Indoor plants add a touch of greenery and warmth to any place, and can even help improve the quality of air in your home! Not to mention, plants are known to provide many other health benefits on top of adding beauty to just about any space.
If you don’t have a green thumb, you may feel overwhelmed by the variety of indoor plants available today. There are large plants, small plants, hanging plants, succulents, and many more to choose from.
But that doesn’t mean you have to resort to a life of fake plants and flowers. We’ve rounded up some of the best indoor plants you can buy to help you find the one that’s perfect for your living space.
From low-maintenance indoor plants, to ones that can thrive in low light conditions, you’re bound to find the one that’s right for you!
Best Low-Maintenance Indoor Plants
Pothos
Pothos is a popular low-maintenance plant that is easy to care for and can thrive in many different environments. It has long, trailing vines with heart-shaped leaves that come in a variety of colors, including green, yellow, white, and even variegated.
Pothos is an excellent choice for beginners because it can tolerate low light levels and doesn’t need to be watered very often.
Although there are various different types of pothos, the Marble Queen pothos is definitely one of the most loved varieties thanks to the stunning white streaks running through its moss-green leaves and stems.
Photo Credit: Dreamstime.
Spider Plant
The spider plant is a popular indoor plant that requires little care and can thrive in a variety of conditions. It has long, slender leaves with white or yellow stripes that vary in size and shape.
Spider plants do not require a great deal of water or light to survive, making them an excellent option for new plant parents. What’s best is that this is a fast-growing indoor plant too, so you should be able to see substantial growth in just a few weeks.
Place the plant in bright to moderate light in a room, and keep the soil slightly. In spring and summer, weekly watering is sufficient; in winter, allow the soil to dry out a bit more between waterings.
Photo Credit: Dreamstime.
Succulents
Succulents are low maintenance plants that can liven up a desk or window sill. These trendy plants add a pop of color to your home without detracting from its minimalist design.
Plus, they are low maintenance, making them ideal for beginners and anyone who feels like they don’t have much of a green thumb.
Succulents thrive in bright light, so place them in a bright room, but you can cut back on watering and feeding them in the fall and winter as the days get shorter.
The general rule is to thoroughly water succulents once a week in the summer, twice a month in the spring and fall, and once a month in the winter when they are dormant.
Photo Credit: Dreamstime.
Best Air Purifying Indoor Plants
Snake Plant
The snake plant, also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, is a hardy succulent that can survive in a variety of conditions. It has long, sword-shaped leaves that come in shades of green and yellow.
Snake plants are very low maintenance and don’t need much water or light to thrive. They’re known and loved for their easy-going nature and air-purifying capabilities. In fact, the easiest way to kill this plant is to overcare for it.
They were picked as one of the best air-purifying plants in NASA’s Clean Air Study and can clear out toxins from the air, such as formaldehyde and benzene to reduce the amount of air pollutants in indoor spaces.
Due to its resemblance to evergreen shrub species, it is now botanically classified as Dracaena trifasciata, and are also commonly referred to as Sansevieria trifasciata.
The new shoots or snake plant pups that cluster around the base of the main plant are easy to separate and replant.
Photo Credit: Dreamstime.
Aloe Vera
Aloes are easy-to-grow succulents that purify the air of benzene and formaldehyde released by paints, cleaners with chemical ingredients, and other products.
The plants require a bright spot in your home. They do best in a cactus potting mix, but regular potting soil with some perlite or sand added will work as well.
If you have a minor burn, apply the gel from a broken or cut aloe leaf as this is a versatile, multi-purpose indoor plant that you’re going to absolutely love.
Photo Credit: Dreamstime.
English Ivy
English ivy, also known as Hedera helix, is a versatile plant that has been shown to reduce carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, and toxins in its surroundings.
They thrive in direct sunlight and must be thoroughly watered once the soil dries out. The English Ivy is truly a versatile houseplant that can be grown in many different situations. They can be grown in hanging baskets, at the base of other houseplants, and in pots of their own.
Indoor Ivy should be watered when the soil is dry to the touch but not completely dry. This means you should water your English Ivy once a week on average.
Photo Credit: Dreamstime.
Best Flowering Indoor Plants
Peace Lily
Peace lilies are a beautiful flowering plant that is easy to care for and can tolerate low light levels. It has large white flowers and glossy green leaves that make it an attractive addition to any home.
Peace lilies don ’t need to be watered very often and can survive in a variety of environments. Plus, they provide lots of visual cues as to what they need. Water peace lilies once a week or so to keep them healthy.
If you forget, the plant will wilt dramatically to alert you that it is thirsty and then perk right back up. It can tolerate low-light conditions, but it will produce more lovely white blooms if grown in medium to bright indirect light.
Photo Credit: Dreamstime.
Anthurium
Anthurium are making their way up the list of best houseplants because of their bright red or dusky pink flowers. The plant is in bloom all year round because the flowers are actually modified leaves.
Use your anthurium as the focal point of your living room or foyer, or incorporate it into a greenery collection for a lovely pop of colour.
Although these plants prefer warm temperatures, they’re extremely adaptable and absolutely flourish in typical household temperatures. Water them when the first few inches of soil dries out, but make sure not to overwater them.
Photo Credit: Dreamstime.
Orchid
Orchids in bloom are among the most beautiful houseplants you can have, and this phalaenopsis orchid is a low-maintenance option for those just starting out.
It should be kept in bright, indirect light and watered every few weeks. If it is healthy, it will bloom stunning flowers once a year that will last for up to three months. And what’s best is that this is a pet-friendly, non-toxic indoor houseplant too!
Photo Credit: Dreamstime.
Best Low Light Indoor Plants
ZZ Plant
The ZZ plant, or Zamioculcas zamiifolia, is another beginner-friendly houseplant. It does well in conditions that are less than ideal, such as being watered infrequently or exposed to dry air.
Also, the ZZ plant doesn’t require a lot of light, so it’s a great option for people who live in apartments or other dimly lit spaces.
The ZZ plant is a lovely option for the kitchen or bathroom because it looks good both alone and in a group with other plants.
Photo Credit: Dreamstime.
Philodendron
Philodendrons are great houseplants that can thrive in medium to low light conditions, which makes them the perfect addition to any space, room, or office that has limited sunlight.
Direct sunlight is ideal for them, but they’ll still grow well in areas with limited indirect sunlight. Their robust trails of vines dangle with heart-shaped leaves and also give you clear signs of when you need to adjust something.
So, if you start seeing that the leaves are yellowing, you’re overwatering it. And if the leaves are curling up, then you’re not watering it enough. This stunning plant is truly the perfect indoor plant for any space.
Photo Credit: Dreamstime.
How Do House Plants Help Improve Health?
Taking care of plants and admiring their beauty can be deeply therapeutic. Dopamine and serotonin are two neurotransmitters that can be increased by looking at something beautiful.
The presence of plants primes the brain to anticipate interacting with them and receiving a dose of these ‘feel-good neurochemicals.’
Plants enhance mood and stress management, providing immediate benefits. Their long-term benefits include enhancing air quality, which can cut down on headaches, and increasing humidity, which can alleviate dry skin.
In fact, a 1989 NASA study demonstrated that houseplants can help improve air quality by removing cancer-causing chemicals such as benzene and formaldehyde from the air.
Plus, microbes in soil can be transferred from one person to another through simple handling, which may improve the diversity of the microbiome in the home, which in turn may be good for the digestive system and the skin.
However, having houseplants is not a recommended treatment for any medical condition.
What are the Best Indoor Plants for Air Purification?
Plants have been shown in studies to help with air purification, particularly in areas where air quality is an issue. Clearer thinking, reduced stress, and a lower asthma risk are just some of the benefits of breathing cleaner air.
Plants in the home perform a number of important environmental functions, including removing pollutants from the air, absorbing carbon dioxide, and releasing oxygen. As time spent indoors continues to rise, this is an increasingly relevant concept.
More oxygen could theoretically improve your focus, reduce headaches, and improve your mood.
Some of the best indoor plants for adding oxygen and purifying the air are snake plants, spider plants, peace lilies, aloe vera, ferns, and English ivy.
What are the Mental Health Benefits of Caring for a Houseplant?
Plants give the caretaker a tangible, positive result that can help them feel more in control of their lives, which can reduce anxiety and promote overall wellness.
Being observant of how the plant is growing, how it looks, and how to troubleshoot ways to solve problems provides the caretaker with a sense of pride and of having accomplished something.
The process of witnessing their development can be relaxing, calming, and meditative.
This article was produced and syndicated by Planet Natural.
More Indoor Plant Articles from Planet Natural:
How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Alocasia (Elephant’s Ear)
How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Calathea Plant Indoors
How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Shampoo Ginger Lily
Eric Vinje founded Planet Natural with his father Wayne in 1991, originally running it as a grasshopper bait mail-order business out of a garage.
Eric is now retired, but is still a renowned gardener known for his expertise in composting, organic gardening and pest control, utilizing pesticide-free options, such as beneficial insects.
Eric believes when you do something good for the environment, the effects will benefit generations to come.
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