7 Popular House Plants to Brighten Up Your Home
Do you want to add some flair to your house without breaking the bank? I believe that many would answer this question Yes. So, how do you go about doing it?
The simple answer is to have houseplants. Now comes the tricky part: deciding what kind of house plant to have, how many house plants are required, and what care must be given to these houseplants.
Several different types of house plants fall into the cheap and lovely house plant category.
Popular House Plants
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
One widespread plant that requires a low level of care is the Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum). This plant likes indirect light, making a good houseplant for a dim room. It can adapt to lower light conditions, but fewer blooms will have.
The Peace Lily is also easy to care for, needing only water when the top few inches of soil become dry. It also likes a bit of humidity, so a good plant for your bathroom, which is where I have mine :)
Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
Another excellent option for a low-maintenance houseplant is the Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata).
This plant can thrive in a wide variety of conditions, including low light and lack of water. This is why many consider the Snake Plant to be one of the most practically low-maintenance plants for home and great for beginners.
Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis)
Another popular house plant is Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis). It requires very little care and has remarkable benefits, such as helping with skin conditions like acne and psoriasis. The aloe vera plant is also known for its ability to help heal wounds.
In addition, the Aloe Vera plant is an excellent choice for people who have pets or small children in their homes, as it is non-toxic.
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) is a popular garden flower. Still, many people are unaware that it is also popular as a house plant.
Snapdragon requires moist soil, making it great for bathrooms where it can be more humid. It loves sunlight, so you could place one near a window to take advantage of direct sunlight.
The Snapdragon also prefers average room temperatures. In Winter, it would need help from extra lighting like a grow light.
Dracaena (Dracaena spp.)
The Dracaena (Dracaena spp.) is popular in homes and offices because of its many breeds. It comes in various heights and colours, making it suitable to grow either close to the floor or as a tree-like plant.
It is also popular because it is easy to care for and adapt to many different light conditions.
Boston Fern (Nephrolepsis exaltata bostoniensis)
A Boston Fern was one of the first plants that I bought when I was young; I loved how the fronds unfurled as they grew.
Boston Ferns (Nephrolepis exaltata) like to be damp but not wet. They enjoy indirect light and should be fertilized once a month. In the Winter, move the fern close to a window to get more sunlight.
They do well in humid areas, so they are great for bathrooms or shower rooms.
The yellowing of the leaves is an indication that the humidity level isn’t sufficient for the plant, making it ideal for a bathroom or kitchen.
Pothos (Scindapsis)
Pothos are my favourite plants, as there are many varieties, and the variegation is beautiful.
They prefer bright but indirect sun, and the variation with fade if in poor light. They also need to be kept moist but not wet, so they should be well-drained, and I leave mine to dry out slightly in between waterings.
An easy plant to care for as there is no specific fertilizer required. The only maintenance needed is occasional pruning, making the plant bushier and a great way to get more plants as they propagate quickly in water.
Croton (Codiaeum variegatum pictum, Josephs Coat)
It’s not difficult to see why I chose this plant. The leaves are stunning, but Croton’s can be a little temperamental, especially for beginners in houseplants.
They don’t do well in cool areas and need to be above 60f / 15c in the Winter, and a good amount of light — an east or west-facing windowsill is perfect.
Water liberally from spring to autumn and reduce the amount in winter months. Feed every two weeks through the growing season and monthly if in a pot.
These beauties like humid areas, so mist the leaves every day or use a plant humidifier like this one.
Tips for selecting the right plant
When selecting a plant, you should always consider the amount of sunlight the plant will receive.
For example, plants that need full sun should not be placed in areas where they will only receive indirect sunlight. Similarly, plants that need shade should not be placed in direct sunlight.
An important factor in determining the amount of sunlight a plant receives is where you live.
For example, suppose you live in an area with constantly hot weather. In that case, plants will need to be placed in locations that get indirect sunlight.
This is because direct sunlight can cause heat stress and sometimes death for plants.
Choose a plant that has flowers, if one is available, and new growth and blossoms that are yet to bloom.
Also, look at the foliage; it should be thick, robust, and unbroken throughout the plant. No rotted or dead-looking leaves are also required. Plus, make sure there aren’t any bugs or insects on the leaves or ground — if anything is crawling, replace it!
How to take care of your house plants
Each plant has its unique requirements.
Plants should come with a tag that specifies the minimum care requirements, such as light, water, and temperature. When selecting the finest plant for a particular area of your home, you need to consider the following factors.
Most plants come in plastic nursery pots, which you can leave in and use a cover pot for more decorative appeal. These come in many designs, styles and colours to match your decor.
If you decide to plant into a new pot when you get it home, make sure the pot has drainage holes as pretty much all plants don’t like to be constantly soggy as this can cause root rot.
What are some common pests that affect house plants, and how do you get rid of them?
House plants can be affected by many different pests, but insects are the most common.
Including mealybugs, fungus gnats, scale insects, spider mites, aphids and thrips. Fungus gnats are particularly popular with carnivorous plants because they lay eggs in the soil where it is moist.
The first step is to remove the affected leaves and dispose of them to get rid of bugs.
Insecticide sprays contain chemicals that will kill insects on contact; however, they may also kill plants, so choose a spray with care. Also, be careful when using aerosol sprays because these contain harmful chemicals that can harm us too.
Another solution is to place sticky traps near the plants to catch the insects, but watch out because these traps can be messy.
The most favoured natural solution is to use insecticidal soap. Insecticidal soap is a popular choice for gardeners because it doesn’t contain harsh chemicals but works well at controlling insects.
Another popular option is to use neem oil which can be pretty effective in protecting your plants.
Finally, try mixing water and dish soap and then shaking the mixture until bubbles form. Add this solution to a spray bottle and spray directly onto bugs, making sure the leaves get covered because this mixture will kill bugs on contact.
Final Thoughts:
Since plants can be a popular addition to any home, you must take the time to learn about which types will best fit your needs.
The most popular type of plant for indoor use is Aloe Vera- not only does this plant has many health benefits, but it also helps with healing wounds and has a great look!
There are some considerations to keep your house plants healthy, such as how much sunlight they’ll receive in their location and if they need more water or less water.
It’s also important to identify pests to know what solutions work best for them. When selecting one of these popular houseplants for your own space, consider all factors, so you don’t risk having unhealthy looking plants around the home.
Do you have any popular houseplants? If so, please leave them in the comments below so others can check them out!
Originally published on HouseplantCrazy.com.
