COLUMNIST: jordan TRAINER
A dramatic departure from the familiar white-flowered Anthurium, ‘Black Love’ has a gothic vibe, with its deep brown to black, glossy flowers and heart-shaped foliage. This is a very trendy plant that will look great in a modern or traditional interior. Anthurium is also one of the best air-purifying plants for your home, making it a great choice for a bedroom, living room, or work studio.
In terms of care, it is best to let the soil slightly dry out in between waterings which is usually every 7-10 days. It does best in bright, indirect light. A brighter spot will help to promote better flowering but make sure to avoid direct sun which can scorch the leaves.
Did you know anthuriums can be grown in a vase with water without any soil? A stunning plant with a gothic aesthetic.
Looking for a spectacular houseplant that really catches the eye? It is hard to go wrong with this one. It belongs to the sunflower family, Asteraceae, and originates from the Indonesian islands of Java and Sulawesi.
It has a striking purple appearance with velvet feeling leaves and prefers bright, indirect light. It will tolerate lower light levels but expect colour loss and a slower growth rate. Keep soil moist during the growing season but let the top third dry out a little between waterings so as to avoid any root rot. This plant is also non-toxic making it a great choice if you have pets.
As it matures the Gynura will start to sprawl and trail making it a great plant for a shelf or plant hanger. It has a spooky appearance, but its look is deceiving and it is actually a very easy plant to grow.
This new cultivar of Begonia has incredibly eye catching, almost black leaves, contrasting with silvery maculata-like dots. It grows in the tropical rainforests of Brazil and makes an excellent houseplant.
It does best sitting on a north or east facing window but will tolerate any bright spot away from direct sun. Water this plant every 10-14 days or when soil starts to dry out. The leaves will start to droop or wilt which is a good indicator as to when to water. It does benefit from increased humidity but will happily tolerate normal room temperatures.
As it matures this plant will require some support as the angel-wing shaped leaves grow, a bamboo stick or cane will be ideal. A truly stunning plant that will definitely add to your black interiors.
Zamioculcas zamiifolia ‘Raven’ is a stunning, low-maintenance houseplant that adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to any space. It produces long stems of lime green foliage which over time mature into dark black, glossy leaves that really add architectural beauty and a gothic feeling to any home.
The ZZ plant is known for its toughness. It is one of the best plants for a shaded area and will happily tolerate a dark spot where other plants fail to survive. It is also very drought tolerant as its large roots can hold water for many months at a time. To keep it healthy, I would recommend watering every 2-3 weeks or when the soil appears dry and even less in the winter months.
If you are looking for an easy-care plant that has the potential to grow into a larger floor plant, definitely go for the ZZ.
Resembling little hedgehogs, this clump-forming succulent develops packed rosettes of fleshy pointed deep green foliage, turning black as it matures. It is commonly known as the Chinese jade and originates from southwestern China.
Performing best in a bright spot it can tolerate direct sun, making it a great plant for a window ledge, conservatory, or any bright location indoors. It is very drought tolerate which means it only needs watering when the soil dries out. This is typically every 2-3 weeks during the growing season. It is also recommended that you water it from the base to prevent water getting trapped in leaves and causing issues.
The Chinese Jade is slow growing and compact making it a great option if you have limited space and want something small and easy to care for. If you are lucky this plant will produce clusters of pink, star-shaped flowers in October.
Wishing you a horticultural Halloween!
Jordan Trainer is a Glasgow-based, indoor gardener specialising in specimen houseplants, commercial maintenance, installation, and mobile re-potting services. You can also find a great selection of houseplants at his Glasgow west end store Plantique which is open Friday-Sunday 11am-6pm. Keep up with Jordan on his Instagram page @jordantheplantguy, website www.theplantguy.co.uk, and checkout his live plant sales on TikTok.
