Bringing the outside, in: House Plants
Whether it be spending time in green open spaces, by the sea, lake or river, in the mountains or simply in the company of animals, nature can be positively associated with improving our mental wellbeing. In today’s climate and more than likely into a hybrid working future, we are all spending more time at home.
Depending where you live, access to and experiencing nature in density can prove difficult, and with many confined to apartments or townhouses, one way to bring the greenery indoors in some element are house plants.
House plants are found in many different shapes and sizes. Not only do they have the ability to brighten up your home, but scientific studies suggest that there are many other benefits that indoor plants can bring to your psychological and physical health, such as reducing stress levels and having a calming effect. Plants can help absorb noise and add to the air quality within your home. Other studies have suggested that they can also increase productivity.
Plants that act as air purifiers
Ficus Benjamina (Weeping Fig) – Originating in mainly Asia and Australia these plants can get to an incredible height in their natural settings, but indoor it is much more compact. The soil needs to be gently moist, so a water top up is required when the top two inches of soil are dry, but don’t drench it. Frequent misting helps keep the foliage nice and green. You can expect this plant to shed some leaves as per the seasons, but indoors this plant enjoys humidity and a medium light. This tree has a deep green foliage and abundance of leaves.
Howea Forsteriana (Kentia Palm) – Originating from Australia, this has witnessed incredible popularity as an indoor house plant around the world. It comes in a variety of sizes so is ideal for a small or large space. Similar to the Weeping Fig, this plant likes its air moist, so keeping a misting bottle nearby will help remind you to regularly spray its leaves. This tree is not fond of dust so an occasional wipe down is required. An overly sunny spot is not the best for this plant, but a light room away from the window should do it just fine. You will need to give it a light watering once a week, but is sturdy enough to go a few days over.
Reduce your stress and anxiety
Anthurium Adraenum (Flamingo Flower) – Difficult to pronounce, but beautiful to look at, this plant originates from the warmth of South America and the Caribbean and whilst we don’t all live in such a positive climate, managed the correct way, they can certainly thrive inside your home. Given that they originate from the tropics this plant likes regular watering so the soil is lightly moist, and to help it grow a monthly top up of liquid fertiliser won’t go astray, especially in the spring and summer. While a bright room is its thing, like a lot of plants direct light is a bit too much. We think it would be well suited to the windowsill of your bathroom but could also feature nicely in your bedroom. Whilst supporting air quality in its location, it also flowers for around 300 days of the year, so any day you are feeling dull, this one will surely brighten it up. Nostiam es egi aleris pos volorem aut inuscip santur sa endignis etus, coruptatia aut fugiatis aut occullu volorerestia nectem a sequia et autatis. Nostiam es egi aleris noxim simissoliis etiquam.
Cushion the noise
Ficus Lyrata (Fidel Tree) – The tallest of the plants featured here, this plant can grow to a height of 170 centimetres so is probably best suited to the main room of your home or an open plan kitchen/lounge. To support its frame, this plant will need a decent size pot which will need to be considered for the location you put it. This tree features big leaves and given its size, it can help reduce noise. As such, the leaves need regular misting top ups as well as watering, especially in the summer. As with the plants featured above you need to ensure the top of the soil is reasonably moist. This tree can be bought in a mature state so can handle less than ideal conditions for a period and will quickly bounce back, but smaller varieties are available.
Which are the right plants for my bedroom?
As we power through life, we all know that a considerable period of time is spent in bed which is one reason you should get a decent mattress, but in addition to that, plants carry a useful purpose for the bedroom. Whilst we breathe out carbon dioxide, plants suck it in and produce oxygen allowing us humans a more complete sleep. Whether your bedroom is light or dark, below are a couple of suggestions where your plant will thrive no matter what the lighting situation.
Low & Bright light bedroom plants
Low light bedrooms
Spathiphyllum wallisii (Peace Lily) – One of the better known bedroom plants, it grows fairly well in low light rooms. With glossy leaves, you can easily see when it needs a bit of water by way of its drooping leaves, and it will quickly perk back up. Near the window, it will bloom best, but if there is no space, anywhere in a low light area the domino type Peace Lily will thrive. Chlorophytum comosum (Curly Spider Plant) – Enjoys low level light and soaks up all those bad smells, this is the perfect plant for a low lit bedroom. As with many plants it does its bit in releasing oxygen thereby purifying your bedroom as you do the important part – sleep!
Bright bedrooms Pothos Hederaceus (Heartleaf Moss Pole) – With its signature thick leaves able to hold water, this plant is relatively low maintenance. When it comes to its need for water it can go for days without and has a preference for dry soil. On the windowsill or a table by the window it likes plenty of sunshine. Whilst releasing oxygen overnight it will draw in bad toxins from the air as well.
Aloe Vera – One of the more common plants to be found in households this little beauty is great for your bedroom. It helps purify the air helping you to sleep better, needs little watering and likes direct sunlight. A wide range of sizes available. We would, however, recommend a sturdy pot as the leaves can hold a lot of water.
Which are the right plants for my kitchen?
Whilst the kitchen is typically used for snacking, prepping and cooking, it can be pretty busy, so a few plants can bring that space to life, though is probably more appropriate for some smaller ones. Whether the plants are for culinary purposes or decorative, there is something for you. And with most kitchens being a good source of light and water, it’s not as easy to forget about looking after them.
Succulents
If your kitchen gets plenty of light then this is the ultimate small plant for your kitchen. It loves a well-lit but indirect sunny spot (otherwise it burns), and comes with thick fleshy leaves which hold a lot of water and therefore does not need frequent watering. Depending on what you choose it can grow to anywhere between 5 and 20cm.
African Violets
If you want a small plant with punchy colourful flower, then this is the one for you. They do need a bit of care, but once you get the hang of it, they flower almost year round. Given their size they are easy to manoeuvre so from spring to autumn are best suited to an east or west facing windowsill, in winter south facing is fine. Just remember that they can’t handle low temperatures so best kept above 16 degrees celsius.
Each plant has its own needs, albeit minimal, so before you get out there, please check specific advice to see if your chosen plant suits you and your home. There you have it - a lovely selection of indoor plants to add to your home sometime soon and let that greenery brighten up your day and help you breathe better at night.