10 Easy-Care Houseplants To Liven Up Your Home
We've all seen the popularity of houseplants explode in the last 5 years and we think we know why. Studies have shown that plants not only boost your mood, but they improve your air quality, help reduce stress and increase concentration. That's reason enough for us to fill our homes (and home offices!) with these natural beauties. Here are our suggestions for 10 easy plants to liven up your home!
Pothos : This is a great group of plants to get started with as they are relatively low maintenance and will tolerate lower light. The trailing varieties sprout new leaves regularly and are great in a hanging planter or on a shelf.
Hedera/Ivy: These vigorous and prolific vining plants are pretty much indestructible & make it easy to tell when it needs water as leaves will get limp and soft. They only need moderate light and will be happy with water every couple weeks. Rubber Plant: If set in a medium-bright window and watered every few weeks, this plant will continue to thrive.
Snake Plant: These will tolerate low light and dry air, so can be a great addition to rooms with less ventilation & little natural light.
Spider Plant: These versatile plants are great hanging and just need moderate light & waterings. They will continually propagate by sending off new shoots which you can put in water to grow into new plants!
Air Plant: Some swear by the misting method, but we've found that once every two weeks soak these cuties in a bowl of water then shake off and tip upside down on a towel in a bright window to dry. They like bright-indirect light so will work in many spaces.
Cactus: These may ask the least from you of any on this list, and they will stay strong and prolific, rewarding you with occasional new growth and sometimes even a flower. As long as they are in soil with excellent drainage in a pot with a drainage hole, a sunny window and occasional waterings, this one will be hard to mess up.
Peace Lily: Another hard to kill plant that will let you know when it's thirsty with drooping leaves. You will be amazed at how quickly it perks back up after watering. Plus you will occasionally get beautiful white or pink flowers that last for weeks.
Hoya: Sit this beautiful plant in a moderately sunny window, water once a month and it will continually grow new trailing vines for many years. If it loves it's little spot enough, you may get out-of-this-world white flowers every couple years.
Zanzibar Gem: known for their waxy, colorful leaves this plant is at the top of our list for low-maintenance houseplants. All they need to thrive is adequate light, and a good watering every couple of weeks. However, don’t worry if you slip up, since this plant grows from rhizomes, they are able store water under the soil.
Christmas Cactus: This popular houseplant which flowers in the winter, makes it a great addition to your list! It is easy to care for but propagates easily too, making it an exceptional candidate for holiday gift giving.
Extra tips to keep your plants happy long-term:
-Indoor plants love fertilizer too! Dilute an organic fertilizer like this one in your watering every couple weeks (except in the winter, Nov-March when plants are dormant.
-Dust off those houseplants every once in a while. Dust that settles on the foliage of your plants can block its ability to properly photosynthesize. So if you notice dust, use a wet cloth to wipe those leaves or even stick it in the shower for a quick rinse.
-If the air in your home is extra dry in the winter, running a humidifier or even an essential oil diffuser will increase the humidity of your home keeping you and your plants happy.
Note: Some of these plants can be toxic to pets and are recommended to be placed in a spot that is not accessible to your furry friends. This includes: Pothos, Hedera, Peace lily, Snake Plant.