Gardening, Home & Lifestyle
Great Plants for a Teenager’s Bedroom
Whether or not your teenager is studying biology, they will learn a lot about plant life if they have a living, growing plant in their bedroom or study area. Writing papers or conducting other research work in biology will become even more fascinating. Aside from the educational value, certain indoor plants can detoxify the air and aid sleep (though that may not be a problem for many teenagers!).
If you’re thinking, “There’s no way my teen will look after anything!” don’t worry because there are many plants that thrive with neglect. Most tropical plants prefer indirect light so keep them away from west or south-facing windowsills and they will be OK. Here are a few ideas:
Cacti
Cacti are just cute, and though the temptation to touch them is strong, your teen will only do it once! These quirky little plants are small enough to sit on a desk and there is no fear of them being knocked over and making a mess. They also thrive on neglect. Just one thing – between October and March they need cold conditions in which to regenerate (think of the desert conditions in which they live in the wild), so if your teen’s bedroom is heated all through the winter, the cacti may have to temporarily move to a cooler part of the house.
Sansevieria
Could this be the perfect plant for your teenager? They have a fun nickname (snake plant) and look wild, with their huge ‘tongues’ snaking upwards, and they are one of the easiest plants in the world to look after. Water them rarely, letting them dry out completely between each watering. They prefer bright, indirect light but they can tolerate low light too.
Terrarium
With glass bottles and jars available in every size and shape imaginable there is a terrarium for everybody. Those who like to put their own stamp on things can even create their own terrarium by buying a kit or all the bits and pieces separately. They are beautiful to look at and a great talking point for when friends visit. Easy to care for, the amount of condensation on the inside of the glass lets you know when they need watering. No condensation means they are thirsty, while a lot of condensation means they need a bit of air and you should leave the lid or plug off for a couple of hours.
Spathiphyllum
NASA studied a range of indoor plants to see which, if any, would clean the air in space stations. Spathiphyllum, or ‘peace lily’, was one of the best for removing toxins from the air – a good trick in any room but especially in your teenager’s bedroom. This beautiful foliage plant with stunning white spathes ‘tells’ you when it needs watering – it droops. (www.disabilityhelpcenter.org) Water it, and it perks up again. The peace lily likes indirect light.
Peperomia ‘Rande Verde’
There are many varieties of peperomia, but the pretty Peperomia ‘Rande Verde’ is one of the easiest to care for. It is the perfect houseplant for beginners, with its rounded leaves and lovely fresh colour – making it ideal for a bookshelf or study desk.
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