{"id":16047,"date":"2022-10-25T16:48:31","date_gmt":"2022-10-25T14:48:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/?p=94106"},"modified":"2022-10-25T16:58:16","modified_gmt":"2022-10-25T14:58:16","slug":"conservatory-plants-plants-that-love-the-shelter-and-warmth-of-a-conservatory","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/rss_feed\/conservatory-plants-plants-that-love-the-shelter-and-warmth-of-a-conservatory\/","title":{"rendered":"Conservatory plants: plants that love the shelter and warmth of a conservatory"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Veronica Peerless\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 25 October 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Conservatory plants can turn a garden room into a year-round lush and leafy retreat, blurring the lines between the inside and the outside.<\/p>\n

As a conservatory is a sheltered, bright environment, many plants, including some house plants<\/a> and tender outdoor plants, will thrive there. Conservatory plants do need to be tough, however, especially if your space is not shaded in summer or insulated or heated in winter. Temperatures can vary wildly between the seasons and between day and night, and many traditional house plants prefer a steady temperature.<\/p>\n

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Conservatory plants at Max Gate, Thomas Hardy\u2019s house in Dorchester<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

What plants are best for a conservatory?<\/h2>\n

How to choose conservatory plants<\/h3>\n

The plants you choose for your conservatory will depend on whether you are prepared to heat your conservatory (or buy a greenhouse heater<\/a>) in winter.<\/p>\n

If your conservatory is not heated, go for plants from desert or Mediterranean<\/a> regions, such as succulents or citrus, that can cope with cooler winters and\/or cooler temperatures at night. Try not to let the temperature go below 5\u00b0C at night in winter (or ideally, 10\u00b0C).<\/p>\n

If your conservatory is heated, you can choose plants from tropical climes, including many common house plants. You\u2019ll need to keep the temperature consistently no lower than around 15\u00b0C.<\/p>\n

You can also force bulbs<\/a> in a conservatory, enjoying their blooms earlier than you would outdoors, and overwinter tender plants, as you would in a greenhouse<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You may also like\u2026<\/p>\n

The best trailing house plants<\/a><\/p>\n

Unusual house plants<\/a><\/p>\n

How not to kill your house plants this winter<\/a><\/p>\n

Creating the perfect stylish indoor display<\/a><\/p>\n

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Caring for conservatory plants<\/h3>\n

Conservatories can become very hot in summer, and the air can become very dry. This does not suit many plants, and can encourage pests such as red spider mite. You can provide extra humidity by sitting pots on a dish filled with pebbles or gravel<\/a> and topped up with water, or by misting the leaves regularly. You will also need to water plants regularly \u2013 as a rule of thumb, do this when the top few centimetres of compost<\/a> in the pot have become dry<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In winter, reduce watering. This especially important if your conservatory is not heated \u2013 most plants are not actively growing over winter and if they are sitting in cold, wet compost their roots are liable to rot, which will kill them.<\/p>\n

Styling conservatory plants<\/h3>\n
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Most plants look best when grouped together, and grow better this way as they form their own humid microclimate. Go for contrasting leaf shapes and sizes, and choose plants that are different heights \u2013 stand them on plant stands or upturned pots if necessary. And don\u2019t forget that the right plant pot can really boost the look of a plant \u2013 choose terracotta pots<\/a> and look out for interesting baskets, pot covers<\/a>\u00a0and hanging planters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You can use your conservatory for relaxing or dining in. You could a rattan or wicker chair, a\u00a0bistro set<\/a>, or even an Acapulco chair<\/a> or two.<\/p>\n

Best conservatory plants<\/h2>\n

Citrus plants<\/h3>\n