Positively Plants

With 2023 now in full swing, Dobbies Garden Centres is highlighting the ways in which we can start the year off in a positive way. According to Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, there’s no better way to welcome positivity into our homes than with some air purifying houseplants.

New research* commissioned by Dobbies has revealed that indoor plants can cheer us up in the winter months, with 4 in 10 Brits (40%) saying that colourful houseplants make them feel happier.

From small Succulents to indoor trees and great value plants starting from just £3.49, Dobbies has something to suit homes and budgets of all sizes. And, with 42% of Brits saying that houseplants make a house a home, they’re a great way to enhance your space and create a welcoming environment.

Whether you’re looking to breathe life into your living space, kitchen or home office, houseplants are a fantastic way to add a pop of vibrancy that will not only brighten your interiors but will have a positive impact on your well-being too. With 19% of people citing low-maintenance plants like Cacti and Succulents as their favourite, it shows you don’t need to go big to feel the positive effects of houseplants in the home.

Dobbies’ Senior Houseplant Buyer, Claire Bishop tells us how you can embrace some positive greenery and bring your home to life with houseplants.

For maximum effect, Claire recommends grouping houseplants together to create a mini jungle in your home. “To really make an impact and bring some spring positivity indoors, cluster houseplants of varying sizes together and style in a bright and airy spot. Ideal for filling any empty corners, a houseplant cluster will instantly brighten any room and you can mix and match your favourite plants to create a unique display. By layering different textures and heights with plants like Monsteras, Peace lilies and Ferns, you can create a showstopping effect that will elevate your interiors and purify the air.”

With the current cost of living in mind, Dobbies’ research showed that 31% felt that houseplants add greenery and colour to interiors, making them a cost-effective way to make a change. Claire has some tips on how to make the most of the garden centres’ good value options. “Our value houseplant range can be grouped together with different flowering varieties in complementing pots for a put-together look and feel. Smaller plants can be raised up on tables for a more impactful display, ensuring you don’t need to spend a fortune to create a mini jungle in your home. Alternatively, you could use a Phalaenopsis orchid as your centrepiece and style it with smaller plants and Succulents for an eye-catching effect. Orchids are also easy to care for, simply keep your plant at a minimum of 15 degrees in a bright spot out of direct sunlight and water once a week, misting regularly.”

While houseplants are often used in living spaces to add some welcome greenery, Claire says they also make for great additions to functional areas of the home, such as your bathroom. “Your bathroom can easily be upgraded with a few humidity-loving houseplants that will thrive in this environment and transform the look and feel of the space. Layering plants such as Calatheas, Ivy and Spanish Moss in different levels will help you achieve a gorgeous plant paradise and work well in hanging containers to free up floor space. Ferns and Succulents will also add a positive touch and can be styled on a bath board or windowsill for an extra pop of life.”

When it comes to kitchens, Claire says you can use houseplants to bring this space to life without sacrificing its practicality. “Functional kitchen gardens work well in homes of all sizes and can be scaled up or down depending on how much space you have. If you’re growing herbs indoors, your kitchen will benefit from their wonderful colour and fragrance, but the greenery doesn’t have to stop there. Calatheas make great kitchen plants as their wonderful striking foliage adds interest to an often-neutral space – plus, they only need watered once a week when the soil feels dry to the touch.”

Claire notes that even if you’re working with limited space or are new to houseplants, they can be a great way to welcome positivity into your home in small ways, with almost 1 in 5 Brits (18%) saying that caring for a houseplant improved their mood and sense of wellbeing. Claire notes: “If you’re just beginning your houseplant journey, consider starting off with smaller plants and low-maintenance Succulents and use them to bring different areas of your home to life. Shelves and compact spaces can be upgraded with trailing plants, which are both cost-effective and striking, giving you maximum impact for less. Mix and match different varieties to add drama and interest to your display and create an Instagram-worthy ‘shelfie’ that’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face and set you up for a positive 2023.”

Listen to the latest episode of Dobbies’ gardening podcast ‘Positively Plants’ on Spotify or Apple Podcasts now – also available at www.dobbies.com/podcasts

To browse Dobbies new range of houseplants for 2023, or for more advice and inspiration, visit www.dobbies.com