Sunroom planting basics

A garden can brighten your mood and be a perfect place in which to relax. Gardens need not be reserved strictly for the outdoors. Creating a sunroom garden can bring the beauty of the landscape inside of your home.
Sunrooms, solariums, all-season rooms, or Florida rooms as they are sometimes called are popular spaces in many homes. They enable the homeowner to bring a touch of the outdoors inside, even when Mother Nature does not cooperate. Sunrooms can serve as a transition between the yard and home or simply be a tranquil place at home in which to retreat.
Outfitting your sunroom with plant life is much like planning your garden or potted plants around the house. There are a few steps you should take.
1. Measure the area. You want to have a balance between plants and furniture without overwhelming the space. Don’t fill the entire room; otherwise, it can seem cluttered and confusing.
2. Determine sun concentration. Depending on where your sunroom is located, you will have to address sunlight. Sunrooms facing south or west will get a lot of strong light during the day. Rooms facing east will get subtle morning light, while those facing north won’t have nearly as much light. Once you determine how much light your room receives, you can choose plants that will thrive there.
3. Choose your colors. Sun rooms will be enhanced mostly by the colors of foliage and flowers. Thus, keep the walls and other decor neutral in nature so that you won’t have clashing patterns. Many people choose to use wicker furniture in sunrooms, but you can put a comfy armchair or a durable sofa in there as well. A tabletop water fountain can add the effect of a babbling brook. Throw pillows and blankets in your choice of color can make the room seem lived in, as opposed to being a glorified porch.
4. Choose containers. Remember, most of your plants will be potted plants, and thus you should allow for ample growth by choosing containers that are larger than your plant; ones the plant can grow into. Choose the same material in pots or go with a similar color palette. Container plants will need to be watered more frequently than plants growing right in the ground. Specimens that are in a sunroom that receives a lot of sunlight that is quite warm may need even more water. Use the finger test in soil to determine what plants need to be watered.
5. Use window treatments. A sunroom doesn’t have to be exposed all of the time. Sheer window treatments or shades or blinds that can be pulled closed allow you to create privacy when you desire it. Feel free to sit in your sunroom even when the sun sets. A vented gas stove can be lit on chilly nights, if you prefer to use the sunroom year-round.
6. Purchase no-fuss plants. Many varieties of plants are perfect for individuals who simply do not have the greenest of thumbs. If you need some inspiration and help getting your indoor garden to grow, consider these plants.
• Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
• Christmas Cactus (Zygocactus)
• Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderian)
• Snake Plant (Sansevieria)
• Pothos (Epipremnum)
• Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

CAPTION: Choosing the correct potted plants is an important part of creating a sunroom that’s sure to help homeowners relax and relieve stress.

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