The bold and the beautiful

Green leafy plants are at home everywhere but if the look is a little bland, add plants with striped and patterned leaves.

They add texture and contrast, especially when arranged with other green houseplants.

Because variegated or striped leaves are usually lighter in colour, with cream, white or pastel colours they lighten up a room. However, such plants generally need brighter light to maintain that colouring. Place them close to north facing windows or against white walls that bounce back the light.

Classy calathea

Calathea are among the showiest of foliage plants. They originate from the tropical forests of South America and grow on the forest floor where it is shaded, warm and humid.

Their leaves are light sensitive and move throughout the day in search of light, similar to Maranta (the prayer plant) that is from the same family. Keep turning the plant so that the leaves develop evenly into a round form.

Calathea care requirements are simple but specific:

• A warm, humid room through winter and summer
• Bright indirect light but no direct sunlight. They will tolerate medium light.
• Maintain humidity by regularly misting the leaves or place the pot on a saucer filled with pebbles and topped up with water.
• Keep the soil lightly moist but not soggy.
• Calathea are sensitive to the chemicals in tap water. If the leaf tips or edges go brown, try watering with filtered, bottle or rainwater.

Calathea Orbifolia (above) is one of those out of the ordinary plants with enormous leaves. The new leaves look like trumpets before they unfurl into cream and green striped leaves. Depending on the size of the pot it can grow into a sizeable plant, about 1m high and with 30cm wide leaves.

Calathea ornate sanderiana (Colombia and Venezuela)  is commonly known as the pinstripe plant for its’ dark green leaves with pinkish-white stripes and a deep burgundy under-leaf. The stripes appear almost hand painted.

Because of its darker leaves it prefers a well-lit room. Although it grows up to 3m in the wild, as a houseplant it should only grow 1m high and wide. A liquid feed once a month will encourage lush leaves.

Peperomia ‘Watermelon’ is a striking little plant with large, fleshy leaves that look like the rind of a watermelon. Even when full grown it is compact and bushy, fitting easily on a bookcase, desk-top, windowsill or wherever its unusual leaves can be appreciated. This is a good plant for a beginner, being easy to care for. It just needs enough bright light and no over watering.

Equally fascinating is Vriesea Splenriet, also known as ‘flaming sword’ because of its flat, orange-red sword-like blooms. The spiky, banded green and dark purple leaves are equally attractive and this easy to care for plant is a member of the bromeliad family.

It has a ‘rosette cup’ at the base of the leaves that should always be full of water. A weekly top up of fresh water, will prevent the water from stagnating as the older water will be displaced into the soil. Plants thrive in a warm spot, with bright indirect light. The flower lasts for three to six months.

Philodendron Birkin is a stylish plant with striking white lines etched against a dark green leaf. It is a fairly rare philodendron, but like other philodendrons is easy to care for.

It can tolerate low light for a short while but is best displayed where there is bright, indirect light, close to a north or east facing window.

Water the plant when the top 3cm of soil feels slightly dry, generally once a week. Spritzing the leaves will Increase the humidity and encourage larger leaves. Fertilise with a liquid plant food once a month.

For more inspiration visit www.lvgplant.co.za