Winter warmth, whether from central heating, fires, or other heat sources, dries the air inside our homes, creating a hellish environment for many houseplants. The same happens in summer via air conditioning and cooling fans; and dehumidifiers can be the culprit all year round. Indoor plants that hail from damp forests (such as Christmas cactus and lipstick plant) will particularly struggle without any moisture in the air. But thankfully, there's a wide range of plants that tolerate a parched atmosphere, as well as some that flourish in it. Succulents, including cacti, that grow in arid conditions in the wild have adapted to conserve moisture and can thus survive deserts or your radiators on full blast.
In a dry interior, succulent houseplants are a safe bet and two of the best for suspended containers are string of pearls (Curio rowleyanus AGM), distinctive for its trails of pea-like beads, and donkey's tail (Sedum morganianum AGM), which sends out ropes of fleshy blue leaves. Sit both in direct or indirect sun.
The ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia AGM) has upright architectural ladders of leaves that cope with dry interiors and enjoys average to low light levels. Tolerant of a degree of reduced humidity, the rubber tree (Ficus elastica AGM) thrives in bright, indirect light and injects structure via its large, dark, leathery leaves. And both the tree houseleek (Aeonium arboreum) and elephant's foot (Beaucarnea recurvata AGM) will thrive in a dry, warm room or conservatory that is flooded with sunshine.
Hailing from the rocky mountains of Oman, good old aloe vera is one of the few plants that isn't frightened of a radiator, and it can be ignored for long periods. Likewise, the jade plant (Crassula ovata AGM) is a low-maintenance succulent that performs well in low humidity. Both can be placed in direct or indirect sun.
Blooming from spring to autumn, Cape primroses (Streptocarpus hybrids) are undemanding plants that cope with a drop in humidity and prefer bright, indirect or low light. Cacti, such as the golden barrel cactus (Echinocactus grusonii AGM) and the old lady cactus (Mammillaria hahniana AGM), both from Mexico's deserts and dry scrubland, will flower on a sunny south or west-facing windowsill in summer, after a stint hibernating in a cooler room over winter.
Sun worshippers that enjoy the rays of a south or west-facing room and dislike too much humidity include the snake plant (Sansevieria zeylanica AGM) from Africa, which sends up stiff spears of mottled leaves, and the spineless yucca (Yucca elephantipes AGM) from Mexico, which forms multiple trunks topped with tufts of long leaves.
The Victorians' favourite, the cast-iron plant (Aspidistra elatior AGM) is capable of withstanding a range of tough conditions, from dry air to shade. Also virtually unkillable, the golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum AGM) copes well with a degree of lower humidity and can be grown in hanging pots or trained to climb.
Perfect for a bright air-conditioned office, echeveria are architectural succulents from the desert and dry scrub regions of Central and South America, which form snug rosettes, small enough to put on a desk. Also compact, the zebra cactus (Haworthia fasciata AGM) from South Africa resembles a striped aloe and loves direct or filtered sunshine.
How to care for indoor plants in dry air
Where possible avoid having plants very close to sources of heat or cool air, such as radiators and fans. Forest plants that particularly require a humid environment (including ferns, fiddle-leaf fig, and grape ivy) ought to be placed in a bathroom or kitchen. Elsewhere, humidity can be raised for those plants that cope in dry air, but appreciate a degree of atmospheric moisture, such as string of hearts (Ceropegia linearis subsp. woodii AGM), Madagascar dragon tree (Dracaena marginata AGM), and peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii). Firstly, sitting plants together creates a microclimate with increased humidity. You could also sit a bowl of water beside them or place each upon a tray of pebbles and water. Plants that enjoy moist conditions can be regularly misted, especially if they are showing signs of dry-air stress, such as brown leaf tips, and those with large leaves (for instance, the Swiss cheese) will appreciate having the dust on their leaves wiped off gently with a damp cloth, without being dried afterwards. Finally, more extreme measures include placing moisture addicts (such as ferns) in a terrarium or installing a humidifier, although, obviously, the latter is a bad idea if your home has issues with condensation mould. But for an easy life, the optimum choices for dry-air rooms are the plants that hail from low-rain environments – cacti, for instance – because they won't thank you for raising the humidity.
