Nurturing a plant indoors is one great way to liven up a home. Aesthetically-speaking, plants can become an all-natural decoration that can accentuate any room inside a house.
For instance, living rooms can definitely look lovelier with an indoor blowing plant. Toilets and Bath meantime will have fresher air with a small indoor plant. Herbs meanwhile are best in the kitchen area as it is like hitting two birds with one stone – herbs are decorative, and at the same time it can be used in cooking.
This article aims to help you decide on the indoor plants that are best for your home, taking into consideration your lifestyle, preferences, as well as needs. Plants may look complicated to nurture, but most of the time, once you got the right variety, they will thrive into your own home and lend more life to it. In fact, it literally breathes life to your indoor air as one of the main benefits of having houseplants is having a natural air purifier inside the home.
Apart from providing you with a guide on indoor plants, we will be discussing the many benefits of having indoor plants, the different types and uses, as well as what you will be needing to plant indoors.
The Benefits of Indoor House Plants
Indoor plants are very beneficial to the homeowners as well as all the occupants of a home. Nurturing one (or many) comes with a lot of advantages. Here are some of the major benefits of nurturing plants at home:
- Plants purify indoor air. Have you ever heard about indoor air pollution? Yes it is as detrimental as the air pollution we all know and breathe in when we get out of our homes. Fortunately for us, there are houseplants that can clean the air just by growing inside your home.
In one of its web entries, WikiPedia mentioned about the National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA’s Clean Air Study that backs up the claim that plants clean indoor air.
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“The NASA Clean Air Study has been led by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in association with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA). Its results suggest that certain common indoor plants may provide a natural way of removing toxic agents such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene from the air, helping neutralize the effects of sick building syndrome…NASA researchers suggest efficient air cleaning is accomplished with at least one plant per 100 square feet of home or office space.” Read the continuation of this WikiPedia entry here.
The best indoor plants for clean air are out there for you to nurture.
- Plants help prevent illnesses. Plants have so much life in them that they continue to nurture life around them too. Preventing sicknesses from striking a household member is one superpower every indoor plant has. Treehugger.com emphasized this fact in one article that they published, which discussed the benefits of planting indoors.
“In the great outdoors, plant roots tap the groundwater table for water which then evaporates through its leaves in a process known as transpiration. Studies show that this accounts for about 10 percent of the moisture in the atmosphere! The same thing happens at home (minus the groundwater table part), which increases the humidity indoors.
While this may sound unappealing during hot moist months, it’s a gift during drier months or if you live in an arid clime. According to Bayer Advanced, studies at the Agricultural University of Norway document that using plants in interior spaces decreases the incidence of dry skin, colds, sore throats and dry coughs.
And other research reveals that higher absolute humidity is conducive for decreased survival and transmission of the flu virus.” Read the other benefits of indoor plants enumerated by Treehugger.com in their article here.
- Indoor Plants Help Improve Over-All Health. Plants do not only help prevent illnesses among occupants of a home, it also helps improve the general well-being of the whole family.
- Indoor plants helps elevate the mood, increases chances of being happy, and helps in productivity. These three benefits may seem odd, and far-fetched, but yes – indoor plants carry with them these benefits to humans.
How it Works
UK-Based Media Agency, The Guardian quoted a study that proves just that. “Offices devoid of pictures, souvenirs or any other distractions are ‘the most toxic space’ you can put a human into, say psychologists in a paper published on Monday, which says workers perform better when household plants are added to workplaces…
Dr Chris Knight from Exeter University and his fellow psychologists, who have been studying the issue for 10 years, concluded that employees were 15% more productive when "lean" workplaces are filled with just a few houseplants, as employees who actively engage with their surroundings are better workers.” Check out the continuation of this article here.
So get even a couple of small indoor plants and realize their uplifting benefits.
- Indoor plants improve a home’s aesthetic features. Plants can be decorative, and flowers can definitely spruce up rooms. Even the most minimalist of homes have a place for plants, and it will still be consistent with its theme.
For instance Orchids give a romantic touch to any bedroom and they are easy to take care of. Inhabitat.com recommends this indoor flowering plants for the home.
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“Orchids have a bad reputation as being finicky and difficult to grow, but really, the opposite is true. On our last trip to Costa Farms, we learned that orchids actually love to be neglected and most people end up killing their orchids with kindness (too much water and sunlight).
Aside from being easy to take care of, orchids rid the air of xylene—a pollutant found in many glues and paints—so they make wonderful housewarming gifts for anyone who recently moved into or renovated a new space. Unlike some other plants, orchids also respire and give off oxygen at night, so they’re great for the bedroom.” The continuation of the quoted write up can be found here.
Best Indoor Houseplants for Your Home
So what are our most recommended indoor plants for your home? Below are some of our suggested plants, plus a brief description on what it is best for, what it can do for your home and how much effort it will take for you to grow and nurture it.
- 1. Moth Orchid
- 2. Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree
- 3. Bromeliads
- 4. Peace Lilies
- 5. Aloe
- 6. Snake Plant
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1. Moth Orchid. Low maintenance, and highly aesthetic, this indoor plant known scientifically as the Phalaenopsis lends charm to any room in your home. It is one of the best indoor plant low light to nurture.
Gardenista.com describes how it should be cared for: “Your moth orchid dislikes direct sunlight and should be potted in a mix of pine bark or sphagnum peat moss (not potting soil). Water it once every 7 to 10 days (poke your finger into the planter to make sure it’s dry to a depth of 1 inch before watering). Humidity makes orchids happy; bring yours into the bathroom when you shower.”
- Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree. This indoor tree has been included in HGTV’s best indoor trees to grow at home. In its list of “13 Great Indoor Trees” it described how Fiddle Leaf Figs thrive, and how it can be nurtured.
“Fiddle leaf figs, with their big, sculptured leaves, make striking specimen plants. While they like bright light, they’ll show their dislike of drafts by dropping leaves. Water when the soil feels dry, and keep an eye open for pests like whiteflies and aphids. If they show up, treat your tree with the least toxic method, stepping up to stronger measures only if the bugs persist”
- Bromeliads. Are easy to grow and nurture and has been identified as one of the best indoor plants for air purification. A CNN article in fact highlighted this information about the Bromeliad.
“These Bromeliads can livin up your house with a hint of red, but they are also great purifiers when it comes to Benzene. The plant can absorb up to 90% of the chemical, which you can find in glue, paint, furniture wax, and detergent. You may also breathe it in if you live near gas stations, hazardous waste sites, or industrial facilities.”
- Peace Lilies. Spell elegance in your living area with Peace Lilies. Really perfect especially in all-white minimalist homes. The Spruce assures it is not as high-maintenance as it looks.
“Peace lilies are often found in upscale home designs, their folded white flowers nodding peacefully over glossy leaves. These tropical plants prefer filtered light, warmth, and humidity. Under the right conditions, flowers will appear in the late summer and last for weeks.”
- Aloe. Very useful and at the same time great to look at. Aloe Vera is a plant that helps beautify the surroundings, and your skin too! It is even helpful in abrasions, bruises, and minor burns.
HGTV.com says this about the Aloe, “Aloe (Aloe vera) is best known for its plump leaves that can provide a soothing gel for cuts and burns. Allow the plant’s soil to dry completely in between waterings; depending on the humidity of your home that may mean watering as little as every two to three weeks.” It really is an easy indoor plant to nurture.
- Snake Plant. Almost every list of best indoor plants to grow have the Snake Plant on it. It is incredibly low maintenance, and does not need a lot of sunshine and plenty of watering.
Housebeautiful.com included this plant on its list of plants that do not need a lot of sunlight to be propagated indoors. “While the name is fun, this succulent is pretty tame (read: easy!) when it comes to maintenance. More light will help it grow, but it can tolerate darkness — just watch out for root rot caused by overwatering.” Read about the other plants in Housebeautiful’s list here.
- Kalanchoe. This indoor plant looks like a bunch of little adorable flowers that spring up inside the home.
Good Housekeeping has it on its list of Indoor Plants that are hard to kill in spite of neglect. “This succulent, water-retaining plant grows colorful, bell-shaped flowers.”It takes very little care,” says Nejman. Kalanchoe welcomes dry climates and temperature swings. It’s even fine with 45-degree winter weather, she adds.”
Tips for growing houseplants
Now that you are already familiar with some plant varieties that can be easily grown and nourished at home, it is now time to get busy with caring for plants. Here are some tips in growing houseplants:
- Choose the indoor plant that will suit your lifestyle. Are you always out of the house? Then choose a plant that will survive watering for every couple of days. If you are busy and you tend to forget things, then get one that does not need extra care such as pruning, fertilizing, and too much watering.
- Decide where to plant it before buying one. Aesthetic wise, and sunlight wise, homeowners should consider where to situate their plat pot or plant box. There are plants that can grow with not much direct sunlight, so take that into consideration when picking a houseplant, and choosing where to place it.
- Do not get intimidated. A bit of reading on the plant that you are growing will definitely go a long way. Familiarize yourself on how the plant will thrive, and surely this living thing will thrive in your own home.
- You do not need a lot of tools and supplies. Often times those who are considering to care for a plant get intimidated with what the plant may need. The gardening equipment which may look foreign to a first-timer, as well as plant vitamins, sprays, pesticides and fertilizers can be overwhelming for a gardening newbie.
Do not get intimidated. Watch a video about the plant, or read up a bit about it. In reality, all your plant needs is your care, plus some watering if it is the really, really low-maintenance type.
- Enjoy your plants. Plant owners will never turn out into hobbyists and gardening enthusiasts if there is really no joy in planting. Planting is beneficial, and it is fun if you really are interested in it. Savor the joy of having it in your environment and experience its many benefits.
- Do not over water. This may be a problem when you have over-eager children who would like to water your plants X times a day. Find a plant that will enjoy such attention. For those that you like but require drying times in between like Peace Lillies – transfer them into a place that is out of your children’s reach.
Indoor house plants are a joy to nurture when one discovers the happiness in caring for plants. Learn more about the plants that you wish to nourish. Enjoy caring for them. Let the plants send the good vibes back to your home by purifying your air, and making your home space even more attractive and relaxing.