Plant sales have seen a boom on both sides of the Atlantic since the start of coronavirus quarantine measures. Many are hearing the call of the wild for the first time and have responded by bringing the outdoors in. But before Swiss Cheese plants, succulents and aloes started to trend on Instagram, plant and interior stylist Hilton Carter became a household name with a remarkable collection of 300 houseplants in his home and studio in Baltimore.
Carter may be what some would describe as a ‘plantfluencer’, but his official title is as the ‘plant doctor’ of Apartment Therapy, a home and decor site providing a source of inspiration for people looking for real-life design solutions. His latest books, Wild At Home and Wild Interiors, not only teach how to position, style and choose the best plants for your home, but also provide practical information on how to bond with and care for living things.
For this indoor edition of Great Gardens, we venture into Carter’s apartment to get better acquainted with his urban jungle. A sizable Fiddle-leaf fig (called Frank) takes pride of place by a large, bay window. One wall is covered in stylish, wooden propagation cradles, while others are graced with Japanese fan palms, Polka dot begonias, Rubber trees and Peperomias.
The Plant Doctor understand that plants are more than just a decorative addendum to living spaces; rather, with the right amount of water and light, they can become life-long green friends.
NOWNESS reached out to Carter for some simple solutions to popular houseplant questions:
Dark apartments
“No plant can thrive in a dark apartment, only survive”Carter suggests that those who live in shaded apartments can seek out plants that tolerate low light, such as Snake plants, Pothos varieties, ZZ plants and the Rattlesnake calathea.
Image: ProFlowers
New to houseplants
“Plants are living things and should be respected as such”Like having a child or getting a pet, make sure you’re not just willing but also prepared to take care of a plant. Some low maintenance suggestions for newbies include: Cacti, Succulents and Ponytail palms. 
Image: Marco Vech
Small apartments
“For me, in our apartment, I like using the vertical space. This allows you to keep more of the floor real estate clear, while hanging plants up in windows and from walls”Mood boosting
“For me, seeing any plant that is unfurling new growth makes me feel better. Some people love flowering plants…”Everyone connects differently with plants, so you have to go out and find the ones that speak to you. Carter’s suggestions for those who are excited by flowering plants include the Orchid cactus or a variegated Hoya carnosa.