What Plants are Most Suited to a Conservatory?

Choosing the Right Plants for Your Conservatory

There's nothing quite like the feeling of sitting in a bright conservatory, surrounded by beautiful plants, all year round. Even the best-kept conservatories can be vulnerable to extremes of temperature; however, simply moving your houseplants into the conservatory might not work out. The good news is that there are plants that can thrive in this environment, and some of them are a real delight.

One of the most popular types of plant to keep in a conservatory is the citrus tree. Whether you choose orange, lemon or lime, the aroma of the plant is wonderful, the blossom is pretty and the fruit delicious. Young citrus trees don't overwinter well in conservatories as they're vulnerable to the cold, but once they reach the age of about three they should be fine, as long as they get a bit of ventilation.

Nothing copes with extremes of temperature quite as well as desert plants, from cacti to succulents. You can find them in a range of shapes, sizes and surprising colours, and they need very little maintenance. The one thing that can be a problem is moist air. If it gets damp in your conservatory, the best option is simply not to water them at all during the winter months

Your conservatory will look great with vines and creepers trained up the walls and across the roof beams to fill the space with greenery. Conservatories can get very hot on bright days, but hardy desert and jungle strains bear up surprisingly well as long as they're given enough water. Flowering climbers like pandorea and bluebell creeper contribute scent as well as colour.

Although your Ultraframe conservatory will always be the perfect temperature for you and your family to relax in all year round, it may reach a temperature during summer months that isn’t suitable for some of your plants. During the winter, your chosen greenery will flourish – as long as you take care to check it has not been infested with any unwanted pests.

Make Sure Your Conservatory is Well-Ventilated 

Making sure your conservatory is the right temperature is vital if you want your plants to add lasting value to your new room. Ventilation will play a key part in making sure this happens. Keep reading for further tips on how to keep your conservatory comfortable – not just for you, but your newly-added herbage too. 

• Trickle Vents. These come as standard with all Ultraframe conservatory roofs and encourage the uplift of warm air, which can then filter out through the top – preventing the damaging build-up of moisture that could turn to mould.
• Roof Vents. Ultraframe can provide these in two different formats: manual or automatic. A spindle operates the first of these. The latter is fitted with intelligent sensor technology that reacts to rain and temperature changes.
• Eavesflow. This product is designed and manufactured by Ultraframe and ensures cross flow ventilation by aiding the convection process – which means air will continue to circulate throughout your conservatory.
• Fans. Our range of decorative fans will ensure the continual flow of air in your conservatory while adding visual value. Ultraframe fans can be provided in a manual form or a remote-controlled format for your convenience. 
• Doors. Bi-fold or sliding patio doors can be incorporated into the design of your conservatory to provide an almost threshold-wide portal that will induce lots of fresh air into your new room and keep it a healthy temperature.
• Windows. Tilt and turn windows will catch passing breezes well, as they can be opened in more than one direction. Your conservatory will benefit from much-needed bursts of cool air during warmer periods with this design.
• Conservaglass. Our high-performing glazing blocks out up to 83% of solar rays to stop your conservatory overheating during summer. In winter, it will keep the heat inside where it belongs and make your new room cosy.
• Low U-Values. The double glazing – and other products – used in the design and manufacture of each Ultraframe conservatory minimises heat loss. This means your conservatory will be comfortable and cost-efficient to run.

Find Your Nearest Ultra Installer 

For information about Ultraframe’s conservatory range – and design tips to bring your proposed room to life – use our free search tool to find an approved Ultra Installer near you. It only takes a minute to enquire.

Our team of experts are here to answer your questions, so please complete the enquiry form at the end of the process to send us a question about our conservatories, replacement conservatory roofs and other products.