Not only do house plants look lovely, but they also bring many health and wellbeing benefits. If you are new to house plants or don’t know where to start then read on. In this beginner's guide to house plants, we share some of the easiest to grow at home, the benefits of owning house plants, some top care tips, and which plants are best for pet owners.
Benefits of house plants
There have been numerous scientific studies done to highlight the benefits that houseplants can bring to improve our physical and mental health as well as our overall wellbeing. Some benefits include:
- Reduced stress levels
- Increased worker productivity (if plants are near your workspace)
- Mood improvement
- Reduced blood pressure
- Reduced headaches and general fatigue
- Hospital patients in rooms with plants reported less post-operative pain
These benefits are just some of the things we can gain from having more plants in our home. Not only do they brighten up a room, but they can also dramatically impact our mood.
Easy to Grow house plants
The great news is that the benefits discussed above are not restricted to specific plants. Regardless of the plant or size of your indoor space, adding a plant can be a great addition. If you are a beginner or struggle to find plants that you can keep alive, try with one of the following easy to grow house plants that are a great place to start:
- Dragon Tree
- Rubber plant
- English Ivy
- Boston Fern
- Mother in law’s tongue
- Fern Anum
- Lady Palm
- Snake Plants
Top Care Tips
Once you have chosen your new plants, you will of course want to keep them looking healthy. This can feel like a challenge when you are not green-fingered, so hopefully, these top tips will help.
- Start easy, as the list above shows, there are plenty of options for low maintenance plants. Some of these options are extremely hardy like Snake Plants and, even if you do not water them as much as you should, they are extremely difficult to kill. Just try not to over-water them. Do you always forget to water plants? Then opt for cacti or similarly, a succulent. They don’t need water often and also look fantastic.
- Don’t be scared of watering schedules - people tend to avoid household plants if they don’t think they can keep up with the watering schedules. However, the main thing is to ensure the surface of the soil is slightly dry before you water again. This avoids over-saturating it. So feel the soil before you water to avoid overwatering.
- Use a water dispenser- If you are still worried about forgetting to water your plants you can buy specific water dispensers. You fill them up and place them in your pot. They will slowly release water on their own - saving you the stress
- Think about the position of the plant- Ensure you place your plants in the correct conditions for them to thrive. You can easily find out which plants are suited to low light levels and which can cope in direct sunlight. By doing a bit of research, you will be able to find the perfect plants for your space.
- Control pests - Indoor plants can still be infested by pests. If you notice any insects on your plants, remove them straight away. If there are a lot, mix warm water with a small amount of liquid soap and spray the plant. Then wipe with a damp cloth
- Choose the right pot - Always choose pots with sufficient drainage. Where possible, leave the plant in the pot that it came in and place this in a decorative pot. There is no need to replant directly into the nicer pot. Choose a decorative pot that is slightly bigger than the original plant pot. This will ensure it fits nicely and has enough room to remove for watering.
- If you are low on space there are still options for you to include some house plants. Dry placing them on shelves, on top of bookcases, or even hanging from the ceiling.
Pet safe plants
A lot of people are put off indoor plants if they are pet owners as many plants are toxic to animals and this can obviously be a concern. However, there are still plenty of plants out there that are not harmful to your pets. Here are a few indoor plants safe for cats and dogs
- Rattlesnake plant
- Spider Plant
- Parlour Palm
- African Violet
- Venus Flytrap
- Boston Fern
- Orchid
- Areca Palm
- Herbs
- Prayer Plant
- Friendship Plant
House plants are becoming increasingly popular and it is clear to see why. Not only do they look great, but they also bring colour to your room, hey purifying the air and are proven to provide a wide range of physical and mental health benefits. Even if you have a bad track record of looking after plants, there are options out there for you. Hopefully, this guide to household plants has inspired you to get started and grow your house plant collection.
