Who would have thought that houseplants would become a craze?
Apparently, they’re extremely popular right now (and, for the most part, a lot easier to take care of than a pet…or a kid!) and people can’t buy them, grow them, or post about them on social media fast enough.
Who can blame people for being obsessed with houseplants right now?
Many of us (in the northern hemisphere, that is) are only just coming out of winter, not to mention even more of us have been cooped up more than ever due to the pandemic.
When life is limited mostly to your house or the indoors, houseplants are a great way to add life, vibrancy, color…
…and even health benefits into your home, when it would otherwise be drab.
Yep, you heard me right: getting houseplants into your life isn’t just a nerdy horticulturist thing.
Houseplants may lift your spirits mentally and emotionally, giving you a little dose of natural surroundings right within your home— which is shown to help you reach a calm and stable state of mind.
But they also have surprising physical and health-related effects on your wellbeing, too. But how?
If you’re wanting to get on that houseplant bandwagon but have never been able to keep something green alive for more than a week, no need to fret.
There are tons of different kinds of houseplants that require very little care, attention, and even watering to grow and thrive— and these have their own special wellness boosting properties, too.
After studying and reading up on the best houseplant choices (because this guy might be in the market for one or more, too…) here are the best ones I have found, for both beginning and seasoned growers.
Spider plant.
Some estimate this spiky little guy can purify about 95% of known toxins from the air. I’ll be honest, I’m not sure the science on these kinds of claims is thorough, but frankly, accurate data on a percent of filtration is not relevant to my decision of having one in my home. The main reason I like them: they hardly need any care! You can overwater, underwater…doesn’t matter. The spider plant will thrive!
Aloe vera.
This desert plant needs virtually no water— all it needs is the sunniest spot in the house. You can cut leaves off and use the inner gel as a dry skin and minor burn soother. Aloe also helps remove formaldehyde from the air, to boot!
Rubber plant.
Eye-catching and the furthest thing from needy, rubber plants have enormous leaves that do something quite special: they pick up dust, mold, and animal hair so you don’t have to breathe it. Instead of dusting all over, just dust the leaves of your rubber plants!
Ferns.
Ferns are beautiful, low-maintenance, and bring amazing vibes to just about any home. They also can contribute to better humidity indoors, which can boost the quality of dry, stale indoor air— especially if you’ve got those dry, stuffy sinuses or you absolutely hate humidifiers.
I will always still recommend getting outside into Nature as often as possible. Nothing beats time in the forest, on a hike, or sitting by a river.
But even the most adventurous of us are still spending the majority of our time indoors. So why not turn your home into a jungle! There is really no downside.
Only the possibility of increased mental, emotional, and physical health. :)
Share in the comments about your experience with indoor houseplants and what you've found to be the easiest that you'd recommend to newbies!
- For US readers, here's a cool company that I've purchased from before that I absolutely love. Bloomscape delivers fully grown and potted plants to your door. They even have a selection of herbs and vegetables, not just houseplants. They've got tools and endless "plant-parenting" support. If it's your first order, with this link you can save 20% off.