Bringing plants indoors is a great way to liven up your living space and enjoy the many benefits greenery offers. Certain indoor plant varieties are extremely low maintenance, thriving with minimal care while purifying the air and reducing stress. This guide will explore the top 10 easy-care houseplants to help you create an indoor oasis right at home.
Why Add Indoor Plants to Your Home?
Before diving into the specific plant varieties, let's look at some of the top reasons to incorporate indoor plants into your home or office:
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Purify Indoor Air – Plants can remove toxins like benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from the air through their natural respiratory processes. This leads to improved indoor air quality and health benefits. [1]
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Increase Oxygen – During photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Having plants indoors provides a natural oxygen boost.
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Reduce Stress – Studies show that being around plants has psychological benefits, lowering stress, anxiety, and fatigue. Their presence is calming. [2]
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Add Beauty – Plants bring life and vibrancy to any space with their lush greens, unique textures, and delightful pops of color from flowers. They liven up decor instantly.
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Improve Productivity – Employees working in spaces with plants tend to be more productive, focused, and creative according to research. [3]
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Connect with Nature – Indoor plants allow you to experience and connect with nature right within your own home. It's an easy way to bring the outdoors inside.
Now that you know why houseplants are so beneficial, let's explore the top 10 low maintenance varieties perfect for indoor spaces.
Top 10 Easy-Care Indoor Plants
1. Pothos
With its cascade of heart-shaped leaves, Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is one of the most popular indoor plants. Native to the Solomon Islands, it thrives in a wide range of conditions with bright indirect light. Let the stems trail or train them up a moss pole. Pothos care guide
2. Chinese Evergreen
An easy-going plant with shiny leaves, Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) adds lush, tropical style wherever it grows. Its varied cultivars come in colors like silver, red, pink, and green. It tolerates low light and inconsistent watering quite well. Chinese Evergreen care
3. Peace Lily
With its elegant white blooms and large glossy leaves, Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) is a classic. It loves shady spots and high humidity, filtering toxins from the air. Let the soil dry out between waterings. Peace Lily care
4. ZZ Plant
If you have a brown thumb, the ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is for you. Native to eastern Africa, it thrives on neglect and adapts to very low light. Its waxy, oval leaves add rich texture. ZZ Plant care
5. Snake Plant
With upright, sword-like leaves in shades of green, Snake Plants (Sansevieria) are ultra tolerant to drought and low light. These striking architectural plants purify air and can go weeks without water. Snake Plant care
6. Philodendron
A popular climbing vine, Philodendron has many varieties to choose from. Heartleaf philodendron has lacy leaves while Brasil philodendron has bold variegation. Give it a moss pole or let it trail. Philodendron care
7. Spider Plant
Fun and easy to grow, Spider Plants (Chlorophytum comosum) have arching leaves with baby plantlets. Trim the runners back to encourage fuller growth. The varied cultivars add interest with stripes, curls and variegation. Spider Plant care
8. Cast Iron Plant
As its name suggests, the Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior) is nearly indestructible. With glossy dark green foliage, it survives neglect and thrives in very low light. A perfect plant if you tend to forget to water! Cast Iron care
9. Lucky Bamboo
Despite its name, Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) is not a true bamboo but resembles it. Arranging the slender stems in glass vases creates a natural decoration. It grows well in just water and indirect light. Lucky Bamboo care
10. Air Plants
For an easy-care plant with a wild look, try an air plant (Tillandsia) which doesn't need soil, just weekly misting or soaking. Their sculptural shapes and spiky foliage make exciting accents without much maintenance. Air plant care
Now that you're familiar with some of the top low-maintenance indoor plant varieties, let's go over their basic care so you can help them thrive.
Caring for Indoor Plants
While specific needs vary between plant species, most indoor varieties share some common care requirements:
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Light – The majority do best in bright, indirect light near a window. Direct hot sun will burn leaves.
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Water – Check soil regularly and water when the top few inches become dry. Take care not to overwater.
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Soil – Use a well-draining potting mix, not regular garden soil. Fertilize monthly during growth periods.
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Humidity – Mist leaves often to recreate the humidity of the tropics. Group plants together for added moisture.
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Temperature – Average room temperatures between 60-80°F are ideal for most houseplants. Avoid cold drafts.
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Pruning – Remove dead leaves or stems to encourage bushier growth. Prune wayward vines to manage their size.
With the basics covered, let's look at some specific recommendations based on your conditions.
Choosing Plants for Different Situations
When selecting indoor plants, take into account the specific conditions of the space so you can choose varieties likely to thrive.
For Low Light Areas
If you have limited natural light, stick to low-light houseplants like:
- ZZ Plants
- Pothos
- Chinese Evergreen
- Peace Lily
- Philodendron
Avoid plants that demand full sun like cacti and succulents. Position plants near north-facing windows to avoid harsh direct light.
For Dry Air Environments
To boost moisture in dry indoor air, choose tropical plants that prefer humidity like:
- Ferns
- Calathea
- Prayer plants
- Parlor palms
- Orchids
Use pebble trays, humidifiers, or misting to recreate a jungle environment.
For Beginners
If you're new to indoor gardening, start with hard-to-kill options like:
- Snake plant
- Cast iron plant
- Pothos
- ZZ plant
- Air plants
Avoid fussier plants like orchids and succulents until you gain experience caring for plants. The varieties above can tolerate some neglect as you learn.
For Added Air Purification
Some great indoor plants for filtering indoor air include:
- Peace lily
- Spider plant
- Red-edged dracaena
- English ivy
- Chrysanthemums
NASA studies found these plants best at removing pollutants like benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. [4]
Why Live Plants Are Better Than Artificial Ones
When considering bringing plants indoors, you may be tempted to simply use artificial plants for their convenience. However, real, living plants have several advantages over fakes:
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Purify air of toxins and increase oxygen – artificial plants can't replicate this benefit.
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Create a stronger connection to nature, which reduces stress hormones and blood pressure.
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Change through the seasons, with new growth and flowers – artificial plants are static.
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Soften and add life to decor through their organic, imperfect beauty – artificial can look tacky.
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Are eco-friendly and may be grown from clippings or seed – fake plants are plastic and end up in landfills.
So while artificial plants are low maintenance, real plants provide unmatched health and psychological benefits that make them well worth the small effort.
Shop for Plants Online
Searching for the perfect indoor plant addition to your home or office? Shopping online makes it easy to access a wide variety of plants and accessories.
Browse indoor plant types conveniently, learn care tips, and have plants shipped directly to your door. Buying from online boutiques provides far more choice over basic big box stores. Take your time reviewing options before picking your perfect houseplants.
Some great online plant stores include:
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Bloomscape – large selection and care guidance. Shop now
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The Sill – unique indoor plant varieties to discover. Shop now
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Leaf & Clay – modern, minimalist plant decor. Shop now
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Hirt's Gardens – affordable selection of houseplants. Shop now
So don't limit yourself to whatever few options appear at the local grocery store or garden center. Browse thousands of indoor plants online to find new varieties to brighten up your living space.
Fill Your Home with Indoor Plants
As you can see, certain indoor plant varieties make excellent low-maintenance additions to homes and offices. They freshen up indoor spaces with natural beauty while purifying air and providing health benefits.
Start with a few of the easy care options highlighted here to create a tranquil oasis right at home. Group plants together on shelves to craft your own indoor garden.
With the wide range of plants available from online boutiques, you're sure to find unique varieties to spice up your decor and connect you to nature indoors. Just provide the basic care each plant needs to support lush, vibrant growth.
Take your indoor space to the next level by incorporating the beauty and benefits of indoor plants. Order from an online plant store today to get started and bring new life into your home or workplace.
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- https://patiofurnishing.com/patio-furniture-buyers-guide/
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