Indoor Plants For Every Kind Of Person
Indoor plants can brighten your living spaces. Whether on a plant stand or in a hanging planter, indoor plants add color to any room. Whether you have a green thumb and pruning shears at the ready or you’re just hoping your next plant will live, get ready to put on your gardening gloves and get started taking care of your new indoor plant. Here are a few of the best indoor plants for every kind of person.
Low Maintenance Indoor Plants
Air Plants
Air plants are unique because they don’t need much to grow — just a little bit of water, indirect sunlight, and a surface to grow on. Because air plants don’t need soil, you can use them to decorate in unique ways. Put them in hanging glass bulbs, planters, or terrariums. You can even allow them to grow on other plants or make a wreath out of several air plants. To care for an air plant, make sure it has indirect sunlight, warm temperatures—anything below 45°F is too cold, and water about every ten days.
Aloe Vera*
If you’ve ever had a bad sunburn, you’re probably familiar with the aloe vera plant. The plant’s sap can be a skin moisturizer or skin pain reliever. It helps relieve a variety of topical health issues — just don’t ingest it as it can cause some stomach problems. You can use this spiky succulent to decorate just about any space. The plant can grow to be quite tall, and its height will add dimension to a room. To care for an aloe vera plant, place it in bright, indirect sunlight, in a room with warm temperatures, and water the plant every one to two weeks.
Snake Plant*
Snake plants are nearly indestructible. Because of its long, sharp leaves, it is also called the mother-in-law’s tongue. Snake plants are hardy and make great decorations for many different types of rooms. You may have seen snake plants in many malls and shopping centers where they are popular because of their hardy nature. To care for a snake plant, plant it in sandy soil and place it in a room with indirect light and warm temperatures. You should water the plant about every two weeks or when the soil dries out.
High Maintenance Indoor Plants
Boston Fern
The Boston fern is a popular indoor plant with a tropical vibe. It can be placed in a hanging basket, in a planter, on a pedestal, or grouped with other plants. This fern is still relatively hardy but needs proper care to thrive. The plant does best in a high humidity environment. To care for a Boston fern, place it in bright indirect sunlight, warm temperatures, and water frequently. The plant’s root ball should always be moist.
Calathea
Calathea plants brighten up an indoor space with their unique colors and beautiful leaves. This plant can visually break up the greens of other houseplants. Though the plant can be a bit finicky and will require some care to keep alive, their signature showy leaves make it worth your effort. To care for a Calathea plant, place it in low to bright indirect sunlight in a humid area and water with filtered water. You will need to keep the soil moist.
Fiddle Leaf Fig*
This beautiful plant has a unique design that adds a stylish element to any room. The fiddle-shaped, bright green leaves can help break up a by an area by adding a visually exciting design element. This remarkable plant can grow up to nine feet tall. Because of its leaves, the fiddle leaf fig is a little harder to take care of than the average houseplant. You will need to take a few extra steps to care for the leaves in addition to watering and fertilizing the plant. To care for a fiddle leaf fig, place it in bright, indirect sunlight, water frequently, and dust the leaves every couple weeks.
Pet and Child-Friendly Plants
Sometimes plants are toxic to people and animals, and they are harmful if ingested. These plants are safe if your pet or child accidentally eats them.
African Violet
African violets have a long history of being a favorite indoor plant since the mid-19th century. These small but bright plants add a pop of color to spaces. Their leaves are dark green, and the flowers come in several colors. Because of its vibrant colors, the plant stands out from other indoor plants. This small, colorful plant is also safe for animals and children. To care for an African violet, place it in indirect sunlight, warm temperatures, keep the soil moist, and water from the bottom.
Ponytail Palm
This low maintenance plant is ideal for an active household with children or animals. The ponytail palm’s name is a bit of a misnomer as the plant is more closely related to succulents than palms. Similarly, you will care for the plant like a succulent or cactus. This versatile plant can be used to decorate a variety of spaces and can grow from one foot up to twenty feet tall. The size of its container limits its growth. To care for a ponytail palm, place it in bright sunlight, warm temperatures, and water when the soil dries out.
Spider Plant
Spider plants are versatile plants to decorate a space. You can place the plant in a hanging planter or a decorative pot. The plants can do well either indoors or outdoors, depending on your climate. Spider plants are easy to grow, and care is simple. This plant is also safe for animals and children. To care for a spider plant, place it in moderate to bright light, warm temperatures, and water about once a week.
*Plant may be toxic for animals and children when ingested.
