Easy-Care House Plants
These easy-care plants will add lush greenery to any area. They're easy to learn and low maintenance, needing little more than an occasional watering.
These common house plants, from the popular orchids found in big-box stores, to the tough and durable ficus will add a touch of elegance to your indoor gardening design. They also help to clean your air.
1. Areca Palm
Palms are commonly utilized as house plants since they bring a tropical vibe to homes and are easy to cultivate. The Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens, formerly Chrysalidocarpus lutescens) is native to Madagascar and is found in the wild in soils that are slightly acidic with sandy or rocky topsoil. Also known as the golden cane palm, bamboo palm or butterfly palm with a smooth silver green trunk and feathery fronds that look like butterflies.
Areca palms are excellent air purifiers, eliminating toxins and pollutants. Because of their large surface area, the fronds of this species naturally provide more oxygen to the home than plants with less leaves.
These plants thrive in humid conditions and warm temperatures comparable to those found in the tropics. They can be grown outside in USDA hardiness zones 10 and above, reaching up to 30 feet tall at maturity.
To propagate the plant, gently break off four or five stems with a sharp knife. Place the fronds in the pot and add a mix of coarse sand, regular potting soil, and a 2:1 ratio. Water thoroughly. Allow the soil to drain before watering again. As a general rule palms like to be kept moist at all times however they are tolerant of dryness once they are established.
2. Spider Plant
Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) can be grown in pots or hanging baskets. When mature they look stunning placed in a high position where their long, slender shoots adorned with plant 'babies ' can be observed. potted house plants are also great plants to exhibit in conservatories or similar where the'babies' of the plant can hang freely.
This is a plant that is very adaptable that can thrive in low light, however, bright indirect sunlight will improve the color and growth of the leaves. It is a plant that can be adapted that can withstand some direct sunlight during the Summer but not at midday, when it could scorch the leaves. The plant doesn't require much water, which makes it easy to water it. However, it is important not to overwater. Feel the soil and water only when it feels dry. In the Winter the amount of watering must be reduced to prevent the plants from drying out too quickly.
The spider plant is a great air purifier and helps to remove toxins from the environment such as formaldehyde, toluene and xylene. These are present in the majority of homes, offices, and buildings. They also help reduce allergies by removing dust, pollen mites and pet dust. The spider plant is a good choice for people with chronic hayfever or asthma. It is also a non-toxic plant so it's safe for children and pets too!
3. Fiddle Leaf Fig
The fiddle leaf fig, also referred to as ficus lyrata, is popular for its dramatic wavy leaves. It's a great choice to create a lush, natural atmosphere within your home. A plant of this height can be the focal point in a space and looks great against white or neutral, light walls. Fiddle leaf figs also work well in contemporary or farmhouse styles in which their size and shape add to the overall design.
It is a tropical flower that requires bright, well-filtered light to grow and appear at its best. Direct sunlight can burn the leaves and diminish their color. Fiddle leaf figs have the ability to be trained into either a bush or a tree shape. potted house plants -like shape is the most common, however pruning can be used to encourage branching to create an appearance more like a tree.
Fiddle leaf figs grow in rainforests and thrive under humid and warm conditions similar to greenhouses. To replicate this environment at home misting the plant every week is suggested. Repotting the plant every two weeks will also aid in its growth and health.
This houseplant is relatively simple to maintain, but it needs constant attention and love in the form food, water and sun. It is difficult to keep up with, especially when life gets in the way. It is recommended to choose the location in which you are able to commit and stay there.
4. Rubber Plant
Ficus elastica is also referred to as Rubber Plant or Rubber Fig. It is an ornamental and popular houseplant. It has beautiful shiny green leaves and is believed to purify the air in your home by removing toxins such as formaldehyde as well as other pollutants from the atmosphere.
It is a simple-to-care for plant that is tolerant in lighting levels and other environmental conditions at home. However, it can be quite sensitive and may shed its leaves if the conditions aren't in order. For instance, a low leaf growth may be an indication of inadequate light levels. This can be corrected by bringing the plant closer to a window or by using a grow lamp.
This is a great choice for beginners who are just learning how to care for plants. It is one of the most easy plants to propagate. You can propagate a rubber plant by making a cut in the stem and placing a bit of damp moss around it. Once it starts to root you can remove the moss and put it in a new pot of ficus pot soil. It is crucial to keep your soil moist but not too wet. It is also important to clean the leaves regularly. This will help to prevent fungal disease and encourage the plant to absorb more sunlight. You can use misters to spray the plant if you prefer, but just be aware that wet leaves can cause stains on carpets and furniture.
5. English Ivy
The English ivy, Hedera helix, is an evergreen vine and is a popular houseplant because it is always green. It's also a great climber for trees and walls and also provides privacy screening. Philodendron and Pothos are less invasive ivy like plants to consider if you don't want to have an ivy-like plant that is spread across your home.
Be aware that English Ivy can choke tree trunks if it gets too heavy, which can affect the health of the wood and increases the likelihood of fungal decay and disease. It can also cause damage to the bark of mature trees in windstorms as it pulls them and clings to them.
Despite this, the plant is attractive in its own way. There are a myriad of cultivars of the plant, including the various shades of green and variegated varieties that have gray, white, yellow, and cream. Some of them include 'Itsybitsy' that has tiny leaves that look like ivy Congesta, which has two-sided, heart-shaped, or triangular leaf lobes 'Diana' and 'Fluffy Ruffles with bird's foot shaped leaves with narrow lobes; 'Curlilocks' as well as Gold Child with large curly leaves that have a ripple or wavier; and 'Silvery Variety' and 'Glacier', with silvery variations.
good house plants prefer cool, indirect lighting as well as well-drained ground. It is important to water them sparingly and shield the foliage from heat vents and drafts. Misting plants regularly prevents dryness and keeps spider mites away. If pests do appear up, treat them the same way you would with other common houseplant insects like mealybugs and aphids. Neem oil and insecticidal soap are great choices for these treatments.
6. Kalanchoe
The Kalanchoe plant (KAL- n-KOH-t It is a flowering succulent that requires little care. Its long period for reblooming is what makes it popular with florists and houseplant lovers who use it as centerpieces and dish gardens. It is also a wonderful gift because it often reblooms for years after the initial display.
Like many flowering plants, kalanchoes love sunlight and good drainage. To avoid water blemishes on the leaves, you must allow the soil to dry between watering. Also, don't let kalanchoes sit in standing water for any length of time, as this can lead to root rot. When watering, only use pots and potting mixes that drain quickly, and be careful not to overwater a Kalanchoe.
Try exposing them to lower levels of light, which mimic shorter days, as you would do with a poinsettia or a Thanksgiving Cactus. Try this for a month or so and it will begin to bloom again.
Like most flowering plants, require regular fertilizer. It is best to use a balanced formula that is water-soluble. Most potting mixes include some nutrients. However, it's recommended to feed your plant each month from spring through the fall. This can be done by placing a saucer under the pot and then pouring excess moisture out of it. It is recommended to mist a kalanchoe with water instead of spraying directly on it, because getting the leaves wet may cause a fungal infection known as Rhizoctonia solani or Fusarium root rot.