Creating an Indoor Mantel Garden

Mason jars make great pots for air plants and houseplant clippings.

By Jenny Peterson

 

There's something to be said for bringing the outdoors in—we all love our perennial beds and vegetable gardens, but what about inside our houses? There are many opportunities to create vignettes in windows and on tabletops—but other unused spaces can also be great spots for indoor gardens. Take your fireplace mantel—it's often a place for photographs and trinkets, but when you add plants, a soft organic feel is created in a space where people like to gather. Here are some ideas to whet your appetite.

 

Pots

Choose traditional planters in stone or elegant black or copper, or use planters in artistic crayon tones for a more vibrant pop of color. Indoor gardeners seeking a more sleek and contemporary vibe can opt for clear glass or stainless steel, and organic gardeners might choose mason jars for terrariums or clippings. Be sure your planters have the appropriate drainage and air circulation for the type of plant you're using, as well as saucers to protect your mantel top.

 

Plants

Choose your plants depending upon how much light you have. Ivy, ferns, sansevieria, and peace lily will do well in lower light conditions, but areas with brighter light will be great for tillandsias (also called air plants), pothos, and succulents. Consider plant clippings as well as fully rooted and potted houseplants for variety.

 

Watering

The watering schedule will depend upon your plant choice, but when using a variety of pots you can tailor your indoor garden's watering needs. Tillandsias will need a weekly soaking as well as misting, sansevieria and succulents will require less water, and ferns and ivies will need to be kept evenly moist. Know your plants' preferences and water accordingly, but never let your houseplants sit in water.

 

Accessories

Slip in some small tealight candles to set off your mantel garden, but be careful of open flames around the plant foliage. Family photographs, small statuary, or organic seed or grapevine balls are also beautiful accents. Elegant moss or smooth river rock can also add an unexpected textural touch.