Is it possible to create a Zen indoor garden if you lack a green thumb? The answer is a resounding yes. As you may have read in our previous posts, I'm a huge fan of biophilic design and the many wellness benefits to be gained by adding plants to your space.
I became a fan after discovering how easy it was to add greenery to my home and office workspaces and turn them into places of beauty, calm, and lasting delight. I passionately believe you can do the same.
Let me share with you some ideas for easily creating your own Zen indoor garden and for maintaining its charm without the hassle.
The starting point: potted plants
The simplest way to get started is to set about an assortment of potted plants. You can feel a bit overwhelmed as you ponder the choices available, but whatever you select, I recommend you pick plants that are difficult to kill ( plant funerals are invariably sad affairs that no one relishes attending as it loses the uplifting benefits of lively greens).
Some examples of “unkillable” potted plants include:
● Pothos. They call this trailing vine the "devil's ivy" because it doesn’t die if you give it
too much or too little water or if you leave it in darkness.
● Feng shui Chinese money plant. This super-hardy variety does well in the shade, which
means in winter you can park it on a north-facing windowsill (also, the offshoots that
sprout at its base can be pruned and replanted, then gifted to your friends and
colleagues).
● Zamioculcas zamiifolia. ZZ for short, this is perhaps the most unkillable of all potted
plants. Forgot to water it? No problem. Left the blinds down before taking off on a
business trip or short vacation? It’s all good. Got the heater running full bore and it’s
causing your indoor humidity to reach Saharan levels of lowness? “This is fine,” says ZZ
in response.
For further inspiration check out our selection of prefered indoor plants.
4 intriguing alternatives to potted plants
In addition to or in lieu of traditional potted plants, there are four other options for adding positive green vibes to your home.
First, you can grow ultra-low-maintenance greenery within wall-mounted frames. As you might expect, this requires specially designed frames (see our LiveFrame collections for examples).
Framed greenery is a great way to bring the glories of nature inside if you’re short on floor
space or haven’t the room atop your desk or counters or just want to opt for a more creative
solution.
Next, consider acquiring what we like to call “furniture that feeds you.” Believe it or not, there are furniture pieces that come with built-in hydroponic gardens (that’s a system in which plants grow without soil, getting everything they need to thrive from nutrient-rich water).
You enjoy not only its green presence, but you also add the fun of growing your own food. An example of this type of furniture are the minimal-maintenance hydroponic vertical gardens from Just Vertical, which are incorporated into a display bookcase.
Then there is organic moss. You can obtain furnishings and architectural elements adorned with a vibrant layer of green moss. These come in the form of room partitions, desktop panels, ceiling suspensions, and wall treatments.
The mosses used in the items we carry are harvested by hand from forests in Europe and then preserved using a process that makes them look as though they’re still alive. In addition to greening your space, organic moss also does an amazing job of absorbing sound—all without need for care and feeding.
Final thoughts
You have many different, creative, and easy ways to add a green touch to your home or office space. If you haven’t started the journey, or believe you still have room to “grow,” we really encourage you to add to your indoor garden—real or faux— considering the many benefits that come with it to our bodies, minds, and souls.
If you need help choosing a solution that will work best for you and your unique needs, please know that I and my team are here for you. Please reach out to us any time.
