COLUMNIST: jordan TRAINER
Houseplants really add to the ambiance of a room and with so many different colours, shapes, and textures to choose from they make a great addition in any kitchen area.
Aloe Vera is an attractive houseplant with spiky, fleshy leaves. It is a type of succulent that originates from very hot, arid regions of the world and has many different uses. Very little watering is required as most of its moisture is stored within the leaves to survive long periods of drought. For this reason, it is a great beginner plant and will thrive on, or near, a window in a sunny kitchen area.
The gel within the leaves can be used to soothe burns, scalds, sunburn, skin irritations, and insect bites. Simply cut away a leaf at the base, cut down its length, and rub the sap directly onto the skin.
Aloe Vera looks great on its own, but why not plant some other smaller succulents around it and create an eye-catching display? Succulent arrangements are very popular and easy to create at home. Find a nice bowl or pot and plant them all together. A cactus or desert specific soil is best but you can make your own using half houseplant and half perlite to create the ideal soil mix for these plants.
This eye-catching plant is native to southeast Brazil where it grows in tropical rainforests. Begonias are known to be hard plants to keep but the trick is to try and mimic their natural habitat in your home. A warm, humid area that receives plenty of bright, indirect light is the best place to grow this plant, making the kitchen an ideal spot.
This one has stunning angel wing-shaped leaves with white dots and red undersides and is a cane begonia which means it grows vertically on upright stems. Some support is advised and a regular feed throughout the season will benefit this plant. It will hopefully reward you with stunning clusters of pale pink and white blooms in mid-summer.
Fun fact: Begonias are closely related to cucumbers and pumpkins!
This is a low maintenance plant and makes an ideal choice for a shelf or cabinet in your kitchen. Drought tolerant, it can survive weeks without water and fluctuations in temperature. It is also available in a range of different varieties, all of which are easy to care for! Some of my favourite varieties are ‘Marble Queen’, ‘Cebu Blue’, and ‘Marble Planet’.
They all like bright, indirect light but can tolerate some direct sun or partial shade. Why not get several different varieties and plant them into the one container for an eye-catching arrangement with different colours and leaf textures.
Pothos are named as one of the best household plants for purifying the air and removing toxins according to a study conducted by NASA. So not only do they make great trailing plants for your kitchen but they are also very beneficial for our health and wellbeing.
Lavender is native to Europe and the Mediterranean, but it can be grown in a variety of different climates including in our homes. It is not a traditional houseplant, but it can be kept indoors. With enough love and attention, you can have a thriving, delicious-smelling lavender plant growing in your home before you know it.
The biggest problem when growing lavender indoors is light. It needs a really bright and warm spot to thrive. A south-facing kitchen window is best.
Keep lavender in a well-draining, rocky soil mix and grow in a terracotta pot to help to replicate its natural Mediterranean environment as terracotta is porous and well aerated. Rotate the plant every few days to encourage even growth and try not to over-water.
Some varieties of lavender, like ‘Lady’ and ‘Munstead’, are more suited for culinary use and therefore more appropriate to grow indoors.
A stunning plant that is native to the tropical rainforests of Brazil, it has deep burgundy, triangular leaves that resemble a shamrock. In late spring/early summer it produces clusters of pale pink blooms that really add to its charm and popularity.
Oxalis prefers bright, medium light or filtered sun, but can also tolerate partial shade. I have it growing on my kitchen windowsill and it is thriving. I rotate it regularly to help it grow more evenly and deadhead any faded flowers to encourage more blooms later in the season.
I find the best time to water this plant is when the soil starts to dry out at the top. This is usually every 7-10 days during the growing season. Too much water can cause the plant to die back and too little can result in the plant going limp so make sure to check it at least once per week.
If you already have this plant, why not go for the green leaf variety of Oxalis that produces clusters of white flowers?
With a kitchen full of botanical beauty, washing up duty will have never been so popular!
Jordan Trainer is Glasgow-based, plant enthusiast, and business owner of Plantique. With a passion for houseplants, he has been growing and collecting them for almost 10 years.
In his column for Scotland Grows, Jordan recommends his favourite houseplants for beginners.
Keep up with Jordan on his Instagram and Facebook feeds, or pop into his shop at 286 Dumbarton Road, Partick, G11 6TD.