Decorating My Home with Container Plants for a St. Patrick's Day Dinner
Whenever I entertain, I always fill my home with beautiful houseplants.
Houseplants bring life to any room. I love all kinds of container plants, and over the years I have amassed quite a collection. Most of my houseplants are kept in the greenhouse, where they can be nurtured properly, especially during colder seasons and times when I’m away. When preparing for a party, or when something beautiful is in bloom, I like to bring them into my Winter House where they can be enjoyed. This weekend, I had a lovely selection of ferns, orchids, selaginella, peperomia, and various succulents to welcome my guests for my St. Patrick's Day Dinner.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- Not only do houseplants enhance the overall appearance of a space, but they’ve also been known to increase creativity, reduce stress, and eliminate air pollutants. Whenever I am home, I always enjoy seeing gorgeous flowering plants. Look at this orchid. When keeping orchids, south and east-facing windows work best. West windows can be too hot in the afternoon and north-facing ones are usually too dark. This Dendrobium has gorgeous white blooms with dark pink to purple markings.
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- A vase of cut Cymbidium orchid flowers sits on a table. I love the golden-yellow blooms. Cymbidium, or boat orchid, is a genus of more than 50-evergreen species in the orchid family Orchidaceae. Cymbidium orchids are prized for their long-lasting sprays of flowers, used especially as cut flowers or spring corsages.
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- Although generally thought of as a tropical plant, orchids grow on every continent, from the Arctic Circle to the southernmost jungle, except Antarctica. The size of orchids depends on the species. They can be quite small or very large. However, every orchid flower is bilaterally symmetric, which means it can be divided into two equal parts.
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- This is a “slipper orchid” – one of my favorites. The key to growing these plants is to keep the root systems strong and healthy. These plants have no bulbs or stems to store moisture and nutrients, so it is important to maintain their roots.
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- Here is another slipper orchid with its beautiful dark burgundy markings. Paphiopedilum orchids are often called ‘lady slippers’ or ‘slipper orchids’ because of their unique pouch-like flowers.
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- Caring for orchids is a daunting process for many, but if one takes the time to understand their basic needs, and to use all the proper orchid care supplies, there’s no reason why these beautiful plants won’t continue to thrive and bloom.
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- Prized for its gorgeous flowers, the clivia miniata is an elegant plant with large clusters of funnel-shaped orange-red flowers that bloom from early winter to mid-spring. This plant sits on a table in my servery along with some colorful orchids – I see them every morning.
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- I also like to display potted plants on my indoor porch where there is plenty of light. If you like growing plants, but don’t really have the time to care for them properly, consider growing succulents. Succulents are so easy to maintain and are able to survive prolonged drought because they store moisture in their fleshy stems, roots, and leaves. Some succulents look like smooth stones, while others feature perfect rosettes like this.
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- This is a potted rhipsalis, native to the rainforests of South America, the Caribbean and Central America. Rhipsalis is a cacti genus with approximately 35 distinct species. I have many types of rhipsalis. Rhipsalis specimens have long, trailing stems making them perfect choices as indoor plants on pedestals or tall tables.
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- And here is another rhipsalis. These plants prefer bright, indirect light. Rhipsalis plants also appreciate a good misting now and again and watering about once a week, or whenever the soil becomes dry. Also known as chain cactus or mistletoe cactus, the thread-like succulent stems are narrow, green and can grow several feet long.
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- This is Euphorbia lactea is also known as a “Coral Cactus.” It is a species native to tropical Asia, mainly in India. The showy part of the plant, the section that resembles coral, is called the crest. The ridges are spiny, with short spines.
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- Portulacaria afra is a small-leaved succulent plant found in South Africa. These succulents commonly have a reddish stem and leaves that are green. They are simple to care for and make easy houseplants for a sunny location.
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- This Crocodile Fern, sometimes known as an alligator fern, a crocodyllus fern, or a crocodile plant, is native to Southeast Asia and Australia where it is found growing epiphytically on trees in warm, brightly lit and humid jungles. It derives its name from the flat tessellated fronds that resemble the patterning on crocodiles.
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- Guests always admire my Chinese money plants, Pilea peperomioides. It has attractive coin-shaped foliage. This flowering perennial is native to southern China, growing naturally along the base of the Himalayan mountains. It is also known as coin plant, pancake plant, and UFO plant.
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- One table is filled with these charming topiaries. Topiary is the horticultural practice of training perennial plants by clipping the foliage and twigs of trees, shrubs and subshrubs to develop and maintain clearly defined shapes.
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- This succulent, Haworthiopsis coarctata, has long stems packed with robust succulent leaves. It is normally dark green but sometimes shows a rich purple-red when in full sunlight.
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- This Peperomia has almond-shaped leaves that are variegated with alternating stripes of dark and light green. Most varieties of Peperomia plants prefer medium to bright indirect light, but can tolerate low indirect light.
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- This is selaginella. Selanginella is the sole genus of the vascular plants in the family Selaginellaceae. It can be potted up on its own or used as an underplanting.
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- This large blue fern is in my Brown Room – an interesting looking fern with large fronds and a pleasant green-blue color. Its ability to tolerate lower-light conditions and relatively easy care make it a great choice for any fern lover.
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- And did you see the latests photos on my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48? I hosted a lovely St. Patrick’s Day dinner over the weekend for 12 friends. I will share more of those images on my next blog. Be sure to check back again tomorrow.
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