COLUMNIST: jordan TRAINER
Known also as the Cocoon Plant, Senecio haworthii ‘Mont Blanc’ is a stunning succulent plant with very unique white foliage and stems. It looks like it has been coated in snow and feels like velvet to the touch.
Despite its frosty appearance, it actually originates from desert area of South Africa where it receives plenty of direct sunlight and minimal water. This makes it the perfect plant for a sunny window ledge, only in need of water every couple of weeks when the soil is dry.
It will not grow too large and will be happy in a small pot for several years. The perfect easy care, festive plant to add to your indoor collection and one you might not have seen before.
This elegant and architectural tree originates from the Norfolk Islands of Australia and makes a great indoor plant. Although it can reach heights of 12m (39’) or more in the wild, it should stay relatively small and compact indoors, reaching no more than around 2m (6’6”).
It grows like a conifer and has hundreds of individual needle-like leaves that are very soft when kept indoors. It is best situated near a south, east, or west facing position where it will receive plenty of direct or indirect light.
This plant does like to dry out in between waterings which is typically every two or three weeks. Overwatering can cause the leaves to turn yellow and fall off so try and avoid this.
Commonly called the Norfolk Island Pine, it looks like a Christmas tree and makes a perfect festive plant to add your collection. You could even decorate it with some fairy lights or paper decorations to make it really stand out at this time of year.
Tillandsia usneoides or Spanish moss, as it is mostly commonly referred to, is a type of air plant that grows naturally on other host plants, like a parasite where it can grow safely, absorb nutrients, and thrive on another larger plant. It is usually found growing on trees in southern United States and Central America.
It has long cascading stems of silvery green foliage and is reminiscent of icicles hanging down on a cold winter’s day. Favouring bright, indirect light, it will benefit from regular misting. A kitchen or bathroom would be the perfect place to grow this plant and you can water it by placing the plant in a bowl of water for a half an hour which allows the plant to soak up moisture and then it can be hung back up to dry out.
Spanish moss is very slow growing and does not require soil which makes it low maintenance and easy to care for.
This low-maintenance succulent plant, named after the highest mountain in the world, has a striking frosty blue appearance with long fleshy leaves.
It gets its blue colour from a powdery coating on the foliage called epicuticular wax or farina, which is a covering of wax that gives the plant a silvery blue colour and is found on many types of succulent plants. This is a protective film that prevents sun from scorching the leaves and also helps to deter pests and disease.
Unlike the name suggests, this plant will only reach a maximum height of around 80cm (2’7”) indoors and is relatively slow growing compared to other plants. It originates from South Africa and is even found in some parts of Spain.
Provide it with a south facing window or any bright location and this plant will be happy. It is also drought tolerant, so only water the soil every couple of weeks or when soil appears dry.
A plant with a winter aesthetic which would make the perfect festive plant to add to your collection.
A beautiful, easy-care houseplant with variegated leaves of green and white. If you want something truly unique and eye catching then the Aglaonema, also known as Chinese Evergreen, is for you.
It does best in bright filtered light but can tolerate partial shade, direct sun is best avoided so do not keep this one too close to a window. Water when the first inch layer (3cm) of soil starts to dry out which is usually every 10-14 days. Extra humidity will go down well but it will be happy in normal room temperatures.
In order to thrive, Chinese evergreens like a specific soil tailored towards tropical houseplants. You can make your own using equal parts of houseplant soil or coco coir, orchid bark, and perlite for aeration and drainage.
The foliage is akin to garden snowfall with the bright white and patches of green showing. A stunning plant and one you should add to your greenery at home this festive season.
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 and website www.theplantguy.co.uk, and checkout his live plant sales on TikTok.