It's all well and good knowing a thing or two about how to look after and propagate houseplants. But if you really want your indoor plants to bring the wow factor, there are a few styling tricks you need to learn. Once mastered, friends and neighbors will be convinced you've hired a professional to achieve such a manicured, high-end look.
I've spoken to interior designers to find out how they work with houseplants to get that polished, curated feel without spending a fortune. Their advice is incredibly easy to follow in any home, with any indoor plants – and some of it might surprise you.
First up, pots. Yes, that is where to begin. Start with the pots and the rest will follow. Search out the most desirable houseplant containers at xxxx, then we'll move on to all the tricks of the trade, including all you need to style your houseplants with finesse.
The pots
Plastic is a big no-no is you want a high-end look for your houseplants. Anything in plastic will immediately cheapen your display.
Crocuses usually start flowering from February into March. You commonly see crocuses blooming in different shades of yellow, white, and purple. However, Crocus ‘Orange Monarch’ is a rare type with deep orange flowers. Such rarity will make it popular, so act quickly if you want to order bulbs for your garden.
Crocus ‘Orange Monarch’ reaches just 4-6 inches but is guaranteed to make a lasting impression with its orange petals complete with purple-to-brown streaks. It can stand out at the front of a flower bed, as a feature in a container garden, or work as a bulb for naturalizing in a lawn.
The window for planting crocuses runs from September to November. Plant the bulbs around two to three times their depth in a sunny, well-draining planting site. In general, crocus bulbs are usually planted 4-6 inches deep.
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You can buy Orange Monarch Crocus Bulbs at Burpee
You can buy Orange Monarch Crocus Bulbs at Dutch Grown
Chionodoxa, known as Glory of the Snow, flowers in late winter to early spring, potentially as early as late February. Each miniature bulb produces between five and ten star-shaped flowers with lilac-to-violet-blue petals and a white eye, sitting atop deep green, strap-shaped foliage.
Chionodoxa is a low-maintenance, good bulb for shade. The bulbs do like sun but can tolerate shadier spots and being planted underneath deciduous trees and shrubs. The bulbs naturalize and occasionally self-seed, potentially forming stunning carpets of early color over the years.
You don’t want to plant chionodoxa until the soil temperature drops below 60ºF. For the best effect, plant them in large numbers, each around three inches apart, and let the foliage naturally die back at the end of the season.
is the most common variety, but is a beautiful alternative with shorter stems and slightly bigger flowers. You can get bulbs at Dutch Grown.
When I worked at Hidcote Manor Garden in the Cotswolds, Iris ‘Katharine Hodgkins’ was a star of the show in the winter border early in the year.
This outstanding dwarf iris variety stood out with its intricately detailed blooms. The upright central petals are pale blue with deeper blue veins, and the lower falls have yellow blotches and blue-purple spots. It is a deeply pretty iris that demands attention.
The stunning irises bloom from January to March each year, and gardeners can enjoy them in many different ways, from cottage garden beds to rock gardens to containers. Plant iris bulbs in September or October and they’ll reliably return year after year to brighten up early spring.
You can get Iris ‘Katharine Hodgkins’ bulbs at Dutch Grown
Many gardeners love growing snowdrops. Indeed, there are some true ‘galanthophiles’ who collect different types and are known to spend thousands on rare varieties. We’re not suggesting you invest large sums of money in unique snowdrops, but you can get something a bit different to the norm without breaking the bank.
Galanthus 'Flore Pleno' is a beautiful double snowdrop, with the inner petals having a delicate green tint. It has a longer flowering season than standard snowdrops, which can begin as early as late January.
However, due to the intricate flowers and long season, ‘Flore Peno’ may be in high demand, so order early.
Plant your snowdrop bulbs in fall in groups of at least 10. They should ideally be planted around four inches deep and at least four inches apart in flower beds or containers.
Get Galanthus 'Flore Pleno' bulbs at Burpee
Get Galanthus 'Flore Pleno' bulbs at Dutch Grown
A stainless steel bulb planter with 1 to 6-inch depth marks on the outside to ensure you plant your bulbs at the correct depth.
A bulb planter that removes the need to bend while planting. It has a raised pedal to easily release the soil plug to cover the bulb.
A durable planting tool with a stainless steel head and T-shaped wooden handle. It is perfect for planting bulbs or transplanting seedlings.
You may need to wait to plant spring bulbs, but if you aspire to add to your garden this month, then you can scratch that itch. Our guide to what to plant in August highlights late-flowering perennials and grasses you can add in late summer to give structure and interest come fall.
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