Create Your Own Indoor Jungle Step by Step

Does the idea of living in a jungle excite you? If so, you will be pleased to learn that you can create one in your home. Just follow the steps in this article, and soon you will have your own indoor jungle to enjoy.

What is more exciting than the idea of exploring a lush jungle landscape? Now imagine that jungle exists in your own home! While this may seem too good to be true, creating your own indoor jungle is much easier than you think. In this article, we’ll teach you what you need to know to pull off this impressive look. Read on to learn about some of the design principles you should follow as well as a few ideal plants you should use.

Types of Jungle Plants

A jungle can look like a chaotic mix of wild plants, but you might be surprised to find that these plants all exist within a few specific categories. Each one makes a different contribution to what a jungle looks and feels like. Of course, you won’t be able to make a full-sized jungle in your home. But what you can do is create a miniature version of a jungle that includes all of the core components. To do that, you’ll need to find plants that can fall into these four groups.

Canopy Plants

Canopy trees are the tallest plants in the jungle. They grow to extreme heights and cast shade on the jungle floor below. In a true jungle, the shade that the canopy casts plays a key role in establishing the conditions in which the plants below will live. Canopy plants are also home to many jungle animals. The best way you can recreate this effect indoors is by including some trees that will grow indoors. There are numerous species that meet that definition, and many are dwarf varieties that will remain small enough to fit in your living room. Here are a few of the best indoor trees to add to your indoor jungle:

Understory Plants

Canopy trees are the top level of the jungle, and the next level down is the understory. Understory trees are a bit smaller and often thrive in the filtered light that the canopy provides. In a jungle, these plants may take the form of a small tree or a large shrub. They also add intriguing layers to the jungle that contribute to the sense of mystery that these landscapes invoke. Without a healthy understory, your indoor jungle will be incomplete. Here are some of the plant varieties that you should consider using:

Ground-Level Plants

At the lowest level of the jungle, you will find plants that are small and grow just above the ground. While these plants may not stand out as much as the taller trees, they still add a degree of depth to your indoor jungle. Ground-level plants also add additional greenery and interesting textures to your planting scheme. For those reasons and more, you should not neglect these smaller plant species in your indoor jungle:

Vines and Hanging Plants

The three categories of plants that we have already covered will get you very close to your goal of creating an indoor jungle. But there is one variety of plants that we are still missing. When most of us envision a jungle, our imagination includes vines that drape themselves along the branches of larger trees. These vines add to the wildness of the jungle and are a set of plants that you should grow in your indoor jungle as well. But rather than having your vines grow on another plant, it is best for you to set up a few hanging pots throughout your indoor jungle. Here are some of the species that you can use to fill those hanging containers:

Pothos
English ivy
Wandering Jew
Creeping fig
Heartleaf philodendron
Peperomia
Arrowhead plant

Tips for Your Indoor Jungle

Now that you have a great understanding of the plants that you should include in your indoor jungle, it’s time to add to that knowledge with a few helpful tips. After all, an indoor jungle is a place like no other, and as such, it calls for some special treatment. Continue on to learn what you should do to ensure your indoor jungle is a success.

Humidity for Jungle Plants

Jungles are notoriously humid places. With that in mind, it is no surprise to learn that many of the plants that grow there require plenty of moisture in the air. In an indoor setting, that moisture can be difficult to recreate. And if the air in your home is too dry, you may find that many of your jungle plants are failing. One of the best ways to avoid this is to use a spray bottle. Begin by identifying the plant species that have the greatest need for air moisture, then mist them regularly to keep them healthy and recreate the humidity they love.

Sunlight Needs for Jungle Plants

Sunlight is a prerequisite for anyone who wishes to grow an indoor jungle. The lack of sunlight in indoor spaces is a challenge to anyone who wishes to grow plants inside. However, this issue is especially important for many jungle plant species. Determine which areas of your home receive the most sunlight. Then, you should situate your indoor jungle plants so that they get as much of that light as possible. If you can’t provide enough natural sunlight, hope is not lost. You can choose to use an indoor grow light instead.

Find Attractive Containers

Our last tip to help your indoor jungle look its best is to be highly selective with the containers you use. Plants that grow indoors still need soil to survive. A great container is essentially the only way to give your plants a place to live. Choose containers that are lovely to look at and that complement your existing interior design. The right set of containers can be extremely useful in putting the finishing touches on your indoor jungle design.