Strategically placing plants in the home can go a long way when creating a living space that is both healthy and safe for plants and those living within the space. Having that greenery in our home brings us back to nature and calms the mind.
Plants are used in the home in more ways than one. They are ideal when it comes to purifying the air and adding that extra oxygen back into a space which in turn will work great in improving your health and focus. Therefore, placing them in a safe location will benefit both you and the plants.
Here are 7 Safe Places to Put Plants at Home:
- On a Ledge
- On a Desk
- The Corner at the Bottom of a Stairwell
- At the Landing of a Stairwell
- Close to a Window
- On the Floor next to the Entertainment Center
- In the Corner of a bedroom
Plants can be placed almost anywhere in the home and there are plants that will tolerate even the dullest lighting condition.
Placing a plant in a particular location is not all, you have to consider if the location is safe, especially where children and pets are concerned.
There are locations that work really well when it comes to plant placement in the home and how we and our pets interact with them.
Safety is a priority both for the plant and ourselves and we are going to list areas where plants are commonly placed and the locations that are not so common and how safe it is both for us and the plants.
However if for some reason you dropped your plant you can see my article on how to ensure they survive when dropped.
What Type of Conditions do Plants Like?
Plants, in general, can tolerate a range of environmental extremes. Some plants like the cold and will do well in the winter or a very cold room.
Other plants like it hot with high humidity, these types of plants are those with origins from tropical regions such as:
- Monstera deliciosa,
- Monstera adonsii,
- Fiddle leaf fig
- Rubber plant.
It is important that the natural habitat is replicated and the conditions are somewhat close to what the plant has been adapted to in the wild so that it will not suffer from shock or stress.
All plants have one thing in common and that is sunlight. They all require light for food production and growth. However, the amount of light required by plants to function will vary from plant to plant.
This is the basis of placing plants in the home or office. Therefore, each plant and where it should be placed will depend on the amount of light that the plant gets.
Apart from the light, plants also require water and adequate nutrition which they will get from the soil through periodic watering. Even though the location of plants may vary with variety, their nutrition and water requirements should not change.
Regardless of these requirements plants need to be placed in locations that will not have great deviations from what is required to grow healthy.
Additionally, consideration must be taken such that the plant will not fall from where it is located.
Siting plants based on feng shui
Feng shui is an old Asian cultural practice where the placement of furniture and other items in the home creates a balanced environment with the natural world which helps increase peace of mind and harmony.
It arranges objects based on number, shape, and color to create a seamless flow and soothing environment.
When it comes to plant placement, feng shui can definitely play a role in where the plants should be sited.
With this in mind, a good feng shui will not compromise having the plant in a safe location based on how it looks.
For example, if you are going to put plants next to an entertainment center you will want to have two of the same plant and potter on either side, preferably white or a light color that blends seamlessly with your decor.
However, these plants should be placed on the floor with saucers or pot-in-pot arrangements so that water doesn?t damage your flooring.
Popular Locations to Safely Place Plants in the Home
- On a Ledge
Placing plants on a ledge is largely adopted by people in apartment buildings where the only source of light is from a single window in the living space.
Plants are placed on ledges because of the amount of light they will receive during different times of the day. Ledges have enough space to accommodate small plants like Spider plants, Pothos, Jade plant and ZZ plants.
If you are living in an apartment building however care must be taken such that the plant does not come in your way and be toppled over into the street and cause harm to anyone below.
- On a Desk
Desks can be large or small enough to accommodate a single laptop or computer. When it comes to desk we have them from our office and even in our study and office spaces within our home.
Succulents are great for creating a sophisticated piece of greenery on your desk which will definitely become a conversation piece with anyone in the office.
These plants come in small arrangements and can be safely secured using a rubber saucer so that it does not easily slide off your deck and cause harm to the plant.
- The Corner at the Bottom of a Stairwell
It seems as if this location was made just for plants and placing larger plants here such as a fiddle leaf fig, creates an elegant piece which stands out from the rest of the space.
Other plants which go well in this space are Monstera deliciosa, Rubber plants, Madagascar Dragon Tree and different types of indoor palms.
- At the Landing of a Stairwell
This is the intermediate location which is a small platform where the direction of a stairwell changes and it is also an ideal location to have a plant.
The plant will add a change in the scenery and can aid when it comes to navigating to go either up or down the stairwell. Additionally, because this is a high traffic area the plant will also get all the attention it deserves.
- Close to a Window
It goes without saying, having a plant close to a window will have the plant flourishing as it is supposed to with the abundance of direct and indirect light it will have during the course of the day.
Plants that love light will thrive well in this location as it will get the required sunlight necessary for photosynthesis and plant growth and the air flow it needs.
Here are some examples of plants that love light from a well lit window- Jade Plant
- Croton
- Papyrus
- Snake Plant
- Hibiscus
- Areca Palm
- On the Floor next to the Entertainment Center
As previously stated this goes well with Feng Shui and two plants should be used in this case to create balance.
A Rubber plant in a white potter is well suited for this purpose and would provide an additional conversation piece in your living space.
- In the Corner of a Bedroom
When it comes to a bedroom you think sleep and with sleep there should be darkness available. Therefore plants that can go with long periods of darkness and low light conditions will be best suited for this location.
Plants which are best suited for the bedroom are –- Peace Lily
- Aloe Vera
- Lavender
- Spider plant
- English Ivy
Unsafe Locations for Plant Placement
- Top of a Filing cabinet
- Top of a Refrigerator
- In front of an Air Conditioner
- Easy access to Toddlers
- Easy access to curious pets
- In front of a Fan
- Top of a washing machine
| Plant Location | Unsafe Scenario | Cause |
|---|---|---|
| Top of a Filing Cabinet | Shaking cabinet | Stuck drawer, Bumping into the cabinet |
| Top of a refrigerator | Shaking of the refrigerator | Stuck door or frozen items stuck |
| In front of an air conditioner | Cold air blowing directly onto the plant | Direct placement in front of a refrigerator |
| Easy access to Toddlers | Plant can get pulled over | Vined plants on a height can get yanked by a toddler |
| Easy access to curious pets | Plant can get pulled over or pets can drink from the saucer | Plants is easily accessed by curious pets |
| In front of a Fan | Wind can cause plant stress | High wind from fan blowing directly onto the plant |
| Top of a washing machine | Plant can move and fall off | The vibration from the washing machine cause plants to move |
Securing Plants with Pets Around
We all love pets and having both pets and plants in the same space is not an uncommon practice. The safety consideration with plant placement and pets in the same space is actually knowing how curious or mischievous your pet is.
If you know that your dog or cat has a very curious nature and this goes without saying, all pets are curious and will find themselves exploring everything in the home.
When it comes to dogs an easy fix is to have to plant in a height that is not accessible by the dog. However, this will not work for cats, as they can climb almost anything.
With respect to cats it is best to keep heavier plants grounded so that in the event of a fall, the plant or potter will not harm you or your cat.
If plants are to be placed on heights, it is recommended that the potter should be properly secured to prevent any accidental falls.
Can I Place a Plant Close to a Radiator?
Radiators are used in the home for heating and do this by drawing cool air into the fins where it is heated by conduction and released to the surroundings.
Although there are many plants that can tolerate hot and humid conditions. Placing a plant close to a radiator in the home will not be suitable to such plants because the environmental conditions close to the radiator will not be the same that the plants are adapted to.
It is not a safe practice for the plant and therefore not recommended that plants be placed close to radiators.
Even if the plant is tall or has a tall trunk this will not protect it from the effects the radiator will have on the air quality around the radiator.
As the air is heated, the humidity around the plant and radiator will be reduced which will not be favorable to the plant and soon the plant will show signs of dehydration if it is not relocated to a safer location.
The Takeaway
Plants in the home can have multiple beneficial effects on our living environment and our senses.
There are many areas in the home that plants can be placed and some of these areas can cause a safety concern for both plants and those around them.
Larger plants should remain grounded while smaller plants if placed on a height should be properly secured so that it does not get pulled down by children or pets.
Also, consideration should be used when placing plants in certain areas that might not be plant-friendly and could create unfavorable conditions for plant development.
