This fortnightly feature was published on July 19, 1998
Perfecting indoor plant placing
By Harkiran Sodhi

We all try to make our homes attractive in many different ways — some people use expensive curios, others paintings, while still others furniture. The things which most of us use to try and brighten up our homes are indoor plants.
These are mostly foliage plants and they certainly do bring freshness and colour into even the drabbest of spaces. But to make the effect we hope to achieve with the plants perfect or at times even better, we should keep a few pointers in our minds before we start out. In order to position various plants to gain the maximum impact, the following should be kept in mind:
Most plants are best placed in front of a plain pale pastel- coloured wall or background. This would be particularly important in the case of all-foliage plants or if the plants have brightly coloured showy flowers. Both these type of plants must be displayed carefully so that they don’t get overwhelmed or lost in an incorrect placing.
Plants with small leaves should not be placed against bold, busy or intricately patterned backdrops. The larger- leafed plants can be safely placed in such areas as they will still stand out.
Variegated leafed plants or plants with very pale coloured leaves tend to get lost in front of a very pale or delicate backdrop. Bold, dark backgrounds are a more effective counterfoil to offset them.
If you want a bold effect then try to contrast the colour and shapes of the background and the plant you use. In case of a backdrop with a definite perpendicular look, a plant which is broad and widespreading will look better.
Placing the plant where there is adequate light also will help in enhancing its impact as well as keeping it healthy. If there is any spot you always keep a plant in, then permanent lighting to offset the plant can be considered.
For effective plant display lighting three basic variations can be used; spotlighting uplighting and backlighting. Spotlighting usually refers to spotlights which are recessed in the ceiling above where the plants are placed. This method of lighting has two benefits. Firstly, it unifies groups of plants placed into one whole, and secondly, in the case of an individual plant it highlights its details.
Uplighting refers to lighting which is set in the floor in front of the plant. This type of lighting is popular as it highlights the leaves of plants as well as casting interesting shadows on the background. Often it is best to move these lights a little to see which spot casts the best shadows and then leave it there.
The term backlighting is self-explanatory. When one or more lights are placed at the ground level behind the plant or plants, it’s called backlighting. This form of lighting is used when you want to turn the plant into a silhouette. For this type of lighting there are two important points to keep in mind though. This is not for ordinary plant displays as it needs open space and large plants to create the correct effect.
Just as there are many different types of plant-climbers, trailers, specimen plants etc, there are also just as many options of displaying them. Certain plants need to be positioned or placed correctly in order to look there best. For this there is a rough yardstick that can be followed which tells us which type of plants and where they are best displayed.
Standing on the floor: This place is best suited to a large specimen plant or climbers with large levels like the monstera, philodendron etc. These plants achieve different effects in assorted placing. A pair of matching plants placed on either side of the door adds symmetry to a large room, while a pot placed near the verandah induces a feeling of the garden being closer than it is.
There are certain points to be careful about while using these standing plants.
Narrow, upright plants tend to make the ceiling look higher while low spreading ones have the opposite effect. Also, while using plants standing on the floor try to place them in flat bottomed containers to avoid soiling the areas under it.
Standing on furniture: Smaller sizes specimen plants are best displayed higher than ground level so that they can be easily seen. The common way to do this is to place the pot on a windowsill, shelf display cabinet, or on a piece of furniture.
Hanging from the ceiling: This is the best method to show off a trailing or hanging plant. The plant can either be suspended in a container attached to the ceiling or in a wall bracket. These hanging specimen plants add height to other plants displayed on the floor or then act as an excellent pick-up for a dull corner or alcove.
The only problem with hanging plants is the care you have to take in choosing the correct spot. If you have an average to low ceiling try to avoid suspending the plant in an area where there is going to be maximum traffic. Selected the container with care ensuring that it is fixed with a sturdy attachment and is able to withstand the extra weight it will have when it is freshly watered.
Standing on a pedestal: This style of display is more popular in the West but is fast picking up in India as well. This type of display is suited to those trailing plants which throw out some arching leaves and slightly trailing stems as well. For a more dramatic effect several pedestals of various heights can be grouped together to form any eye-catching arrangement in all in a dull corner.
Plants look great whether they are outdoors where nature intended them or indoors where man has brought them. But there is no doubt that with that little extra care and a certain eye for detail you can make that ordinary looking syngonium transform the dull corner in your living room into something dramatic and special.