by Jemma Pearson If you think winter is the perfect time to put gardening on hold, think again, because there's plenty of planting to keep you occupied indoors.

Does the idea of an indoor plant remind you a little too much the 1970s, when ferns dangled in macramé hangers filled every bathroom? Think these plants are just dust catchers that you’ll kill anyway? Reluctant gardeners take note – indoor plants are back in vogue. In fact, they never went out of fashion. These are stylish, healthful and attractive additions to the home that can lift any interior space.

The peace lily is also an indoor favourite. It has glossy dark green leaves and an elegant white flower

What

Ferns and palms are great for indoors. While ferns might seem passé, they are beautiful, ancient plants. Avoid the delicate maidenhair – what home owner hasn’t thrown out a dried-up maidenhair fern? – and stick to a hardier variety. Palms make great indoor plants and are perfect for Sunshine Coast homes. Just beware that they like to grow, so after a few years you might end up with an indoor tree. The peace lily is also an indoor favourite with glossy dark green leaves and an elegant white flower. The peace lily will put up with low light but can be killed by excessive water. Dracaenas, on the other hand, like water. These upright, woody plants adapt well to the indoors – pop them in the bathroom or by the front door. And philodendron Xanadu is a compact little plant with eye-catching lobed leaves – just right for indoor gardens.

Where

Homes have become sleeker, whiter, cleaner. In our desire to embrace uncluttered minimalism and fresh open spaces, plants have become unnecessary dust collectors. But many contemporary homes are in need of warming up, especially in winter. Plants are great for filling in a forgotten corner, warming up a cold room or softening the front entrance. The indoor garden is also a great idea for large abodes. If you are building or renovating, consider including an interior garden in the design. That empty space under the stairs or along the entrance hall might be screaming for a little greenery.

Why

Beyond looking attractive, indoor plants are good for the building and the people in them. Fans of indoor plants believe that in commercial settings, plants improve the wellbeing of workers, increasing speed and accuracy and reducing stress levels. In the home, plants absorb volatile organic compounds. VOCs come from furnishings, carpet and paint and have been shown to contribute to allergies and illness. Plants also pump oxygen back into the air while attracting airborne particles such as dust, reducing susceptibility to allergies such as hayfever.

Plants and feng shui

Though bamboo is perhaps the best-know house plant according to feng shui principles, any healthy plant will produce positive chi in the home. Plants in your office will also help your career, so if you work from home, keep a healthy wooded specimen in the study. A few rules about plants though – avoid thorny and spiky varieties, and overgrown or dying plants as these will throw off or promote negative energy. And if you like to keep fresh flowers in the home, once they start wilting, get rid of them. Any dying plant is said to bring misfortune. For this reason dried flowers are also a big no-no.