Transform your space into a tranquil forest bathing haven
At this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Live Special Edition, headline sponsor Lexus created a sensory forest experience, based on the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, meaning forest bathing.
Immersing yourself amongst trees can provide multiple therapeutic benefits, improve overall wellbeing and lower stress levels. Over the past year, many people, experienced or new to gardening, have continued to find peace and calm from tending to houseplants and the garden.
Inspired by the Lexus Forest at the Show, we’ve created a list of plants you can grow as well as some top tips and tricks to bring the tranquillity of forest bathing into your home and garden space.
Ferns
Ferns can be a fantastic touch of drama in your house or garden. The outstretched leaves are a great way to bring a little forest green into your space – with minimum effort.
If you want to grow your ferns indoors, make sure you choose a tender type and check if your fern prefers shade or sunlight.
Choose a hardy fern if you want to plant in the garden – a wonderful way of introducing greenery and texture into your outdoor space.
Top tips:
- Check if your fern likes moist alkaline or acidic soil.
- Keep household ferns away from radiators
- Plant outdoor ferns between May and September time
- For ferns that like warm, humid environments, a steamy bathroom is ideal
At BBC Gardeners’ World Live Special Edition, Alchemy Ferns provided a fantastic selection of ferns for the garden and for indoor spaces – take a look here.
Begonias
Begonias are usually found in bedding, pot and hanging basket displays and can be a great way to transform balcony or outdoor spaces– plant these for lovely pops of colour and add foliage such as spider plants when potting for an exotic leafy forest feel.
Plant your begonias in March and April for summer flowering – your plants will have a well-needed sleep in the winter, ready to emerge again in spring.
Top tips:
- Use peat-free, multi-purpose compost to pot your begonias
- Avoid direct sunlight and place in shady areas
- If you want to plant your begonias indoors, choose foliage begonias for the best results.
Check out Dibleys Nurseries who joined us at the Show for a brilliant selection of exotic and colourful varieties.
Succulents and cacti
Succulents and cacti are a fuss free, low maintenance way to bring greenery into your home. Be it a sunny windowsill or a shaded bookshelf for those plants that prefer indirect sunlight, there is always somewhere to make a happy home for a succulent inside your space.
For a tranquil forest experience, we recommend a succulent euphorbias or cacti.
Top tips:
- Don’t over water!
- Position in a dry, well-lit spot. Check if your succulent prefers full sun.
- Add mulch to pots to prevent rotting
- Use a specialist gritty mix to pot your succulents
Explore Fosters Exotic and & Unusual Plants for a wide variety of plants to choose from.
Bromeliads
Originating from tropical rainforests, what better plant to create a forest feel than Bromeliads? Although they’re not long-lived house plants, you can expand your house plant collection by potting the new plants that will grow at the base.
Top tips!
- Keep in a warm, bright room
- Water via the central ‘vase’
- Bromeliads can be sensitive to the chemicals in tap water! Try using rainwater or leave tap water standing for 24 hours before watering
Visit Every Picture Tells a Story if you’re interested in adding one of these vibrant plants to your collection.
Sarracenias
Looking to make your forest at home exotic? Why not try growing sarracenias? Carnivorous plants hailing from North America, these plants have long tubular pitchers which break down prey to be absorbed by the plant.
Top tips:
- Water from beneath – keep the plant pot in a tray of water
- Sarracenias will not grow in normal garden compost – use a mix of sphagnum moss mixed with perlite
- Use collected rainwater
- This plant needs a lot of light! Grow in full sunlight.
- Sarracenias prefer dead or alive insects to plant food – place in the pitchers for the plant to feed.
Feeling inspired? Take a look at Shropshire Sarracenias who joined us at the Show for a fantastic variety of sarracenias.
The Lexus Forest was a fabulous transportation to a peaceful forest at the BBC Gardeners’ World Live Special Edition. If you missed the Show, you can see what the forest environment looked like in the highlights below!
Are you a garden designer interested in bringing a Show Garden to BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2022?
Show Gardens are the editorial jewel in the crown and secure significant exposure within the event’s marketing campaign. Show Gardens can generate business or even a subliminal promotion, particularly important for a charity. We welcome gardens both small and large that encapsulate eye-catching designs with well-built construction and innovative planting.
If you have any questions or queries about the application or Show Gardens in general, email Lucy or call her on 0207 150 5130 .
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