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Good ideas for children include carnivorous plants, from the surprisingly easy-to-grow Venus fly trap (Dionaea muscipula), which snaps shut on beetles and spiders (and doesn't need a hothouse atmosphere), to Nepenthes X hookeriana, which entices insects to fall inside its elongated, nectar-filled pouches, where they are dissolved into a kind of nutritious "soup."
Other fun plants for small people include the artillery plant (Pilea microphylla), which just needs a quick shake in summer to make the pollen fly up like cannon smoke.
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Growing fruit indoors will add a dash of color; try
edible lemons, kumquats, olives or grapes.
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For adults, there are citrus trees—actually bushy shrubs for pots or conservatory borders—which produce a big supply of fresh lemons and kumquats. In fact, there is a whole range of plants that will bear fruit, from hot peppers to bunches of grapes.
On a more modest note, the spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum 'Vittatum') is an extraordinary sight in a hanging pot in midsummer with it's "umbilical cords" shooting out over the sides and baby plants dangling in the air. It's easy to find, easy to grow, and great for livening up your indoor space.
Selecting Plants
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