Top Conservatory Plants

Whether you have a conservatory already or need the extra space to keep your existing plants happy, these are perfect places for a whole host of flora. From luscious greens to blooming flowers, we’ll go over the top plants that will feel right at home in a conservatory. Plants can also combat condensation at the same time.

Why a Conservatory Is Best

Although you may receive plenty of natural light through your windows already, a purpose-built conservatory is meant to make use of as much light as possible throughout the day. Depending on what type of conservatory you have and which direction it faces, you can create a perfect haven for your houseplants.

“Conservatories work best if they don’t overheat in the summer, so south-facing orientation needs ample ventilation installed and also external blinds that can be rolled down in bright weather from April until September. North-facing conservatories are better in summer, but the plants must cope with low light levels in winter.” Guy Barter – Chief Horticulturist at the Royal Horticultural Society

Plants for Beginners

While it can be difficult to find plants that will thrive in all conservatories, absolute beginners can start with low maintenance plants that love the sunlight. Cactuses and succulents are fairly difficult to get wrong and don’t need watering all that much. If the conditions are perfect for them, you might even get flowers at some point.

Other beginner plants you can try in your conservatory include:

• Rubber fig

• Burgundy rubber plant

• Shangri La philodendron

• Mini Monstera

• Blue Star fern

• Raindrop Peperomia

• Goldfinger Hardy Schefflera

• Tectonic Begonia

• Jazzy Jewel Hibiscus

It can be a case of trial and error in finding out what works well for the space you’ve got, but the list above can be a good place to start if you don’t particularly have green fingers.

Hardly Plants

There are a huge number of houseplants that are ideal for a conservatory environment. Fortunately, a lot of these are difficult to kill and require very little maintenance (if any).

For a simple addition of greenery, you can try some of the below:

• Swiss cheese plant

• Cast iron plant

• Philodendron Birkin

• Spider plant

• Arrowhead plant

The Aspidistra is commonly known as the cast iron plant because it cannot be killed. Whether left in the shade, underwatered or overwatered, it can survive anything. It’s the perfect plant for anyone who is hopeless with houseplants.

Conservatory Plant Maintenance

With sunlight and an occasional watering, most plants will be happy in a conservatory. There are, however, a few additional checks you will have to perform or ways in which you can help them thrive.

Windows will need to be kept clean to avoid the build-up of condensation and mould. This can present problems with plant disease. Additionally, if you have outdoor plants that overhang or generate shade, these may need to be trimmed back to allow plenty of light through.

The other problem you might run into is heat. Sunlight is perfect for plants, but excess heat isn’t. In particularly hot weather, you may need to move some plants outside to sit in the shade. Heat stress can easily kill whatever plants you’ve settled on.

Overwatering in winter isn’t advised, and cold draughts should be avoided - even warm radiators can be too much for them. As a general rule, if the temperatures are good for you, they will be for your plants.

In Need of a Conservatory?

While plants can absolutely thrive in a conservatory, you can also use the room yourself for various activities. It’s a great way of adding additional space to your home without necessarily needing planning permission.

To find out how much you’d pay for a conservatory, click on the button below to receive tailored quotes from local suppliers.