When the world fails to put a smile on your face at difficult times, there is no better place to unwind than at home. But even your home will not bring you solace if it does not have positive vibes and ambience. Are you aware that one of the smallest elements that can improve your psychological and physical well-being is flora?
Indoor flowering plants or houseplants in your living space can provide a sense of calm, while also purifying the air and absorbing all the negativity in the environment. Consider the advantages of spending a few minutes with these green stress-busters that sway inside your home. Planting indoor plants can add to the elegance of your living space. Plant the right plants and let them inhale negative energy and exhale positive energy into your living space.
Choosing the Right Indoor Plants
Different plants demand different living conditions. Not all interior plants survive in the same surroundings. Some are low-light indoor plants perfect for bedrooms, whereas others require more sunlight and are perfect for living rooms or balconies. So, choose and place them according to their type and requirements.
Lighting conditions :
Usually, the living room and balcony receive maximum daylight. They are best to plant indoor plants, like cacti and succulents, which need constant sunlight. Kitchen, bedroom, and water closets, receive less daylight. Hence, these are good for indoor plants that require less light like Philodendron, Pothos, Dracaena, Peace lily, etc.
Space requirements :
Indoor plants, like philodendrons, succulents, Hedra helix, and Devil’s ivy, are ideal for people who live in apartments or work in small offices. However, for a larger indoor area, you can go for large indoor plants like Dracaena, Hedera Helix, Sansevieria Zeylanica Superba, Scindapsus, indoor palm plants, etc.
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Maintenance :
Whenever buying indoor plants for the home, opt for low-maintenance indoor plants. Low-maintenance indoor plants grow at a lower rate and do not require frequent pruning. They are Aglaonema, Aspidistra, succulents, Dracaenas, Philodendrons, etc.
List of Best House Plants for Indoors
01. Indoor Snake Plant
Scientific Name: SansevieriaTrifasciata
Also Called: “The bedroom plant”
| Plant Type | Evergreen perennial, a good house plant, air purifying indoor plants. |
| Mature Size | 6 inches to 12 feet tall |
| Sun Exposure | Part shade, low light conditions |
| Soil Type | Fast-draining, sandier soil |
| Soil pH | Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline |
| Bloom Time | Spring (blooms are rare) |
| Flower Color | Greenish-white |
| Hardiness Zones | 9 through 11 |
| Native Area | Tropical West Africa |
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02. Peace Lily Indoor Plant
Scientific Name: Spathiphyllum
Also Called: White sail
| Plant Type | Flowering tropical plant |
| Mature Size | Up to 3 feet tall indoors; up to 6 feet tall outdoors |
| Sun Exposure | Medium, indirect light |
| Soil Type | Peat-based potting mix with perlite, sand, or bark |
| Soil pH | 5.8 to 6.5 |
| Bloom Time | Spring |
| Flower Color | White or yellow |
| Hardiness Zones | 11 to 12, USDA |
| Native Area | The rainforests of Central and South America. |
03. Cactus
Scientific Name: Cactaceae
Also Called: Desert Cactus
| Plant Type | Succulent, perennial, small indoor plants |
| Mature Size | 1-96 inches tall, 2-30 inches wide depending on species and cultivar |
| Sun Exposure | Full Sun |
| Soil Type | Well-drained, sandy |
| Soil pH | Neutral, acidic |
| Bloom Time | Summer |
| Flower Color | Orange, pink, red, white, and yellow. |
| Hardiness Zones | 9 to 11 (USDA) |
| Native Area | North America, South America |
04. Indoor Bamboo Plant
Scientific Name: Dracaena sanderiana
Also Called: Lucky Bamboo
| Plant Type | Perennial shrub |
| Mature Size | 1–5 ft. tall, 1–2 ft. wide (indoors) |
| Sun Exposure | Partial shade |
| Soil Type | Water or moist but well-drained soil |
| Soil pH | Acidic |
| Bloom Time | Fall, winter (does not bloom indoors) |
| Flower Color | White |
| Hardiness Zones | 10–11 (USDA), but typically used indoors |
| Native Area | Africa |
05. Chinese Money Plant
Scientific Name: Pileapeperomioides
Also Called: UFO plant
| Plant Type | Flowering plant |
| Mature Size | 12 inches as a houseplant |
| Sun Exposure | Medium to bright indirect light with southern exposure. |
| Soil Type | Well-drained potting soil. |
| Soil pH | 6.0 to 7.0 |
| Bloom Time | Winter |
| Flower Color | White in color and grow on pink stems |
| Hardiness Zones | USDA zone 10 |
| Native Area | Yunnan |
06. Golden Pothos
Scientific Name: Epipremnumaureum
Also Called: Devil’s Ivy
| Plant Type | Hardy indoor foliage plant |
| Mature Size | 13-foot vines as a houseplant |
| Sun Exposure | Bright indirect sunlight |
| Soil Type | Quick-draining |
| Soil pH | 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) |
| Bloom Time | Rarely in cultivation |
| Flower Color | Creamy golden marked with purple surrounding the spadix. |
| Hardiness Zones | 10-12 USDA |
| Native Area | Southeastern Asia |
07. Jade Plant
Scientific Name: Crassula ovata
Also Called: Money plant
| Plant Type | Succulent plant |
| Mature Size | 3–6 ft. tall, 2–3 ft. wide |
| Sun Exposure | Full sun |
| Soil Type | Well Drained |
| Soil pH | Neutral, acidic |
| Bloom Time | Spring |
| Flower Color | Pink and white |
| Hardiness Zones | 11-12 (USDA) |
| Native Area | KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa, Mozambique. |
08. Calatheas
Scientific Name: Calathea
Also Called: Zebra plant
| Plant Type | Herbaceous perennial |
| Mature Size | 2 feet in height |
| Sun Exposure | Medium |
| Soil Type | Moist, but wet soil |
| Soil pH | Near 6.5 |
| Bloom Time | Calathea do often bloom in the wild, but they tend not to bloom much indoors |
| Flower Color | Orange |
| Hardiness Zones | USDA Zones 11-12 |
| Native Area | Tropical rainforest of South and Central America and the West Indies. |
09. Morning Glory
Scientific Name: Ipomoea
Also Called: Morning glory
| Plant Type | Annual, flowering house plants |
| Mature Size | 6–10 ft. tall, 3–6 ft. wide |
| Sun Exposure | Full |
| Soil Type | Moist, well-drained |
| Soil pH | Neutral, acidic |
| Bloom Time | Summer, fall |
| Flower Color | Purple, pink, blue, white |
| Hardiness Zones | 2–11 (USDA) |
| Native Area | North America |
10. Eucalyptus
Scientific Name: Eucalyptus
Also Called: Blue gum
| Botanical Name | Eucalyptus |
| Common Name | Southern blue gum or blue gum |
| Plant Type | Eucalyptus gunnii |
| Mature Size | 3 feet tall and 1 ½ feet wide. |
| Sun Exposure | 8 to 10 hours of full sun |
| Soil Type | Slightly acidic to neutral soil pH is best |
| Soil pH | 5.1–5.6 |
| Bloom Time | Late February to early July |
| Flower Color | White, bright red, vibrant orange, deep pink, and lime green |
| Hardiness Zones | 8-11 USDA |
| Native Area | Australia, Tasmania, and nearby islands. |
11. Basil
Scientific Name: Ocimumbasilicum
Also Called: Sweet basil
| Plant Type | Annual Herb |
| Mature Size | 12 to 24 inches in height |
| Sun Exposure | 6 to 8 hours of sunlight each day. |
| Soil Type | Rich, moist, and well-drained |
| Soil pH | 6.0 to 7.5 |
| Bloom Time | Summer |
| Flower Color | White or purple |
| Hardiness Zones | 10b to 11, USDA |
| Native Area | India and other tropical regions stretching from Africa to Southeast Asia. |
12. Aloe Vera
Scientific Name: Aloe barbadensis miller
Also Called: GwarPatha
| Plant Type | Indoor succulent plants, small indoor plants |
| Mature Size | Up to 3 feet in height, but average height is 1-2 feet tall |
| Sun Exposure | Minimum of six hours of sunlight per day |
| Soil Type | Neutral to slightly alkaline pH |
| Soil pH | 6.0 |
| Bloom Time | March to May |
| Flower Color | Yellow, orange, pink, or red |
| Hardiness Zones | USDA zones 7 to 9 |
| Native Area | Tropical and southern Africa, Madagascar, Jordan, the Arabian Peninsula, and various islands in the Indian Ocean. |
13. Jasmine
Scientific Name: Jasminum
Also Called: Jasmine
| Plant Type | Fragrant-flowered shrubs and vines |
| Mature Size | 10 to 15 feet |
| Sun Exposure | 6 hours or more of direct sunlight each day for full sun, and 2 – 4 hours per day for partial shade |
| Soil Type | Well-drained, rich loamy soil |
| Soil pH | 6.5-7.5 |
| Bloom Time | March to June |
| Flower Color | Pink, white, yellow, blue, green |
| Hardiness Zones | Zones 7 to 11 USDA |
| Native Area | Tropical and subtropical regions of Eurasia, Africa, Australasia, and Oceania. |
14. Rosemary
Scientific Name: Salvia rosmarinus
Also Called: Rosemary
| Plant Type | Shrub with fragrant |
| Mature Size | 1-2 m |
| Sun Exposure | 6-8 hours of daily sun exposure |
| Soil Type | Sandy soil |
| Soil pH | Between 6.0 and 7.0 |
| Bloom Time | Spring |
| Flower Color | Blue, pink, and white |
| Hardiness Zones | 8 and 9 USDA |
| Native Area | Hills along the Mediterranean, Portugal, and northwestern Spain. |
15. Lavender
Scientific Name: Lavandula
Also Called: Lavender
| Plant Type | Perennial herb |
| Mature Size | Between 1 and 3 feet in height |
| Sun Exposure | 6 to 8 hours of sunlight each day |
| Soil Type | Lean soil |
| Soil pH | 6.5 to 8.0 |
| Bloom Time | Winter |
| Flower Color | Purple, blue, and gray |
| Hardiness Zones | 5-8S/10W |
| Native Area | Europe |
Let’s Create Your Green Heaven
Step 1: Mark the spots in your home where you want indoor plants.
Step 2: Create a list of indoor plants and choose pots and containers. Also, be thorough with their requirements and care methods.
Step 3: Buy them from the nearest nursery or order online. If you are willing to wait, then buying seeds is also an option.
Step 4: Make your soil mix as per the plant requirements and transfer it into the containers.
Step 5: Remove the plants carefully from nursery bags and plant them in the respective plant pots or containers. Move them to their given spots in your house.
Step 6: Put plant tags in planters with basic details to avoid future confusion.
Step 7: Check their health every once a month and prune them whenever necessary.
Tips to Upkeep Indoor Plants
- Maintain the potting soil moist, neither excessively damp nor dry.
- Make sure that the planters for indoor plants have drip holes in the bottom for draining off the excess water.
- Put your plant in natural light as per their light requirements, and keep moving them according to the seasons.
- Prune them when they become tatty and spindly.
- Regularly add plant fertilisers and spray pesticides when required.
- Remove the dried-out leaves and flowers.
FAQs
01. What are some common reasons indoor plants die?
A few of the most typical causes of plant death include:
- Overwatering or underwatering
- Sunlight exposure
- Neglect
02. How long do indoor plants typically live?
Indoor houseplants have a lifespan of 2-5 years on average. Plants stop blooming after that, and around this time, you may invest in a new plant.
03. Which interior plants improve air quality the most?
All plants can work as air purifiers, although some are more effective than others.
• Red-Edged Dracaena
• Weeping Fig
• Bamboo Palm
04. How do I know when to water my indoor plant?
Overwatering is a commonly found mistake, so be sure that the plant genuinely needs water now or that it can wait until later. Here are some indicators that it is time to water:
- Soil check: Check how dry the earth is below the surface. If it is too dry, it’s time to water it.
- Moisture meter: This tool uses a scale to determine how dry the soil is.
- Lifting the plant: When a plant is heavy, it means it has enough water, and when it is light, it is dry.
- Wilting: It happens whenever the plant does not get enough water. Determine whether the plant is light or heavy by lifting it.
- Tipping: When the leaf edges begin to brown and feel crisp to the touch, the plant most likely requires water. The plant has likely received too much water if the leaf borders are turning brown, yet the plant feels mushy.
- Yellow leaves: these are typically indicative of a plant receiving too much or too little water; however, this is not always the case.
Must Read
List Of Indoor Plants That Can Boost Positive Energy of Your HomeAn Ultimate Guide To Indoor Low Light Plants: Examples, Tips & Tricks
Author Bio
Mira Zala – Mira Zala is a civil engineer by profession and an avid content writer. She graduated from S.S. Gandhi Degree Engineering College, Gujarat. She loves to write blogs on building materials, gardening and technology. Apart from writing, she loves singing and painting.