Decorating With House Plants

Combine three shades of African violets in a curvy urn. Cover with sheet moss (sold at most nurseries) to add a cozy feel and to help hold in moisture.

Care: Direct morning light. Protect from bright afternoon sun. To water, lift the moss so you can soak the soil. Keep the soil moist all the time; try not to get the leaves wet.

Venetian fruit-bowl planter, $49, campodefiori.com.

The large, leathery leaves of a tall fiddle-leaf fig can fill (and transform) an empty corner. Make an oversize plant mobile so you can easily roll it out of the way for vacuuming or to protect it from too much sun. All you need is a piece of precut bluestone from a landscaping center set on a wheeled caddie. This dark, cylindrical pot creates a modern profile and keeps the focus on the fig tree; its relief work echoes the “carved” leaves and adds one more luscious texture.

Care: Moderate light. Keep away from bright afternoon sun. Let the top inch of soil dry out, then water thoroughly.

Moroccan planter (22 inches high, 18 inches wide), $148, shopterrain.com for info. Five-wheel single-plant caddie, $34, amazon.com.

Lollipop-shaped Muehlenbeckia have a sort of conservatory-gone-wild charm. In an unfussy row, they feel classical but still relaxed. Since these topiaries don’t need direct sunlight, they can live in the middle of a room, away from windows. Set them on a narrow table or console behind a sofa as an organic room divider. A galvanized tray is perfect for catching water, protecting your furniture, and bringing polish to the grouping. You can find nine-inch topiaries like these at upscale nurseries, starting at about $35 each; ivy and myrtle also work well.

Care: Indirect light. Water whenever the surface of the soil is dry to the touch.

Zinc tray (24 by 7 inches), $9, jamaligarden.com.