The Best House Plants for Beginners
A houseplant can improve the levels of oxygen, lessen dust and pollutants, and improve your indoor air quality. And caring for one can be a great source of satisfaction--it's even proven to boost mental well-being.
Which house plant is right for you? We talked to experts for their recommendations.
Marble Queen Pothos
Pothos (Epipremnum Aureum) is a very popular house plant thanks to its heart-shaped leaves and gorgeous white variation. It's also one of the easiest to care for which makes it a good option for people who are just starting out. Pothos, like other tropical plants thrives in different light conditions. However, it prefers moderate levels of bright indirect sunlight. It can also thrive under lower light levels or in full shade. Moderate household humidity and an acidic soil mix are ideal for this plant, too.
So as the soil is not allowed to completely dry out it is tolerant of missed waterings, though excessive watering is a common cause of death for houseplants. If you're not sure, stick your finger into the soil and see if the soil is moist. If not, you should water the plant. If the leaves are changing color, it could be due to too much sun or a lack of light. It could also indicate that there is a fungal disease.
Pothos, unlike other plants, can tolerate air pollution including ozone. It can be used in the kitchen or bathroom to filter the air.
This plant is susceptible to diseases and pests just like other plants. It is recommended to deal with problems as soon as you can to prevent them from spreading. Pests like mealybugs and thrips are most common on this plant. Keeping your Marble Queen pothos well-watered and well-fed will help to stop these insects from attacking it in the first place.
Trim the tips of the stem regularly to keep your plant looking nice. common house plant keeps the foliage full and marbled, and will prevent the vines from becoming too long. These tips of the stem can be used to help propagate plants.
If you're looking to stimulate your Marble Queen to grow, give it something to stick to. This could be a moss rod, houseplant trellis, or strings. Make common house plant to spray the moss, or any other support with water as part your regular routine of irrigation to help it grow quicker.
Monstera
The monstera plant (Monstera Deliciosa) is commonly referred to as the Swiss Cheese Plant, is one of today's most popular house plants. Its leaves are speckled with natural holes -- called leaf fenestrationand can add an exotic feel to any room. It's also easy to propagate by cutting and growing it in water which makes it a great choice for beginners.
Monstera deliciosa is an extremely fast-growing plant, so it may require repotted every few months as its roots grow. To ensure your plant's health take some leaves at a time and repot in well-draining soil. Make sure you use a well-ventilated container and add in other ingredients like perlite or lava rocks to ensure more soil aeration, if you need to.
The evergreen vines are simple to maintain as houseplants, provided they receive bright light and adequate humidity. They will happily climb a trellis, or vine downwards. You can easily modify them to your taste by trimming. It's simple to mist a gianta with a spray bottle filled with water to increase the humidity in its leaves on a daily basis.
Monsteras are not a succulent, despite the name. While succulents have thick fleshy leaves that store water however, monsteras have tinier heart-shaped leaves that have fenestrations. Monsteras can tolerate dry climates, however they require more water to grow than succulents do, and so they must be maintained at the right temperature and enough humidity.
The leaves of the monstera, despite their appearance are not edible. The fruit, stems and leaves of this plant contain poisonous oxalic acid that can cause irritation to the throat and mouth if consumed.
For those who've already mastered the fiddle leaf fig, Blank recommends moving on to a monstera next to really get a feel for how easy indoor gardening can be. "A monstera is very adaptable, so it can thrive in a variety of conditions," she says. It requires a warm, humid climate, but it can also tolerate lower temperatures.
ZZ Plant
The ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is one of the most robust house plants available. It's slow-growing, tough and can survive a variety of conditions. It is able to thrive in dark areas and isn't averse to low humidity. It's also very accommodating of people who aren't paying attention, and requires only occasional waterings to thrive. The leaves of the tropical succulent can mature in lime green, purple black or a combination of both shades.
Divide the rhizomes from the ZZ plant and the tubers that look like roots at the base of the stems. Lift the plant out of its pot and separate the rhizomes. Cut them down a bit before planting them into new pots. Alternatively, you can grow new ZZs from stem cuttings that have two leaves and are approximately an inch long. Plant the cuttings in a pot with 50:50 mix of perlite and multipurpose compost and then place them in a warm spot. It could take up to an entire year for the cuttings to grow into new plants.
Even though this is one of the most difficult house plants, certain things can cause it to die. This includes excessive watering or direct sun, as well as dry soil. Water the ZZ plant only if its soil feels dry. It's okay to leave the soil wet. The plant stores water in its rhizomes which means it can go for months without watering.
This plant doesn't attract many insects, but it could be susceptible to fungus or rot. The best way to avoid these problems is to regularly get rid of dead and decaying leaves from the plant. It is also important to keep it away from pets and children because the leaves and stems can be irritating if ingested.
The ZZ plant is a fantastic air purifier, as it can assist in removing toluene, benzene, and xylene from indoor environments. It can also remove volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde and carbon monoxide. The ZZ plant is a great option for offices or apartments that don't have good ventilation.
Parlor Palm
Palms are a popular indoor plant and for good reason. They can be grown in various temperatures and lighting conditions. They also give an exotic, lush look to your home. The chamaedorea, also known as parlor palm, is not an exception. The plant (also called the neanthe bella palm) is native to Central America, and it's getting more and more popular for its versatility. It grows best in bright, filtered light but can also be planted in areas with less light levels, such as rooms that face north or east. It's a slow-growing plant and it could take at least a year for it to reach its maximum height of between 2 and 6 feet.
If you would like your plant to grow it can be fertilised monthly by using a balanced liquid fertilizer. It needs a well-draining mix, and Bridget Zazzara, retail indoor and seasonal plant manager of Logan's Trading Company, recommends using the same potting mix like you would for cacti and succulents. Look for an organic soil that drains well and has a pH between 6.1 and 7.8. Add a little sphagnum moss to enhance the soil's structure and retain water.
Keep your parlor palms clear from drafty areas, and mist their leaves every day to ensure that they are humid. You can also install a humidifier inside your home. If common houseplants in the parlor is becoming rootbound, plant it again in the spring. It's important to not overwater the plant, however, since the plant is susceptible to root rot. Water the plant as soon as the top inch or so of compost is dry to the point of contact. Water more frequently during warm weather, but less often in winter.
Palms are attractive to bees. However be sure to keep them away from pets and children. The needle-like leaves are poisonous and could be ingested. They also attract mealybugs. These insects look like fluffy, white blobs on the undersides of the leaves and can be difficult to eliminate. If you spot them, wipe off the bugs using a cloth or cotton bud covered in insecticides that contain fatty acids or plant oils.