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Some Expert Tips For Those That Just Aren't Green Thumbs

Plants are a great addition to any interior and we get asked all of the time for recommendations so we thought we would ask our friends at Oxley Nursery to help answer some of your questions straight from the experts to you.



Q. What are some of the best indoor plants? Our favourites are the Lady Palm or Rhapis excelsa, or for a native alternative The Kentia Palm, tough and hardy also safe for pets.

Others include Ficus varieties, the Fiddle Leaf fig is a show stopper with large dinner plate size leaves, Peace lilies are always a staple, for something different try the Sensation variety.

For small table top plants try things like Peperomia or calatheas. For hangers you can't go past Hoyas, there are hundreds to collect, all with their own unique flowers.


Q. For those that require more hardy plants (because they just can't keep them alive), what would you suggest?

Happy plants or dracaena are quite tough and can handle varying conditions. Sansevieria or Mother in Law tongue gets a bad name with older gardeners because of its tendency to spread throughout a garden, however when contained indoors its one of the toughest houseplants going around.


Q. Are there any tips or tricks to keeping our green friends happy?

Let your indoor plants dry out between watering. The biggest killer of an indoor plant is too much water, stop over loving your plants. Find your plants schedule and keep to it, that might mean some plants need a weekly water, others might go two weeks between drinks. Don't be afraid to take your plants outside(in the shade) or even in the shower and house the whole plant down.


Q. Is there a rule of thumb to use when selecting the right pot for your plant?

When repotting your plants you always go bigger, never down a size. But don't go too large, only ever go the next size up. If you plant into a pot that is too large you'll keep extra moisture around the plant in the extra growing medium and potentially rot your plant. For Indoors we recommend keeping your plant in the plastic nursery pot and slipping it into a decorative pot, that means no drainage so make sure the plant isn't sitting in too much water for too long.


Q. What plants would you recommend for the most effective air purification?

Studies have shown its often the quantity of plants within a room that help with air purification, so try and few together to increase air purification.

Nasa have conducted studies and have shown plants like Sansevieria (Mother in law tongue), Chlorophytum (Spider Plant) and the classic Pothos (Devils Ivy) are all great performers.


Trusty pothos used for a pop of colour in this minimalist vignette

Q. Are there any indoor plants we should steer clear of if you have allergies or pets (e.g. are there any indoor plants that are toxic to pets?).

My take is pets are smart, they might try one leaf but if it gives them a funny taste in the mouth then they're not going to continue to eat the plant. If you do have pets that like to chew your plants then stick to plants that are safe for pets like Palms, Spiderplants, Calathea and ferns.



Q. Are there any indoor plants that have a lovely aroma?

Peace Lillies, Orchids Hoyas are a lovely trailing or climbing plant that produces quite interesting flowers that all have an unique fragrance.

You could also try growing something like a Hydrangea outside, then moving it inside while its flowering to enjoy. We have some great varieties at the moment that can flower for up to 150days!



If you're based in Brisbane, then we highly recommend checking out the team at Oxley Nursery for an array of beautiful plants and expertise!


Oxley Nursery Open 7 Days 8am - 4pm 174 Dowding St Oxley 4075 Phone: 07 3375 5390 International: + 61 7 3375 5390 Web: www.oxleynursery.com.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/oxleynursery Instagram: www.instagram.com/oxley_nursery YouTube: www.youtube.com/oxleynursery

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