If you want practical, multipurpose decorations in your home, look no further than houseplants. Choosing the best house plants brings a range of benefits, since they make your home more beautiful, healthier and more enjoyable to relax in.
House plants have become more and more popular in home decor. This is one trend I'm welcoming with open arms! Our new home's previous owner had a green thumb, so I'm slowly learning about plants, and I recently bought a REAL plant for the inside of my house. I'm excited to share a few things I've learned about easy house plants.
Plants also add another layer of style and make a space feel more inviting. Not everyone has a green thumb, so some people prefer fake houseplants to get the same effect without the upkeep of live ones. There's no shame in that! I love my faux plants too.
For those of you (like me!) who long to stretch your green thumb just a little and bring some life into your space, here are several live houseplants that can handle a fair amount of neglect.
Besides adding beauty and style and making a home more welcoming, choosing the right air-purifying plants can improve the air quality in your home.
NASA's Clean Air Study found that a number of plants can improve air quality. That's pretty amazing: certain plants can help clear out the dust and germs that often float around your home.
Easy Indoor Plants For Your Home
If you want to add live plants to your home, these are the lowest-maintenance indoor plants to bring home. These top 3 indoor plant ideas are all easy to grow and can handle neglect such as lack of water, low light, and cold or hot temperatures.
In short, if you're afraid of killing a new plant baby, these are practically guaranteed to thrive! (Find where to buy some of these plants at the end of the post!)
Pothos (AKA Devil's Ivy)
Pothos is a vining plant that can be potted normally or placed in a hanging basket. It thrives in a wide range of light and is known for its air-purifying properties.
Pothos comes in a huge number of beautiful varieties, so if you like it, you can have several different kinds around your home and still enjoy the look of a collection. It's also one of the easiest to care for.
Even if you think you have a "black thumb," you can probably grow pothos. It's one of the easiest plants to grow. It does well in low light and is very tolerant of neglect.
My pothos hangs out behind my kitchen sink. It's the perfect spot: it gets northwest sun, it's easy to water, and it fills in the awkward triangle space on my countertop! It makes me smile every time I do the dishes.
Light Requirements: moderate indirect light (such as an east- or west-facing window) is ideal, although it will tolerate low light.
Water Requirements: let the soil dry out between waterings. If you see droopy leaves, give it some water.
Fertilizer Requirements: Apply a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer, such as Miracle-Gro Liquid, once a month when watering.
Notes: Pothos is toxic if ingested, so keep it away from pets and kids who might try to chew its leaves.
Snake Plant
Snake plants, also known as mother-in-law's tongue (ha!), are tall and linear, so they add an interesting visual element to your decor. This succulent is incredibly tough and can survive nearly any environment.
I love how this plant looks, especially in a pretty basket like the one Delineate Your Dwelling uses below! This plant is definitely worth adding to your shopping list.
Light Requirements: it thrives in medium to bright indirect light, but it tolerates low light well
Water Requirements: Water occasionally, letting the soil dry out between waterings.
Fertilizer Requirements: Apply a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer, such as Miracle-Gro Liquid, once a month when watering.
Notes: Snake plant leaves are poisonous to pets and can cause nausea and vomiting if eaten.
ZZ Plant
As one of the lowest-maintenance options on the market, the ZZ plant is about as stress-free as it gets. It has gorgeous tall stalks with bright green leaves and seems almost to welcome neglect! If you haven't had any luck with plants in the past, give the ZZ plant a try.
They come in all shapes and sizes, but I'm partial to the smaller ones, just like the ZZ plant I recently added to my office.
Light Requirements: Prefers moderate light but does well in low light.
Water Requirements: Water about 3 times a month, letting it dry out before giving it a good soak.
Fertilizer Requirements: Apply a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer, such as Miracle-Gro Liquid, once a month when watering.
Where to Buy Easy House Plants Online
I love The Sill for buying plants online because they come in really nice planters (you can choose the one you want!), and the plants are great too. They carry all of the easy plants we mentioned above. But if you already have a planter, you can find plenty of plants on Etsy.
More Places to Buy Your Indoor House Plants
The cheapest (and often best) place to buy these indoor plants is your local grocery store. If you can't find them there, check out big box stores like Home Depot.
Finally, you can find them at a local nursery, but that's usually the priciest option. If you're a plant newbie, though, it may be worth the extra cost to have the chance to talk with an expert.
Important Tips For Indoor House Plant Care
House Plant Problems To Watch For
Yellow/Brown Leaves – this could have two possible causes
- Old, aging leaves. As leaves age and die off, they turn yellow and then brown. This can happen to a couple of leaves at a time and is natural, so there's nothing to worry about.
- Infection – if young, new leaves are turning yellow and brown, this is likely due to an infection, which is usually caused by overwatering. When plants are overwatered, their roots suffocate and die, and the leaves die along with them.
White Spots or Bugs – the plant has an infestation. If you see these symptoms, here's how to treat your plant:
- Take it outside
- Spray it down with this DIY solution: fill a spray bottle mostly with water, add a couple of capfuls of apple cider vinegar or neem oil, and a couple of drops of dish soap.
- Wipe down the leaves and let it sit outside for 2-3 hours to dry.
- Bring it back inside.
When You Should Fertilize Your Plants
Plants have growing seasons (March-October) and dormant seasons. Fertilize your houseplants during the growing periods and let them rest during the dormant ones.
If you fertilize during the dormant season, you may end up burning the roots, because the plant can't process the fertilizer when it isn't growing.
Essential Houseplant Accessories
Use these accessories to help care for your houseplants:
- Miracle-Gro Liquid Fertilizer
- Self-watering planters, just in case you forget to water each week.
- Bamboo Plant Shelf, to take advantage of that one perfectly lit spot in your home.
- Soil moisture, light and pH tester, perfect for when you aren't sure about the lighting or soil moisture level.
Remember, the right houseplant can add so much to your indoor space. These plants are perfect for beginners, so pick a couple and keep adding to your collection over time.
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