A way with water

Combine the beauty of indoor plants with the calming effects of water, with Sarah-Gerrard Jones' aquatic house-plant projects

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I was amazed to learn that, on average, we spend 90 per cent of our lives indoors, which makes it crucial that our homes are healthy environments that support our wellbeing. A home can be so much more than walls and a roof; it can also be a place to feel inspired, restorative and peaceful.

There are few settings better at making us feel calm than being near water.

When we go on holiday, many of us are drawn to staying beside the sea because we associate water with relaxation.

Fortunately, you don't need to live beside the sea or even have a garden to experience the soothing effects of water at home. With a bit of creativity, you can have a water feature indoors that will help turn your home into a sanctuary of calm.

Bubbling vase

Propagating cuttings (such as a Swiss cheese plant) in water is a great way to grow more plants for free, and adding an air stone will introduce the sound of a meandering stream or bubbling spring into your home. An air stone is typically used in an aquarium to help oxygenate the water, but adding it to a jar or vase will increase the speed at which your cuttings root while creating a mesmerising and relaxing water feature. Once the cutting shows roots, pot it on to complete the propagating cycle.

How to make your bubbling vase

1 Cut the stem above a node. Leave the cutting for 24 hours before putting it in water so the end hardens, protecting the plant from pathogens.