Houseplants are a great way to liven up a living space, and can often be used in place of artwork or decorations. They're colourful, can be placed just about anywhere, and can really spruce up an area (especially when the weather is as dull as it has been!). Aside from a bit of water or plant food every now and again, they are very low maintenance. Since nature has been linked to stress reduction, and it's a well known fact that plants create oxygen (super fresh air, anyone?) here are some house plants to consider next time you find yourself wandering around the garden centre, or even your nearest
Homebase.
1.) English Ivy: Studies have shown that Ivy is among the best plants for air filtering, and can even reduce the amount of formaldehyde fumes left from cleaning products. It's pretty difficult to kill off, but to keep it happy, plant in a hanging basket, keep it moist, and you're good!
2.) Spathiphyllum/Peace Lily: One of the easiest (and debatably most beautiful) houseplants to care for is the peace lily. Its white flowers are a beautiful contrast to its dark green leaves, and they require very little upkeep. Put them in some indirect sunlight, keep the soil damp, and mist the leaves with a spray bottle to recreate humid, Southeast Asian climate and your plant will thrive.
3.) Snake Plant: This standing plants variegated leaves make a beautiful addition to the corner of any room, as they grow upwards, not out. Indoors, it can survive in cooler climates with indirect/little sunlight, and converts carbon dioxide to oxygen in the night, unlike most plants. It holds cultural significance in African rituals, and makes for a beautiful ornamental addition to a room.
4.) Philodendron: The leaves of the philodendron remind me of little hearts, which is probably why this is one of my favourite house plants. That, and they live for ages. With some moderate watering and mild sunlight (ie-anywhere) these little guys will grow the sweetest little vines, and filter out formaldehyde in the process. They're pretty vigorous growers, so no need to worry about being the most plant savvy of the bunch. They're pretty hardy!
5.) Spider Plant: Spider plants get their name from the little clumps of leaves, or plantlets, that grow from their dangling stems. They're in the top 5 houseplants because they can make it pretty much anywhere, even without natural light. The spider plant does fine on bright, artificial light, and only needs watering when the soil feels dry. They can survive in temperatures as low as 4.5C (though let's hope nobody's house is that cold this winter!) and are pretty interesting to look at. Their variegated leaves are long and thin, and pretty cute if you ask me.
And there you have it! Five pretty simple (and easy on the eyes) houseplants that anyone can own, regardless of gardening skill!
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