Porch areas are arguably one of the most challenging areas to decorate, due to their compact size, diverse climate, and transient nature. However, we're in luck. Martha Stewart just simplified the process, and her secret involves one of the most versatile accessories available: Low-maintenance houseplants. In true Martha style, though, her selection is anything but basic.
'Whenever I am home, I always like to keep a collection of interesting specimens in my enclosed porch, around my sitting room, and in my servery, where I can see them every day,' Martha says.
'Right now, I have a wonderful selection of succulents, orchids, and some cut chrysanthemums decorating my home.' On her porch (seen below), Martha exhibits several potted dracaenas, and they make a first impression that can't be rivalled.
'On one end, I displayed several potted and delicate dracaenas. There are more than 170 different species of dracaena, and they all have grass-shaped leaves that grow from one or more thick, cane-like stems,' Martha says in her blog.
'Dracaena [also known as a dragon plant] is a low-maintenance, easy-to-maintain plant that does best in bright, indirect sunlight.'
Shop the look
These elegant modern plant pots, with their authentic natural concrete finish and visible pores, bring a sophisticated, organic touch to any porch, perfectly showcasing succulents or seasonal greenery. Their smooth appearance is perfect for a Dracaena like Martha's.
The Dracaena captivates with long, narrow, spiky leaves in dark green edged with reddish-purple, forming striking tufts atop a woody cane. Hardy and low-maintenance, it thrives in minimal light and water, making it a vibrant, effortless accent for any porch.
Made of lightweight yet highly durable polyethylene, this pot is a close alternative to Martha's. Its robust construction withstands the elements while remaining easy to move, making it perfect for your porch, patio, or garden.
Like many of us, Martha enjoys decorating with plants in a way that brings her joy while working from home. Her Dracaenas are the most recent example of this, and they're the perfect blueprint for us to follow in our homes.
'I often display interesting and eye-catching container plants in my Winter House porch. The big floor-to-ceiling windows provide lots of light, and they all surround my desk, where I can enjoy them while writing or while attending remote meetings,' she says.
'I love container plants, and whenever I am home, I always like to keep a collection of interesting specimens in my enclosed porch, around my sitting room, and in my servery where I can see them every day.' In her Bedford estate, Martha also decorates with potted rhipsalis, native to the rainforests of South America, the Caribbean, and Central America.
'Rhipsalis is a cacti genus with approximately 35 distinct species. I have many types of rhipsalis growing in my greenhouse. Rhipsalis specimens have long, trailing stems, making them perfect choices as indoor plants on pedestals or tall tables,' she adds. This is all the houseplant inspiration we need for the upcoming winter, whether we place them on our porch or not.
