A well-chosen houseplant has the power to transform a room. When a person place a houseplant in a room, the corner of that room suddenly appear to come to life. The way the plants’ leaves interact with the available light in the room transform that corner of the room into a visual design element.
Additionally, the air in the room begin to feel soft with the scent of the plant. However, entering a plant nursery often leave some people feeling overwhelmed by the number of shades of green that abound in these establishments. Furthermore, there are rules regarding the amount of light and water that each plant require.
The key to choosing the correct plants for a persons home is understanding which plants can help solve specific problems in that room while still looking good as décor in the space. Some of the best houseplants has features that make them ideal for any household. For example, some of the best plants will forgive a person for missing a watering duty.
Other houseplants will tolerate the lack of light that is found in many apartments. Others may be available as both small plants that can live on a shelf as well as grow to become large plants that can dominate a rooms floor. Below are eight of the best houseplants for any person to consider adding to their homes.
Each of these eight plants has earned its place in this list of the best houseplants because each plant performs exceptional well in the homes of people who own them. These plants will not disappoint the houseplant enthusiast nor the casual plant lover who want to add a new plant to their homes.
Eight Best Houseplants For Your Home
1. Snake Plants
Snake plants are some of the easiest houseplants to care for.
The plants have striking gray-green leaves that come in various shade of green. However, they are almost supernatural in their ability to tolerate neglect from their owners. Snake plants will thrive in the dimmest corner of a room.
These plants can grow to become giants in a ceramic planter that sits on an entryway bench or reading nook. Additionally, the reputation of snake plants for their abilities to purify the air in a room is well earned. According to research conducted decades ago by NASA, snake plants have the ability to absorb formaldehyde and benzene in the air.
These two chemicals is common in the furnishings in most homes. Even if a person ignores the needs of their snake plant for a few weeks, the plant will remain with its leaves standing in defiance of neglect while the plant perform its duties. The only care that is required of the snake plant is that a person avoids providing too much water to the plant as it will easily drop its leaves if it receives too much water.
Otherwise, the snake plant will outlive the furniture in the same room.
2. Monstera Deliciosa
Monstera deliciosa plants have the ability to transform a room with their lush, split leaves. These plants are perfect for rooms that have a white wall in them.
Additionally, young monstera deliciosa plants have less split leaves on their foliage. However, as the plant matures, it will develop more split leaves that add to the visual drama of the plant. These plants have the ability to climb a moss pole or wooden planter that they find in a room; if provided with such an option, they will grow to their full potential.
Monstera deliciosa plants require light to grow but will droop their leaves if exposed to too much light. Additionally, young monstera deliciosa plants should be exposed to light that is bright but not directed at the plant’s leaves. If placed in the appropriate amount of light, these plants will grow to become the centerpiece of the décor in a room.
Monstera deliciosa plants start on a coffee table and can grow to become a dominant plant in a corner of the same room.
3. Pothos Plants
Pothos plants have the ability to trail out of their pots and add visual interest to both shelves and bookcases in a room. Additionally, golden pothos plants have foliage that contains chartreuse green highlights that contrast the dark shelves in a room.
Additionally, marble queen varieties of the pothos plant have cream-colored foliage that adds visual interest to almost any room décor. These plants are known for their fast growth; people will see the difference in their growth every month. However, individuals who is willing to trim their growth every few weeks can keep them controllable.
Additionally, the pothos plant has the unique ability to rebound from the mistakes of their owner. If an owner has forgotten to give the plant the water that it require, the leaves will droop. However, the pothos plant will perk up its leaves after being watered.
Additionally, these plants have the ability to root in water; individuals can use the cuttings of the pothos plants to propagate more plants for their friends or to add to the corners of their homes that need more greenery.
4. ZZ Plants
ZZ plants have the ability to grow in the dimmest corners of a room. Their leaves are dark green and feature a glossy sheen when looked upon.
Additionally, ZZ plants have an abundance of light and watering tolerance. These plants require watering every few weeks; thus, they are perfect for placing in offices that do not have windows or basements that has very little light and features indoor rec rooms. Additionally, the underground rhizomes of the ZZ plant contain the ability to store water.
This is why the ZZ plant has such high resilience; it does not easily dry out. However, ZZ plants grow slow. If planted in a matte black planter, the ZZ plant will remain a decorative plant that does not compete with the other décor in the room.
The only care that is required of this plant is that it be kept away from pets that may attempt to chew on the plant as its sap can irritate the pets.
5. Peace Lily Plants
Peace lily plants feature flowers that are white and have the same look as calla lilies. These flowers bloom in clusters and can last for several week in the room.
Additionally, these blooms will appear several times during the year if the plant is cared for properly. The foliage of the peace lily adds additional interest to a room even when the plant is not blooming. Additionally, peace lily plants will droop when they need water.
This drooping will last for several minutes until the plant is watered. When placed in an area that receives morning light, peace lily plants will bloom and bloom again during the year. Additionally, peace lily plants have the ability to act as a natural humidifier in a home; the plant will release moisture into the air especially in the dry winter months.
One peace lily placed near the heating vent in a room can make a dramatic difference in the comfort of that room.
6. Rubber Plants
Rubber plants have bright new leaves that are new to the plant. These new leaves are bright coral in color and mature to deep burgundy and then to deep green.
These plants have thick leaves that reflect alot of the light in the room. Additionally, rubber plants are perfect for narrow spaces in a home as their uprightness allows them to dominate a small area. Mature rubber plants that are allowed to grow to their full potential become a form of living furnitures in a room.
Additionally, rubber plants require bright light; however, they can grow in medium light if the plant takes a little while to establish itself in the area. To keep the rubber plant looking great, individuals should wipe the leaves every few weeks with a damp cloth. The plants milky sap is known to stain fabric; thus, an individual should handle the pruned stems of the plant carefully.
For those individuals looking to add a bold plant to their homes that requires little care, few plants will perform as well as a rubber plant.
7. Birds of Paradise
Birds of paradise feature leaves that is sculptural in their appearance. These plants come in tight clumps that grow together to create natural drama in the room.
The orange and blue flowers that are featured on the bird of paradise plants require specific light and care to grow; however, the foliage of this plant features visual interest alone. A single bird of paradise in an oversized planter will become a screen between two areas in the room while permitting the light to pass through. These plants are root bound as young plants so that they do not need to be repotted until they reach a mature age.
Additionally, birds of paradise require feeding in the growing season and misting of their leaves. The tradeoff with this plant is the size of the plant; it will require considerable room to grow. If given the corner of the room that it deserve, the bird of paradise will be a point of conversation in the house for many years.
8. Calatheas Plants
Calatheas plants have leaves with striking patterns on them such as pink stripes on the leaves of the rose painted calathea and silver and sage-colored bands on the rattlesnake calathea. Additionally, the leaves of the calathea appear to fold upwards in the night like a prayer and open again in the morning. This daily ritual adds a degree of life to any shelf or side table on which one places this plant.
To ensure that the calathea continues to have healthy foliage with these specific features, the humidity in the house must be increased. An individual can achieve this by placing the calathea near other tropical plants or near a small humidifier. Additionally, the calathea will reward an individual for increased humidity in the house as their leaves will maintain their bright, painted appearance even in the midst of winter.
Calatheas will protest if they are given inadequate humidity in the room. Their leaves will curl at the edges, signaling to an individual that something is wrong with the plant’s care. An individual who takes the time to understand the language of the calathea will enjoy the plant’s life.
9. Fiddle Leaf Fig Plants
Fiddle leaf fig plants have become the darlings of the houseplant world for good reason. A plant of this species will feature massive leaves in the shape of violins. Regardless of whether the fig is three feet or eight feet in height, the fiddle leaf fig will add an air of sophistication to any room.
These plants require bright light and will grow to their full potential if placed in an area with consistent routines for watering and lighting. The fiddle leaf fig plant does not appreciate exposure to drafts, changes in room temperature, or frequent movement of the plant in the area. Once an individual finds the perfect spot for the plant in the house, they should never move it again.
Additionally, wiping the leaves of the plant every few months will keep them looking shiny and healthy. Beyond remaining a point of décor in the room, the fiddle leaf fig becomes a green companion in the home that marks the passing of the seasons with new leaves. When considering plants for a home, it is important for people to consider their lifestyles.
A person who has a schedule that allows for little watering may want to seek out varieties of plants like snake plants or ZZ plants. Additionally, a person who wishes to add dramatic plants to their homes with a variety of light options can explore varieties of peace lilies, rubber plants, and birds of paradise. However, regardless of what type of houseplant a person decides to choose, these plants has various benefits to the individual who owns them.
Furthermore, when cared for correctly, they will bring joy to an individual’s home. Thus, a person should start with one or two of these plants to see how well they suit the individual’s lifestyle. Eventually, an individual will begin to search for corners of their homes that require more greenery and new height for their plants.
In the end, an individual will begin to search for new plants and greenery to add to their homes. The leaves are just the beginning.
