JiboPlants carry more benefits than just being a visual piece.
They are also essential for cleaning the air we breathe.
By absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, they help to reduce the harmful toxins in the air. A study done by NASA revealed that indoor houseplants can remove up to 87% of air toxins within 24 hours.
Not only that, they’ve also been proven to improve your mood and concentration by up to 15%. So getting some plants for your home is a total no-brainer.
However, not all indoor plants are created equal. Plants differ in shapes and sizes and prefer different settings to flourish.
Here are five different indoor plants that are great for any beginner looking to spruce up their humble abode.
1. Snake Plant Sansevieria
This particular plant from the Sansevieria family is also sometimes known as the Elephant’s toothpick.
Considered one of the most popular indoor plants for their ease of care, these plants feature sword-like robust leaves that stand up vertically out the pot with bright yellow and sometimes pinkish accents.
These guys require minimal care and effort to thrive which makes them a great choice for any beginner.
The snake plant does not require a lot of water. A good watering once or even twice a week would be more than enough. It’s very important to not over water the snake plant.
Ideal Conditions: Ideal conditions for the Snake Sansevieria is near a light source, like a window. However, they can survive in very low light conditions as long as they get the occasional dose of sunlight.
Watering Tip: Always feel the soil with your fingers to make sure it’s bone dry before watering.
If you notice browning on the tips of their leaves, that’s a good indication that it’s been dry too long.
Benefits: It cleans the air better than most other indoor plants. They have the ability to absorb a substantial amount of harmful gases like carbon monoxide/dioxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
2. English Ivy
The English Ivy (or Hedera Helix by their scientific name) is the kind of classic plant you’d find growing alongside the walls of old English cottages, perfecting the vintage English aesthetic.
They have dark green leaves that spread out horizontally and can reach up to 8 inches in height. Alongside walls, they’re quite the climbers. Due to their aerial rootlets, they can climb up to 50 feet or more.
Ideal Conditions: The English Ivy loves moist soil and cool room temperatures, making them suitable in air-conditioned rooms. (Shout out to the Bruneians readers in their air-conditioned rooms!) They prefer to be kept in partly or fully shaded areas and in well-drained soil.
Watering Tips: When it comes to watering this particular plant, they prefer to be slightly on the drier side so always make sure to check the soil before adding water. Let the soil dry out before the next water cycle. Good drainage is important to ensure your Ivy isn’t drowning in overly wet soil.
Benefits: When talking about what kind of benefits the English Ivy brings, you’d be surprised (like me when writing this article) that they have:
(1) Anti-inflammatory effects (helps with gout/ arthritis/ rheumatism) – You can consume it in the form of a tea or apply the leaves directly to the inflamed area
(2) Detoxifies the body – If you’re the type who constantly finds ways to detoxify the body, it’s your lucky day! Because the English Ivy is also known to help your liver and gallbladder in purifying your blood!
(3) Skin care – We all would love to have clear and radiant skin, don’t we? The English Ivy might be of some help to that cause. For centuries, people used ivy to relieve discomfort and irritation of eczema, acne and other skin-related conditions.
3. Peace Lily plant
If you thought lilies were amazing before, let me show you what they’re really capable of. By the end of this segment, you’ll be head over heels in love with them. This gorgeous flora is an adaptable and low-maintenance houseplant.
However, they are actually not a true lily, believe it or not. It’s actually a member of the Araceae family whose flowers resemble those of the calla lily hence its name. The main star of the plant is, of course, the flower which features a white, hoodlike sheath which looks like a limp arrowhead.
One notable feature of this plant is that it is notorious for being poisonous to animals. So keep this in mind if you’ve got pets!
Ideal Conditions: The Peace Lily prefers partial shade and can also tolerate fluorescent lights. It’s quite easy to determine the appropriate light intensity for peace lilies by looking at their leaves. Yellowing leaves indicate that the light is too strong and brown leaves show that it’s being damaged by scorching direct sunlight.
Watering Tips: When it comes to water intake, the Peace Lily usually needs water at least once a week making it very lenient in terms of watering discipline. One good tip is to wait for the plant to droop slightly before watering which essentially tells you that it’s getting pretty thirsty. If you even forgot to water them over a period of time, you’d be surprised at how fast they recover the moment you water them back!
Benefits: Some benefits of the Peace Lily on your health include:
(1) Promotes restful sleep.
(2) Removes mould spores from the air.
(3) Acts as an air purifier (removes harmful VOCs, removes harmful pollutants like benzene, xylene and CO)
4. Aloe Vera plant
We’ve all had our encounters with Aloe Vera plants. Whether it’s an ingredient in our facial wash, a cream to soothe irritants or in our drinks, Aloe Veras are mother nature’s cure-all. It’s not only stylish with its pointed sturdy dark green leaves spewing vertically off the soil but rather practical.
Ideal Conditions: Aloe Veras love a sunny spot so anywhere in your home that receives direct sunlight would be a perfect spot for it. They flourish best in temperatures around 13 to 27 degrees celsius.
Watering Tips: When it comes to watering Aloe Vera plants, water them deeply but infrequently. To prevent rot, allow the soil to dry at least an inch or two in between waterings and don’t let it sit in water. This is also why it’s important to have a pot that has a proper drainage system. You can water aloe vera plants typically once every two to three weeks depending on how much water you give them per cycle.
5. Spider Ivy
Don’t let the name fool you, this spider has nothing creepy about it! This gorgeous plant features long stem-like leaves that dangle downwards the more they grow, resembling spider legs. Hence the name.
Ideal Conditions: Spider Ivy thrives in indirect sunlight but it can also survive under a spotlight. This gives you a variety of options when placing them in your home. Having them hanging in ceiling plant hangers and letting the leaves dangle is an amazing way to let this plant bring some colour into the room!
Watering Tips: Unlike most of the plants in our list which require little watering, our spider plant needs a little more watering than the rest. Still, don’t over water them! if you’re going to store this plant in an air-conditioned room, then water it twice a day to prevent it from drying.
If it’s sitting at room temperature, then once a day would suffice.
Benefits: The Spider Ivy, just like its 8 legged cousins, also brings benefit to our lives:
(1) Produces oxygen whilst purifying the air from CO, formaldehyde and xylene.
(2) Increase productivity.
(3) Decrease stress and improve overall mood.
And that concludes our top 5 recommended indoor plants for beginners!
Best of luck in your path to being a green thumb!
Be sure to share this post with your fellow plant enthusiasts!