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12 best plants for kids' bedrooms

Choose plants that have something quirky about them – and are easy to look after.

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at home with plants by ian drummon and kara o'reilly   plants for children's spacespinterest
Nick Pope

Houseplants shouldn't just be limited to the living room. When it comes to kids' bedrooms, choose plants that 'have something quirky about them, even verging on the macabre,' Ian Drummond and Kara O'Reilly suggest in their book, At Home With Plants. 'A good approach is to choose plants that can be dotted in among their books and bits and pieces.'

And of course, 'choose varieties that can take a fair bit of neglect,' they advise. With this in mind, take a look at 12 plants ideal for children's spaces – bedroom, playroom or study room – in this extract from At Home With Plants.

Gerbera jamesonii

at home with plants by ian drummon and kara o'reilly   gerbera jamesonii, barberton daisy
Nick Pope

Common name: Barberton daisy

Light: Good light

Care: Keep moist while in bloom; can dry out slightly afterwards

Tips: Remove dead flowers to encourage blooming for as long as possible.

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Codiaeum variegatum

croton joseph's coat   at home with plants by ian drummon and kara o'reilly
Nick Pope

Common name: Croton/ Joseph's coat

Light: Good light

Care: Keep slightly moist

Tips: Prune top when plant becomes tall, and root like a stem tip cutting.

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Dionaea muscipula

at home with plants by ian drummon and kara o'reilly   venus fly trap, dionaea muscipula
Nick Pope

Common name: Venus fly trap

Light: Good light; avoid direct sun

Care: Keep moist, but don't over-water

Tips: Use distilled water; ideal for terrariums.

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Echeveria elegans

at home with plants by ian drummon and kara o'reilly   mexican gem, echeveria elegans
Nick Pope

Common name: Mexican gem

Light: Bright light

Care: Keep slightly moist

Tips: Cut off the offshoots and propagate them to prevent the pot from becoming overcrowded.

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Kalanchoe blossfeldiana

at home with plants by ian drummon and kara o'reilly
Nick Pope

Common name: Flaming Katy

Light: Place in good light, but not in direct sunlight

Care: Water only when compost is dry

Tips: Pinch off blooms after the flowers fade to preserve look of the plant.

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Lithops

at home with plants by ian drummon and kara o'reilly   living stone
Nick Pope

Common name: Living stone

Light: Good light

Care: Water lightly in spring and autumn

Tips: Keep dry in summer and winter to follow natural growth cycle.

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Maranta leuconeura

At Home With Plants by Ian Drummon and Kara O'Reilly  - Prayer plant, Maranta leuconeura
Nick Pope

Common name: Prayer plant

Light: Moderate light

Care: Enjoys high humidity; keep compost moist

Tips: Trim back to keep shape and promote new growth.

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Philodendron xanadu

at home with plants by ian drummon and kara o'reilly   philodendron xanadu
Nick Pope

Common name: None

Light: Moderate light

Care: Allow to dry out between waterings

Tips: Tuck aerial roots back into the pot.

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Schlumbergera truncata

at home with plants by ian drummon and kara o'reilly
Nick Pope

Common name: Christmas cactus

Light: Place in indirect light

Care: Needs well-drained compost; tolerates high humidity

Tips: Avoid over-watering, under-watering or other stress to prevent flowers from dropping.

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Tillandsia cyanea

at home with plants by ian drummon and kara o'reily   pink quill
Nick Pope

Common name: Pink quill

Light: Bright light

Care: Spray twice weekly; keep moist

Tips: Keep cool in winter to encourage spring blooms.

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Tradescantia fluminensis

at home with plants by ian drummon and kara o'reilly
Nick Pope

Common name: Wandering Jew

Light: Bright to moderate light

Care: Water thoroughly; allow surface of compost to dry out between waterings

Tips: Small pink flowers appear in spring.

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Vanda orchid

at home with plants by ian drummon and kara o'reilly
Nick Pope

Common name: None

Light: Good light; avoid direct sun

Care: Tolerates high humidity; mist daily

Tips: Avoid roots becoming soggy.

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at home with plants by ian drummon and kara o'reily
Nick Pope

At Home with Plants by Ian Drummond & Kara O'Reilly, published by Mitchell Beazley via www.octopusbooks.co.uk.

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Photos © Nick Pope.

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