A Review of the Best Houseplants for Indoor Gardening
Bring a garden-like feel to your home with these easy-to-grow houseplants. From trailing beauties like String of Hearts and Jade necklace vine to taller specimens like Kentia palm and Elephant's ear, these plants are sure to please.
The trendy snake plant (also known as mother-in-law's tongue) is a beautiful, low-maintenance option. It thrives with bright indirect light, doesn't need soil, and loves a weekly misting. It also filters air pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde, and xylene.
Peace Lily
The peace lily is an easy-to-care-for houseplant that adds life and a fresh look to any room. Often used as an altar plant, this flowering plant symbolizes peace and healing. The plant’s common name, Spathiphyllum foliaris persistens, is derived from the Greek words for a spathe, or leaf, and phyllon, or plant.
It grows best in medium lighting conditions. The leaves are dark green with a tough texture and strong ribbing, making this plant attractive even when it is not in bloom. The plant is also known for its air-cleaning properties, and it is recommended by naturopathic doctors to be one of the best plants for purifying indoor air.
Peace lilies are susceptible to root rot, so they mustn’t get too wet. They need to be watered regularly, but they should always have a chance to dry out in between. Overwatering will cause the roots to rot while allowing the soil to become too dry causing the plant to wilt and develop brown spots. When watering, use room-temperature water that has had a chance to percolate overnight.
The plant prefers a warm environment. It does well in temperatures from 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, but it needs to be protected from cold drafts and sudden drops in temperature. The peace lily can be grown as a houseplant, but it is also a popular plant for outdoor gardens and is well-suited to shady areas where few other plants thrive.
It is important to keep in mind that the plant may require repotting, particularly if it starts to droop or the leaves begin to look crowded and deformed. The best time to repot is in late winter or early spring.
Repotting the plant involves removing the entire plant from the container and carefully separating the crowns. Then, the plant can be planted in a pot that is about 2 inches (5 cm) larger than the current container. The pot should have a saucer that is placed beneath it to catch any overflow of water. A light potting mix is the ideal type of soil to use.
Pothos
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is one of the easiest houseplants for beginners and seasoned growers alike. A tropical vine related to philodendrons, it has heart-shaped leaves that are green or variegated with white or yellow. Native to Mo'orea, the plant is a versatile trailing houseplant that works well in most rooms. It can be tied to a trellis or draped across a wall for an impactful display. It's also a great choice for hanging baskets and macrame planters. While it rarely flowers, the plant is fast-growing and virtually pest-free. It's also tolerant of many conditions, including low light.
Like other philodendrons, pothos is easy to care for and requires very little attention. It can thrive in bright indirect sunlight or even in practically no light at all, making it a good option for low-light areas of the home. It also grows happily in most standard houseplant potting mixes or a chunky, well-draining aroid mix. Be sure to drench the soil thoroughly each time you water it, allowing it to dry out a few inches down before watering again.
Variegated pothos plants may lose their pattern if they're not given enough light, but moving them to a brighter spot usually restores the variegation. Infrequent watering is okay as long as the soil stays slightly moist, but overwatering can lead to root rot. Brown leaf edges or a general appearance of being droopy or wilted are signs that the plant is overwatered.
The pothos plant can be propagated by taking cuttings and repotting them. The resulting new plants can then be used for indoor landscaping. Pothos is poisonous to cats, dogs, and other pets if eaten, so it should be kept out of their reach.
In addition to being hardy and low maintenance, the pothos plant can also add color and texture to your indoor garden with its long, trailing stems. Use the leaves in bouquets and arrangements to add a touch of greenery to your home or office. Its colorful foliage can also liven up a dull entryway or dark dining room. The pothos plant has a wide variety of colors and patterns, so be sure to select the one that suits your personal style and interior design. Explore a variety of pothos plants and other indoor garden options at Plants.com, and consider using Plants.com Coupons for potential savings on your purchase, adding beauty and vibrancy to your living spaces
Monstera
Known to some as the Swiss Cheese Plant or Split-Leaf Philodendron, Monstera is an easy-to-grow climbing tropical houseplant adored for its dramatic leaves. It requires warmth and humidity to thrive but is also tolerant of low light conditions.
As the name suggests, the elongated green leaf shapes of this popular houseplant resemble those of a philodendron, with slit-like openings that eventually fill out and close over time. These holes are a byproduct of the plant’s natural habitat, in rainforests where vegetation above blocks sunlight from reaching the lower leaves.
These plants grow best in moderate to bright indirect light with high humidity. They are easy to keep healthy and require minimal maintenance. They do not like direct sun or hot temperatures, however.
Like other plants that produce edible fruit, Monstera deliciosa needs to be fertilized to encourage flowering and fruit production. A variety of fertilizers are available, including compost tea and seaweed.
Misting the leaves is another easy way to promote humidity. This is particularly important during fall and winter when the air tends to be dry. It is also a good idea to use a well-draining soil mixture, adding ingredients like perlite or lava rocks for aeration as needed. Adding extra organic matter, such as coffee grounds or eggshells, can help increase acidity in the soil as well.
This exotic plant, which hails from southern Mexico and Panama, is a member of the Araceae family and produces juicy pineapple and banana-like fruit. It is not a common houseplant to bear fruit, but if you provide the right environment it is possible to see your plant bloom and bear fruit in about three years.
Remember to treat your plants with care, especially if you have pets or children. Leaves, seeds, and fruit from some plants can be irritating to sensitive lungs, and other parts of the plant may contain oxalic acid crystals that can cause a burning sensation in the throat. In addition to this, certain species of plants produce compounds that can be toxic if ingested. Always be sure to keep houseplants out of reach of small children and pets.
Dracaena
Dracaena (dragon tree) is the bestselling houseplant for new plant parents because it's drought tolerant, easy to care for, and almost impossible to kill. It's a tropical plant that can tolerate a wide range of temperatures and thrives in indirect bright light. It can also improve indoor air quality by removing benzene, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.
Dracaena plants are slow-growing but can grow to 6 feet tall or more over time with proper care. This is a great choice for large areas where a fuller, greener look is desired. Like other tropical plants, it needs a high level of humidity to prevent leaf spots and rot. It's best to mist the foliage and/or use a room humidifier during the dry winter months. Dracaenas benefit from a monthly feeding with a water-soluble fertilizer formulated for houseplants, but be sure to hold off on the feed in fall and winter.
The dracaenas most often grown as houseplants have strappy leaves in a fountain-like arrangement atop stout tan stems. Some of the most popular cultivars include 'Massangeana,' with broad slender leaves with yellow stripes, and 'Lindenii,' which has thin, leathery leaves and wider margin stripes. Other options are 'Golden Heart,' which has strappy leaves with a bright yellow center, and 'Rothiana,' whose leaves have cream-colored edges.
It's important to keep in mind that dracaenas will shed a lot of their old, dead leaves to make room for new growth. This is a natural and healthy process that's necessary for the plant to thrive. However, if you notice the tips of your dracaena's leaves fading and turning brown or crispy, this may be caused by overwatering or hard water (tap water that contains salts and fluoride).
Other problems that can affect a dracaena include root rot from a soil mix that doesn't drain well and fungal disease in the form of brown spots on the leaves. Infected leaves usually appear as tan or reddish-brown spots with yellow halos. Mealybugs and scale insects are common insect pests that can also be a problem for dracaenas. These bugs can be controlled with neem oil or insecticidal soap. Explore solutions for plant care, including options from Plants.com, and consider using Home and garden Coupons for potential savings on your purchase, ensuring the health and vitality of your dracaena and other plants in your collection.
Conclusion
Indoor gardening with houseplants is a great way to bring some greenery into your home, purify the air, and boost your mood. From the snake plant to the spider plant, there are plenty of options to choose from depending on your preferences and needs. Remember to provide proper care for your plants, including sufficient light, water, and nutrients, to ensure they thrive in their indoor environment. Happy planting!
