house. Finally, one last advantage: the Christmas Cactus is an air depolluter!

Tags:  Actuality Old-Home Horoscope