A lack of greenery outside in the garden always makes us appreciate greenery inside the house. Particularly at this time of the year when there are still few signs of all the verdant spring growth to come!
The modern conservatory has become a haven for plant lovers, filled with lush leaves and botanical beauty for year-round enjoyment.
There are recognised benefits too, the calming effects and positive impact on our well-being when surrounding ourselves with greenery. Both mood enhancing and stress relieving.
It would be logical to assume that any houseplant can be grown successfully in a conservatory. However, care must be taken when choosing plants to ensure they are given the correct growing conditions to thrive.
Happily, many plants grow well in conservatories, especially those considered too tender to cope with our winters.
The first things to decide when choosing plants are your chosen planting style, and whether your conservatory is heated. The style of plants chosen will determine whether or not heating is needed.
Heated conservatory
Mid-century modern
For a mid-century modern look with a heated conservatory, here are some examples of plants you can grow for a stylish look:
Ficus lyrata (Fiddle-leaf fig)
This stylish, structural plant looks perfect placed on its own by a sunny window where it can maximise light. It should grow well for you if kept away from draughts and watered regularly. But only water when the top couple of centimetres of compost is dry as over- or under-watering will cause leaf shedding.
They also like a semi-humid environment so it might be worthwhile putting a small humidifier next to it. Or placing the container in a tray of wet pebbles.
Dracaena zeylanica (Snake plant)
The leaves on this iconic, easy-to-grow plant are stiff, upright and sword-shaped. Although it appreciates a sunny location it prefers indirect light so place it further away from the window. And give it hardly any water during the winter months and water only sparingly the rest of the year. Wait until the compost has significantly dried out. The perfect beginner’s plant!
Maranta leuconeura (Prayer plant)
This is another plant that loves warm conditions and bright, indirect light. Relatively low growing and clump-forming at 45cm x 45cm, it’s known for its beautiful, coloured leaves with striking patterns. Be careful as too much sun will bleach out the colour of the leaves.
It does, however, like the compost to be consistently moist and to be fed monthly during the growing season. Reduce watering during the winter months and, like the fiddle-leaf fig, give it a humid atmosphere.
Tropical
A heated conservatory also allows you to create a striking tropical jungle look. Find out some great conservatory plants to achieve this look:
Strelitzia reginae (Bird of paradise)
Although many tropical plants are predominantly green-leafed, there are some that wow with their intense colours. And this is one of them! A statuesque plant with blue-grey, elongated leaves on elegant stems. Its crowning glory is its neon orange and electric blue coloured flowers. However, those flowers come at a price as it is quite high-maintenance.
You’ll need to give it a warm environment, lots of sun, bright light and regular misting. Plus, watering during the spring and summer months. It also needs well-drained compost kept consistently moist. But you may feel this is all worth it for the pleasure of its spectacular flowers!
Monstera deliciosa (Swiss cheese plant)
Another iconic plant, its large, shiny fenestrated leaves immediately turn it into an eye-catching, statement plant! Native to tropical rainforests, it loves bright, indirect light and regular watering.
Find out everything you need to know about Monstera with my master guide.
Epiprenum aureum (Devil’s Ivy)
This is another easy-to-care-for, fast-growing tropical vine that can be left to trail or trained up a wall. Its stems can reach lengths of 10 metres or more when mature and will happily grow in either full sun or part shade if given moist but well-drained compost.
Unheated conservatory
Mediterranean
Cacti and succulents, unlike many other plants, cope well with hot summer sun, and cold in the winter. This makes them ideal choices for an unheated conservatory. There are many different cultivars to choose from and visiting a specialist nursery will give you the best advice.
Yucca elephantipes (Spineless yucca)
This yucca is a low-maintenance plant that grows well in direct sunlight and doesn’t mind low winter temperatures. Making a comeback after its popularity in the 80s, its long, narrow, sword-like green leaves appear clustered together out the top of its bare trunk. It looks good placed with cacti and will also be happy in full sun.
Citrus
Lemon, lime, orange, and kumquat plants all love an unheated conservatory! Again, best to visit and buy from a specialist nursery. They can advise on the best choice for your specific conditions along with care advice.
Citrus have specific watering and feeding requirements and can suffer from quite a few pests such as scale and whitefly. Therefore, they are best placed outside during the summer months. Give them little to no water at all during the winter and allow the plant to completely dry out at other times of the year before watering. Then, when it is watered, thoroughly drench the soil so that the water freely runs out of the bottom.
Specialist fertilizer citrus mixes are available for feeding.
Lapageria rosea ‘Nash Court’ (Chilean bellflower)
An striking looking vine with relatively small leaves and stunning, drooping, deep rose-pink, bell-shaped flowers. This plant can withstand temperatures down to -5C. Therefore, it should grow well in an unheated conservatory if placed in a shady area and grown in ericaceous compost, watered with rainwater.
Scented plants
Pelargonium tomentosum (Scented leaf pelargonium)
Include a selection of scented leaf pelargoniums. Their leaves release stunning scent when rubbed and so are ideally placed near chairs and sofas. P. tomentosum is an unusual species in that it prefers to grow in part shade. And it produces large, soft, drooping leaves which give off a delightfully invigorating peppermint scent when rubbed. There are several other small leaf cultivars such as ‘Attar of Roses’ and ‘Prince of Orange’. They prefer full sun and are well worth including.
Hoya bella (Wax flower)
Ideal for growing in a hanging basket with bark added to the compost. And it is known for its highly scented white flowers with magenta-pink centres. Wax flowers grow well placed in indirect, bright light to obtain the best flower production. Spray with water regularly to increase humidity around the plant. Reduce watering during winter months whilst keeping the compost reliably moist.
Brugmansia (Angel’s trumpets)
There is nothing more attention-grabbing than the sight of an angel’s trumpet in full flower! Once established it becomes covered in huge, trumpet-shaped flowers that can reach up to 30cm in length. And cultivars are available with flowers in shades of yellow, white, pink, orange or red. The delicate scent is usually given off in the evening.
They will need daily watering and feeding during the summer months.
Hopefully, the above suggestions have inspired you to fill your conservatory with a wonderful selection of lush greenery and cheerful, scented flowers!
David Domoney is a Chartered Horticulturalist, Broadcaster, and Author. David has worked with a number of the UK’s leading garden retailers as a plant buyer and strategic consultant. With more than 30 years experience, in horticulture, David is as passionate about plants now as he was when he bought his first plant at a village fete.
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