Boost Your Home’s Style and Your Health
If your home doesn’t have any houseplants, you may want to consider adding some! Aside from aesthetic appeal, did you know that indoor plants have a ton of health benefits? If you’re not familiar with indoor plant options or how to care for them, here’s a guide to houseplants to help you get started.
The Benefits of Houseplants
Indoor plants release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide. In fact, a study from NASA revealed that indoor plants can remove up to 87% of air toxins. As a result, houseplants improve air quality and help you breathe easier. But the health benefits don’t end there. Seeing nature and plant life increases feelings of relaxation and reduces stress levels. This means that your household plant can actually increase your concentration, productivity and mood.
In addition to the health benefits, indoor plants boost the appeal of any room, whether large or small. Accentuating windows or framing your front door and patio door are simple ways to incorporate indoor plants in your home. You can easily create a relaxing indoor sanctuary.
If you love gardening, indoor plants can also be an enjoyable project all year round. Include the entire family when taking care of plants too! Plant care is a family-friendly and fun activity to help kids understand what it means to take care of a living thing.
Indoor Plant Care and Maintenance
If you don’t have a green thumb, don’t stress! Select low-maintenance plants and you’ll find that plant care is a breeze. The first step is deciding where to put your plants. Most plants don’t need a lot of direct midday sun, so do some research before you put a plant in direct sunlight. Leaf burn, spotting or losing a lot of leaves is a tell-tale sign that your plant needs to be moved. Keep your plants way from cold drafts too.
Water the right amount. Overwatering is the number one cause of death for household plants. Do your research and know how much water each plant needs. Rather than watering daily, you’ll want to assess how watery the soil is before you water a plant again. If the soil feels wet, wait a few days before watering. Most plants need more water in the warmer months.
A Beginner’s Guide to Houseplant Options
Plants are an inexpensive option to enhance the style of any room. There are many ways to place and position them. Whether you want to adorn your windowsill, drape macramé hangers from your curtain rod or place pots by the front door, the styling options are endless. The first step though is to pick some easy indoor plants to get started.
Succulents
Although the majority of cacti are also succulents, not all succulent plants are cacti. Succulents are the perfect beginner household plant. They’re low-maintenance and thrive when placed on a windowsill where they can get direct sunlight. As desert plants, succulents have thick, fleshy leaves.
Cacti
Cacti are great indoor plants for beginners because they’re easy to care for and grow slowly. As long as their positioned in bright light, they will thrive with little care or water. Even when neglected, cacti will sometimes flower. Contrary to popular believe, nearly half of healthy cacti will produce flowers by their third year. They often require more care during the summer months.
Golden Pothos (Devil’s Ivy)
Another relatively low maintenance plant, golden pothos is one of the most popular hanging plants. The trailing varieties are beautiful in a hanging planter from a curtain rod, such as a macramé hanger. Golden pothos grows quickly with minimal care. Keep in mind that it’s toxic to cats and dogs though.
Spider Plants
Spider plants need watering from the bottom about once per week and require occasional misting. They’re easy to care for because they don’t need a lot of water or light and can withstand most temperatures. Spider plants grow easily in hanging baskets and will often sprout baby plants, which can be potted as well.
Fiddle Leaf Fig
This indoor tree type plant is the perfect focal point for your living room or hallway. The can grow up to 3 metres indoors, but can be topped off to prevent further growth.
African Violets
This flowering plant is an easy growing option that blooms year round with minimal maintenance. It comes in a variety of colours to match your décor. Place by the windowsill and enjoy.
Geraniums
There are several types of geraniums that can be grown as houseplants, which is great because they come in beautiful colours and are extremely easy to grow.
Now you’re ready to add some stylish indoor plants to your household. If you realize you’re in need of new windows or doors while you perfect your indoor oasis, stop by a showroom location or call for a no obligation in-home consultation today!