Is your house looking a little dark? Lackluster? Beige? Sometimes we get busy and choose things for our house and day-to-day life that are more functional than fashionable, and that’s fine! Function is also important, but after a while, things can get stale. You need a pop of color to brighten up your life or you can get stuck in a rut. We have a solution: houseplants. Houseplants can add some color and life to any room in your home.
Refresh Your Living Space With Plants
Climbing out of a rut can seem like a monumental task, but it’s all about breaking habits. If you’re in a rut because you haven’t been taking care of your health, you could start by making yourself one, simple, healthy meal. If your home space feels stale and uninspiring, why not start with something simple to spice it up, like some colorful houseplants?
Houseplants aren’t just good for spicing things up looks-wise either. They’re also good for your health! They purify the air that you live in and are shown to help deal with stress. So if you’re stuck in a rut, bored with your house, or need a new way to de-stress, you need to find the best indoor plants to add some color into your life.
Chamomile
When you think of chamomile, you probably think of drinking a nice calming cup of tea. Chamomile is an herb with green feathery leaves and white and yellow flowers that humanity has relied on for its healing and anti-inflammatory qualities since the times of the ancient Egyptians. Its scent is often used for perfumes and calming aromatherapy. Everything about chamomile makes it an ideal flowering houseplant to add to your home.
Chamomile Care Tips:
- Choose a pot that is around 12 inches in diameter to plant your chamomile in, so they have room to grow. They can also be planted in a smaller pot and repotted later on when they grow.
- Chamomile plants should be near a south-facing window so they get the proper amount of sunlight. Southern windows typically get the most sunlight in the house.
- Water your chamomile about once a week; they should be kept moist but not overly wet.
Geranium
Geraniums are a popular flowering houseplant for multiple reasons: Geraniums are easy to grow and hard to kill. They come in a variety go shapes, sizes, and colors like pink, purple, red, white, and blue. They do well in pots or hanging planters and will be sure to brighten any room up. If you’re a beginner when it comes to flowering houseplants, look no further than a geranium.
Geranium Care Tips:
- Geraniums will do well in moderate to high amounts of sunlight.
- Geraniums should be watered deeply once the soil feels dry on the top.
- Regularly trim your geraniums. Cutting the heads off blooms when they die will help encourage new blooms to grow in their place!
Croton
If you’re looking for a colorful houseplant that has green, yellow, orange, cream, and black leaves that come in all shapes and sizes, you’re looking for a croton. Unfortunately, the croton has a reputation of being a finicky little plant that is hard to keep alive, but that’s only if you don’t treat your plant right. The croton is just like you; the better you take care of its health, the more beautifully it will blossom.
The croton is a tropical plant, so they will need to be misted regularly and kept in warm rooms. They will not like temperatures under 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Crotons should only be watered when their top layer of soil is dry.
Croton Care Tips:
- The croton is a tropical plant, so they will need to be misted regularly and kept in warm rooms. They will not like temperatures under 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Crotons should only be watered when their top layer of soil is dry. When you water them, water until the water flows out of the bottom of the container. Make sure the pot has good drainage. Empty the water that falls into the tray kept under the pot if you have one.
- The croton does not like to be moved, so do what you can to avoid moving them around. Of course, there will be times where that’s unavoidable. For example when you buy a croton and bring it home. The worse that will happen is it will lose some of its leaves. Do not fret. If you continue to take good care of the plant, its gorgeous leaves will grow back.
Begonias
Begonias are a popular choice for a colorful houseplant both because they are both beautiful and easy to grow. There are more than 1,700 different kinds of begonias, so there is a wide variety to choose from. They will grow in window boxes, pots, or hanging baskets so they can brighten up any corner, window, or shelf that needs more color in your house. Place begonias where they can get sun at least part of the day.
Begonia Care Tips:
- Begonias should be planted in a pot roughly the size of the plant with neutral indoor potting soil.
- Place begonias where they can get sun at least part of the day.
- Make sure that begonias are kept in a room that doesn’t get colder than 55 degrees Fahrenheit; they will not handle the cold very well.
- Water begonias when the soil of the top of the pot feels dry. Make sure they have good drainage so they don’t drown.
Pothos
It sounds like one of the Three Muskateers, but did you know that research from NASA found that the golden pothos is one of the best plants at purifying the air? They can flourish under a variety of conditions and make the perfect addition to the kitchen, home office, or living room, where they can clean up common indoor air pollutants. Among the toxicants that pothos plants can eliminate include: formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, benzene, carbon monoxide. Keep these away from your pawed friends that like to nibble on greens. Pothos plants are toxic to dogs and cats.
Pothos Care Tips:
- Allow the soil to dry out before you water. Pothos thrive with minimal watering. Don’t let the soil stay dry too long though!
- Bright but indirect light is the best. Pothos don’t need or prefer a day of full sun.
- Warning: keep these away from your pawed friends that like to nibble on greens. Pothos plants are toxic to dogs and cats.
English Ivy
English Ivy makes for one of the best indoor plants because it’s such a breeze to grow (so long as it gets a little time in direct sunlight), and comes in varieties of greens, whites, yellows, and blacks. Its versatility also makes it easy to match any color scheme. Beyond home decor, it’s one of the top reducers of indoor air pollutants: English Ivy can filter your kitchen air of formaldehyde, benzene, mold, and bacteria.
English Ivy Care Tips:
- Warning – if you have pets, this lush plant needs to be a hanging addition to your kitchen, as it is toxic to our furry friends.
- Bright light but not direct sunlight is the key to thriving ivy. They can tolerate really low light but won’t thrive.
- They don’t like overly moist soil so make sure the pot drains well.
- English ivy appreciates humidity. Pebbles make a good planting medium as they increase humidity.
White Jasmine
White Jasmine is a little high maintenance in that you need to keep its soil moist, but its sweet smell and beautiful flowers will make it well worth the effort. Unlike most flowering plants, jasmine does well inside, especially during the winter months. White jasmine makes one of the best plants for the kitchen. Delicate and not overpowering, this houseplant’s fresh fragrance will keep your kitchen smelling bright and clean no matter how clean it actually might be.
White Jasmine Care Tips:
- Dwarf varieties will do the best indoors.
- Keep the soil but don’t let it remain soggy.
- Prune jasmine during their dormant season (Winter) to control their growth.
- Stimulate growth by fertilizing twice a year, during Spring and Summer. Use a fertilizer that is strong in phosphorus and potassium.
String of Hearts
String of Hearts is a succulent vine that can survive with little to no maintenance. This plant grows like a weed (pun intended) and can go from a small plant to a full vine in a matter of a few months. String of Hearts loves the heat, but not the direct sun, which makes it ideal for a shady spot in the kitchen. The vines tend to split and branch, and then tangle, but it’s part of the romantic, overgrown garden appeal.
String of Hearts Care Tips:
- String of Hearts loves the heat, but not the direct sun, which makes it ideal for a shady spot in the kitchen.
- The vines tend to split and branch, and then tangle, but it’s part of the romantic, overgrown garden appeal.
- String of Hearts goes dormant for Autumn and Winter so you can reduce watering.
Basil
It’s no surprise that some of the best plants for the kitchen are herbs, and nothing beats having fresh pesto at the drop of a hat! Growing basil works best in a kitchen that has a window sill and gets lots of full light: keep this versatile herb in full sun with moist, well-draining soil. For big leaves and long stalks, pick off the blooms as they bud. Place next to a window (south-facing is best) that can receive at least 6 hours of sunlight during the day.
Basil Care Tips:
- Place next to a window (south-facing is best) that can receive at least 6 hours of sunlight during the day. If your kitchen is not near a bright window, basil will need supplemental fluorescent lighting for about 10 hours per day.
- Don’t let the soil stay soggy, soggy soil runs the risk of root rot.
- Use organic fertilizer to ensure healthy growth habits.
- When your basil thrives, be prepared to repot every two years.
Additional Low Light Indoor Plants to Decorate Your Space With
Jade
Succulents are great plants for first-timers, and jade plants make especially great housewarming gifts. Also called lucky plant and money plant, jade plants are durable, require very little water, and several hours of indirect light. Their fleshy, oval leaves are evergreen, and jade plants can live up to 70 years, slowly growing to three to six feet tall. Jade is one of the best indoor plants for easy care, but be sure to place them out of reach for pets, as they are toxic to cats and dogs.
Spider Plant
Easy to grow, easy care, and easy on the budget – that would be enough to justify the spider plant’s popularity. But two features make it undeniable as one of the best houseplants. First, spider plants are superior at purifying and filtering pollutants from the air. In a NASA study, spider plants removed 95% of formaldehyde toxins from the air. Second, starting new spider plants from the baby plants that grow on the plant’s trailing stems is easy and fun. It’s a great project for kids, and a way to make low-cost, high-impact DIY gifts.
Peace Lily
Another easy care plant, the peace lily will let you know if it’s thirsty. If it’s gone too long without water, the large leaves will begin to droop. This forgiving plant is one of the best indoor plants for low light, and even tolerate fluorescent light, making it a great plant for the office. The simple white bloom isn’t a flower, but a bract that appears in spring and sometimes again in the fall.
Peace lilies are wonderful gifts, not only for the calm and tranquility its name embodies. Its easy going nature actually does provide a certain peace, that even the brownest thumb can keep peace lilies alive. The peace lily is also known for its air purifying abilities, neutralizing toxins like carbon monoxide and formaldehyde in the air.
Elephant Ear Plants
These tropical plants are easily recognizable because of their large, heart-shaped leaves. They need lots of sunlight and regular watering, and can grow very large. A great statement plant for roomy areas, elephant ear plants have leaves in a range of green, and are often variegated. They can be transplanted in the garden in zones 9-11.
Parlor Palm
Another tropical plant, the parlor palm is one of the best low light plants, perfect for offices and dimly lit areas of the house. It grows in clumps with light textured foliage. The deep green fronds are popular in floral arrangement, wreaths, and Palm Sunday decorations, as they can last up to 40 days after being cut.
The parlor palm is one of the best houseplants for beginners for its adaptability to differently lighted areas. It’s also known to clean, purify, and humidify the air. Parlor palms can last decades as an indoor potted tree, and longer outdoors.
ZZ Plant
ZZ plant is also called the Zanzibar gem for their place of origin, East Africa, specifically Zanzibar and Tanzania. This low maintenance, drought tolerant plant is getting a lot of buzz lately, and it’s easy to see why it’s considered one of the best indoor plants, even for those with a not-so-green thumb. The zz plant is an air cleaning powerhouse, improving the environment while looking gorgeous!
The zz plant’s leaves are naturally shiny that will look dull when it needs to be dusted. Commercial leaf shine will clog the leaves’ pores, so gentle cleaning with a damp cloth will bring back their brilliance. All this plant needs is partial sun and a good watering every couple of weeks. But the zz plant grows from rhizomes, helping them store water under the soil, so if you forget to water, don’t worry.
Inchplant
This houseplant is great for adding texture and a pop of color to your home. A member of the spiderwort family, it’s also called zebra plant or silver inch plant because of its foliage, which boasts shades of purple, green and silver. The intensity of the leaves’ colors is at its best in full sun.
The inchplant is extremely durable, perfect for the aspiring green thumb, thriving in almost any indoor environment. It’s a trailing plant, perfect for underplanting with taller plants like plumeria and ficus. This is an easy plant to start from cuttings.
Monstera
This native plant to Mexico and Panama is instantly recognizable for its large leaves with holes, earning it the nickname, Swiss cheese plant. This easy to grow evergreen is one of the best indoor plants to add a “wow factor” to any room. They’re fast growers, between one and two feet a year, and fully grown in about three years. Preferring a warm, humid environment and dappled light, the monstera plant purifies the air, but is toxic to humans and pets.
African Violet
African violets are among the most popular houseplants, with many devotees who collect these vibrant little beauties. Though often characterized as difficult, in the right conditions, they flourish, giving your home a pop of vibrant violet blue. African violets thrive in bright light and warm, humid air. The leaves will turn brown if water is left on them, so watering only the soil is key to keeping African violets happy.
Polka Dot Plant
This sweet little plant boasts deep green leaves with a splash of pink. The polka dot plant stays relatively small, one of the best houseplants for small spaces or a pop of color amongst greenery plants. They’re pretty easy to please, best in humid spots with bright, indirect light.
Air Plants
Air plants have been trending, and they’re a really fun addition to your indoor plant collection. They don’t need soil, just a friendly surface and plenty of humidity. Give them an occasional spritz from a water bottle and they’re happy. There are so many varieties to choose from. Try a few in a bowl or terrarium. They make great conversation starters, as many people will be surprised and delighted at these magical little plants!
Buy Some Color with Bouqs
At The Bouqs Co., we’re huge fans of room decoration with flowers. But when it comes to green things, we don’t discriminate! We believe a dash of water-loving, sun-soaking greenery makes any room that much happier – especially the room where you share so many meals and memories with your loved ones. If you need help with houseplant care, we have your back. We hope our picks of the best indoor plants help you give you some inspiration when you order indoor plants for delivery.
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