With spring swiftly coming to a close, gardeners have been focusing on perfecting their outdoor gardens and introducing new blooms for the summer months. However, many have forgotten the benefits of having houseplants.
Houseplants offer a cosy, inviting atmosphere, help purify the air, and can even lift your mood. However, surprisingly, few plants that thrive indoors are also fragrant. That said, three houseplants that have a scent so strong it smells like perfume, with one particular plant being dubbed a “home-grown air freshener” for your bathroom.
Scented pelargoniums
Scented pelargoniums, also called geraniums, have highly fragrant leaves. According to the RHS, these scents range between rose, eucalyptus, peppermint, lemon, orange, balsam or apple.
Pelargoniums can be grown in the garden and make excellent house plants. The leaves can be placed in a bowl of water to create a “home-grown air freshener for any room in the house,” reported Gardeners’ World.
In order to take care of pelargoniums, gardeners will need well-drained soil. When having the plant in your bathroom, it will need to be positioned in full sun to help develop the aromatic oils.
“In containers, add grit, perlite or vermiculite to the compost to ensure good drainage.”
Jasminum polyanthum
This flower’s scent is found in many beloved candles, but now you can enjoy the scent straight from the plant’s blooms. Jasminum polyanthum, also known as the Chinese jasmine, has star-shaped white flowers that open from pink buds.
The plant is said to smell rich, sweet, fruity, and sensual. “Chinese jasmine is a delightful climber, perfect for growing in the conservatory or a large, well-lit bathroom,” Gardeners’ World reported.
Jasminum polyanthum will need feeding every two weeks during the growing season with a balanced liquid fertiliser. “When grown inside in a warm conservatory, they flower from late winter, but in colder temperatures, the flowers appear from spring to summer.”
Pansy orchid, Miltonia
The orchid, also known as Miltonia, is named for its large, open-faced blooms, which resemble pansies. These orchids originated from Brazil and have since been cultivated into hybrids known for their striking foliage and variety of colours.
Pansy orchids have been reported to have a mild fragrance that can smell like rosewater. According to Gardening Know How, “these plants will bloom early in the spring and the flowers will last up to five weeks in most cases.
“Some hardy varieties will bloom again in the fall, giving you double the colour each year.” However, homeowners should be warned that pansy orchids won’t flower if they get too warm or if they dry out.
They need a humid environment, such as your bathroom, to survive and won’t thrive unless you give them the temperature and moisture they need.
To care for the pansy orchid, gardeners must “water weekly by sitting the pot in a tray of water for 15 minutes and then leaving it to drain thoroughly before moving it back into position,” reported Gardeners’ World.
