In today’s dynamic world of interior design, there is an increasing emphasis on green oases that bring a touch of nature into our homes and workplaces. For this reason, we are very pleased to present our next blog guest, Ana Hrgovčić, a young entrepreneur and owner of BILJKE.PLANTS. Ana is an expert in creating plant terrariums and providing interior greenery services, including office plant maintenance.
Read our interview with Ana Hrgovčić and find out how you can transform your home or office with plants, and discover how a small green oasis can have a big impact on your everyday life.
Which plants do you recommend to real estate buyers who are decorating their homes with plants for the first time?
For real estate buyers who are decorating rental homes, I definitely recommend Dracaena and Ficus Robusta. Dracaena is ideal for open and bright spaces where it will grow quickly and tolerates periods of drought well. Both Dracaena and Ficus Robusta are plants that do not require much water and look beautiful both in small and large sizes. Even if tenants water these plants unnecessarily, they will not wilt from a single excess watering. However, it is advisable to write a note next to the pots asking tenants not to water the plants because you will take care of them. Depending on their sizes, both species can be combined to decorate shelves or large empty corners and parts of the property where one XXL plant would fill the space. Ficus Robusta and Ficus Abidjan also tolerate darker conditions well and are often seen in medical offices.
For interior design where you will live, choose more elegant plant species such as Monstera, Fiddle Leaf Fig, or Strelitzia. These species are popular “Instagram” plants, and rightfully so, because they are incredibly beautiful and bring a touch of the tropics into our interiors. All three species like plenty of daylight, although Monstera tolerates somewhat darker conditions well. Fiddle Leaf Fig is sensitive to cold temperatures, and Strelitzia, or bird of paradise, even blooms, but only when it is 4-5 years old. There are different types of Monstera, for example, Monstera adansonii, which is a climber, Monstera minima, which grows exclusively upwards, and the most popular Monstera Deliciosa, which grows upwards but its leaves can reach about 40 cm in width.
How to choose the right type of plant for a specific space in the house or office?
If the space is darker and you are not inclined to frequent watering, meaning the plants will not have the most favorable conditions, then the right choice is Sansevieria or Zamioculcas. These are very resilient plants and do not require special care. They are ideal for business spaces and are most often requested by our business clients. Their leaves accumulate water and require watering only once a month, more precisely on average every three weeks. The most important criteria are: light, warmth, humidity, and your ability or willingness to maintain the plants.
Can you share some tips for long-lasting maintenance of healthy and beautiful plants at home or in the office?
A tip that has proven very effective for us, and is so simple that everyone knows it, is the “finger rule.” To know when to water a plant, put your whole finger into the pot. If you feel the soil is dry, meaning when you pull your finger out there is no soil stuck to it, you know it’s time to water. Also, about half an hour after watering, pour out excess water from the pot so that the roots don’t sit in water and rot. It is recommended to fertilize plants regularly, during the summer and spring periods, with every second watering. Also, to encourage the growth and development of plants, repot them in fresh soil every two years.
Are there studies confirming the positive impact of plants on the productivity and satisfaction of people who spend time in spaces where plants are present?
Of course! The most important thing is that plants affect our mental health. Besides purifying the air, it is scientifically proven that they influence our health and boost mood. There is the term “biophilia hypothesis” which explains and defines how nature has a strong impact on enhancing positive emotions and weakening negative ones. We have all experienced the feeling that when we return from nature, whether it is a trip, picnic, or forest walk, we feel relaxed and stress-free. We cannot bring the entire forest into a space, but a few plants to raise positive thoughts – always!
What are currently the most popular trends in interior decoration with plants?
Currently, the most popular trends in interior decoration, when we talk about plants, are definitely terrariums and green walls. There was a boom in plant terrariums about a year ago, and today there is almost no home without such a living sculpture, or plant. Terrariums are especially popular because they are miniatures in glass that only need watering twice a year, and due to their simplicity and durability, they have become very popular. Another trend is definitely green walls, and more and more people invest in “living” pictures in interiors. Green walls are made of stabilized, colloquially speaking, preserved plants, and their lifespan is from 5 to 10 years.
How can plants help in personalizing and creating the identity of a space, whether residential or commercial?
Plants can help personalize and create the identity of a space, whether it is residential or commercial. Depending on the orientation of the apartment, owners can play with more traditional species easily available in grocery stores or with somewhat unusual and exotic species that can only be obtained in garden centers or online. If the apartment’s orientation does not allow for playing with rare species, personality can be expressed through the choice of different decorative pots for the plants. It sounds unusual, but not every plant fits every pot. It is necessary to pay attention to the size of the plant, the shade and shape of the leaves, and the color of the pot and whether the finish is glossy or matte. The entire process of choosing plants and pots is a game.
How important is the use of plants and terrariums in the context of sustainable development and environmentally conscious interior design?
Since a large number of people fear placing live plants in their spaces, they often turn to plastic plants that last a long time but are visibly artificial and have an unpleasant plastic smell for a long time. Live plants primarily produce oxygen, which is, besides aesthetics, their greatest benefit. Through the integration of plants and terrariums into interior design, we can create an environment that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also supports sustainable practice and ecological awareness.
