Creating Your Own Green Space: A Guide to Houseplants
Whether you’re seeking to brighten up your apartment in a bustling city or set on bringing some of the beautiful greenery of the countryside into your living area to enjoy all year round, owning houseplants can be essential to self-care. Not only are houseplants proven to improve the quality of indoor air, but they also offer several wellness properties—with their mere presence found to contribute to overall stress reduction, relaxation, and even productivity.
If you’re looking to start your indoor botanical journey but don’t quite know where to begin, here is our brief guide to beginner houseplants to help you cultivate your own luscious, leafy escape.
POTHOS
Found in many different varieties, these resilient beauties are perfect for plant-owning beginners.
Pothos are easy to care for and able to thrive in both indirect sunlight and low-light spaces. Not to mention, the speed at which they grow makes them a great plant to propagate and grow your collection.
AIR PLANT
These evergreen plants are precisely as they sound–they grow with just water and air, no soil necessary.
Air plants are a great option if you’re looking to spruce up a wall with some greenery or even set up a terrarium or ornate tray to decorate a tabletop. All you need to do is soak them in water once every week to ten days.
SPIDER PLANT
Another endlessly resilient green friend, the spider plant, is at the top of the list in terms of easy care.
These spindly, striped wonders prefer bright, indirect sunlight and like to dry out between waterings—making them great for forgetful plant parents or those who leave town in brief bouts from time to time. Plus, they are known for sprouting adorable spider babies, which can be clipped and propagated to create even more plants.
PEACE LILY
An entry that adds some florals to your mix of leafy greens.
Relatively simple to care for, the indoor flowering plant can grow in soil or water alone and thrive in warm, humid environments. One warning: parts of this plant can be poisonous, so be sure to keep them out of reach from children and pets.
SNAKE PLANTS
Snake plants are perfect for adding height to a collection of vines and succulents.
Often easier to care for than other members of the dracaena family, the snake plant only needs to be watered about once every two weeks. Although they like warmth, they can grow in both bright, open areas and low-lit corners.
HERB GARDEN
While all the plants listed promote overall wellness, curating an indoor herb garden is the perfect way to incorporate plants with medicinal qualities.
From rosemary, oregano, and thyme to mint, basil, and cilantro, these are just a few of the herbs that grow well indoors and make for the perfect green statement in your kitchen or by your window.
ALOE PLANT
The final plant every green thumb novice needs.
Aloe is simple to care for, only requiring water every two to three weeks. The ultimate natural healer, the fruit of your plant, can be used on cuts and burns to soothe acne and skin irritation and can even be consumed to improve digestive health and more.