Easy-Care House Plants
These easy-care plants will provide lush greenery to any space. They're a breeze to start and require little maintenance, needing little more than a few minutes of watering.
From a popular orchid that is sold in big box stores, to the hardy ficus that can handle almost anything These common house plants will add beauty to the design of your indoor garden. They also help to clean your air.
1. Areca Palm
Palms are often used as house plants because they bring a tropical vibe to homes and are easy to care for. The Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens, also known as Chrysalidocarpus lutescens) is native to Madagascar and is found in the wild in soils that are slightly acidic with rocky or sandy topsoil. It is also known as the bamboo palm golden cane palm or butterfly palm. It has a smooth, silver-green trunk that is smooth and has feathery fronds.
Areca palms are excellent air purifiers, removing toxins and pollutants. Due to their vast surface area, the fronds of this species naturally provide more oxygen to the house than plants with smaller leaves.
These plants thrive in humid conditions and warm temperatures comparable to those in the tropics. They can be grown outside in USDA zone 10 or higher. They can reach up to 30 feet at maturity.
To grow this plant shake the soil away from the roots, then gently separate the stems of four to five using a sharp knife. Place the fronds in the pot and add a mixture of coarse sand and regular potting soil and a 2:1 ratio. Then, water the plant thoroughly. Let the soil drain before watering it again. Palms are usually moist plants however they are able to tolerate some dryness once the plants have established themselves.
2. Spider Plant
Spider plants (Chlorophytum Comosum) are attractive house plant that are planted in hanging baskets and normal pots. When mature they look stunning placed high up in the air where their long stems, which are decorated with plant 'babies ' can be observed. They are also great for display in conservatories, or any other place where plant babies can be displayed freely.
This is a plant that is very adaptable that can flourish in a dim light, however bright indirect sunlight will enhance the colour and growth of the leaves. It is a tolerant plant that can withstand some direct sunlight in summer, but not during the midday as it can scorch the leaves. The plant doesn't require a lot of water, so it is easy to water it. However it is essential not to overwater. Check the soil and water only when it is dry. It is recommended to reduce the amount of water you give during the Winter months to prevent the plant drying out too quickly.
The spider plant is an excellent air purifier, and can help remove harmful substances from the air such as formaldehyde and toluene and xylene, which can be found in most homes office buildings, workplaces, and homes. They also help to reduce allergies by removing pollen, dust mites, mold spores, pet dander, and other airborne pollutants. The spider plant is a good choice for those suffering from chronic hayfever or asthma. It's also a nontoxic species which means it's suitable for pets and children!
3. Fiddle Leaf Fig
Known for its dramatic lush green leaves The fig with fiddle leaf (ficus lyrata) is a popular choice to bring a lush jungle-like vibe into the interior of a home. A plant of this height can become the focal point in a space and looks stunning against white or light neutral walls. Fiddle leaf figs work well in contemporary or farmhouse styles with their size and shape can add to the overall look.
This is a tropical plant that requires bright, filtered light to grow and appear at its best. Direct sunlight can damage the leaves in color and cause them to burn. Fiddle leaf figs can be trained to be either bush or tree shaped. A bush shape is typically the most common, however pruning can be done to encourage branching and give a more tree-like appearance.
Fiddle leaf figs are native to rainforests and thrive in humid, warm conditions similar to greenhouses. To replicate this environment at home misting the plant on a weekly basis is recommended. Additionally, repotting tall house plants helps with the plants growth and overall health.
This house plant is relatively easy to take care of, but it does need consistent love and attention in the form of food, water sunlight, and space. It can be difficult to keep up with, particularly when life gets in the way. This is why it is recommended to pick the location of your plant that you will commit to and keep at the same location.
4. Rubber Plant
Ficus elastica, more commonly known as the Rubber Plant or Rubber Fig is a different and popular house plant. It has gorgeous glossy green leaves, and it is believed that it purifies the air by eliminating pollutants like formaldehyde out of the air.
It is an easy-to-care for plant that is tolerant in lighting levels and other conditions in the home. However, it can be quite sensitive and will shed its leaves if the conditions aren't right. For instance, a low leaf growth may indicate improper light levels which can be corrected by bringing the plant closer to a window or using the use of a grow lamp.
This is an excellent plant for anyone who is just learning how to take care of plants. It is among the most easy plants to propagate. It is possible to propagate a rubber plant by cutting in the stem and placing a bit of damp moss around it. After the rubber plant has begun to root and grow, you can get rid of the moss. Then, you can plant it in a pot with ficus pots and potting mix. It is important to keep the soil moist but not too wet. It is also important to clean the leaves frequently. This will stop fungal disease and allow the plant to absorb more sunlight. You can use misters to spray the plant, if you prefer, but just be aware that wet leaves may cause stains on carpets and furniture.
5. English Ivy
The English ivy, Hedera helix, is an evergreen vine and is used as a houseplant because it is green all year. It's also a great climber for trees and walls and can be used as a privacy screen. If you do not want a plant that will spread all over your home, there are plenty of less-aggressive ivy like plants to look at like pothos and Philodendron.
Keep in mind that English ivy can choke out tree trunks when it becomes excessively heavy, which affects the health of the wood and increases the chance of fungal decay and diseases. It can also cause damage to the bark of mature trees during storms as it pulls them and clings to them.
The plant is beautiful on its own. There are many different cultivars of the plant, including all shades of green and variegated varieties that have gray, white, yellow, and cream. There are a variety of cultivars of the plant including Ivy-like leaves, a heart-shaped leaf and lobes with narrow lobes. Others include ivy-like leaves such as 'Itsybitsy' 'Congesta,' and the ivy-like leaves 'Fluffy Ruffles,' 'Diana, and ivy-like leaves "Fluffy Ruffles,'; large, curly and large, curly, and
Ivy plants like cool, indirect lighting and well-draining ground. It is important to water them sparingly and shield the foliage from heat vents and drafts. Misting plants regularly prevents dryness and keeps spider mites away. If the pests do show up, treat them like you would with other common houseplant insects like mealybugs and aphids. These treatments can be treated with neem oil or insecticidal soap.
6. Kalanchoe
Whether growing them year-round outside in the warm regions, or as house plants to keep winter warm, the kalanchoe (KAL- n-KOH-t ) is an easy flowering succulent that flowers with minimal attention. The long time of reblooming makes it popular among florists and home plant enthusiasts, who use it as a centerpiece and dish gardens. low maintenance house plants is also a wonderful gift because it often reblooms for years after the initial display.
Like good house plants love bright light and good drainage. Allow the soil to completely dry between waterings to prevent water-borne blemishes. Also, never allow kalanchoes to sit in water that is stagnant for long periods of time, as this could lead to root rot. When watering, make sure to use pots and potting mixes that drain quickly, and be sure not to overwater a plant like a kalanchoe.
Try exposing them to lower levels of light, which mimic shorter days, just as you would a poinsettia, or a Thanksgiving cactus. For a month, do this, and you should see it start to bloom again.
Kalanchoes, as with all flowering plants, require regular fertilizer. It is best to choose a balanced formulation that is water-soluble. The majority of potting mixes contain nutrients. However, it is best to feed your plant each month from spring to fall. This can be done by placing a saucer underneath the pot and pouring any excess water out. It is recommended that you mist a kalanchoe using water instead of spraying it directly, since getting the leaves wet may lead to a fungal disease known as Rhizoctonia solani or Fusarium root rot.