Indoor plants are the original home decor. People have used them for both their health benefits and aesthetics for thousands of years, and they continue to be popular today.
Whether you want to spruce up your home decor or improve your health and productivity, plants are a must-have.
Sure, you can get the artificial greenery at any department store. It’s easier to keep up with, but it’s not the same thing. Plus, it becomes a dust collector, the opposite of healthy living.
Don’t worry if you don’t have a green thumb. These seven varieties are the perfect start for any amateur or professional plant owner. You’ll quickly see and feel the benefits!
1. White Fox Aloe
This easy-to-grow succulent has it all.
Since it’s aloe, it’s medicinal and great to have on hand. Aloe can be used internally and topically for problems like:
- Burn and abrasion relief
- Digestion issues
- Gingivitis and plaque removal
- Acne flare-ups
Any aloe plant is beneficial, but this one comes from a volcano in Hawaii. The planter is even made from volcanic rock!
Everything you need to take care of it is in the planter. It’s hard to kill and simple to keep up with.
Plus, Hawaii. Who could resist?
2. Snake Plants
Rated as one of the best plants to purify and clean the air around it, the snake plant is a top-seller.
Snake plants can absorb carbon monoxide in larger amounts than most other plants. They also filter toxins out of the air and emit clean oxygen in their place.
These come in many different sizes, so you can keep yours on your desk, next to your bed, or in a big planter in the corner of your room.
Like a snake, it doesn’t require much care and tends to itself. As long as you remember to water it every two to three weeks, it’s happy!
3. Spider Plants
You know those flowing green and white plants you see in doctors’ offices and businesses? Those are spider plants.
Yes, they look good, so they’re impressive to have as office decor.
However, spider plants are also used in workplaces around the world because they carry health benefits, such as:
- The ability to lower a person’s blood pressure when they are around them for prolonged periods
- Air-purifying characteristics to reduce the toxins in a room’s air
- Higher oxygen production than other plants
- Non-toxic leaves
These medicinal qualities, combined with the plant’s natural beauty, make it popular with everyone!
4. Peace Lilies
The word “peace lily” is relaxing just to say, but this plant has a lot of other benefits, too.
If you’re looking for a plant that has attractive blooms all year, this is the one for you. Plus, with a peace lily, you get other advantages, like:
- Low-maintenance upkeep since it doesn’t need much sunlight or water
- A strong air purifier, removing up to 60% of the pollutants in a room
- An acetone remover, making it a good choice for nail salons, mechanic shops, or in homes where acetone is used frequently
- An allergen reducer and humidity increaser, helping promote restful sleep
When your goal is to have a pretty plant that boosts your relaxation and health, look no further than the peace lily.
5. Money Trees
No, it’s not the tree your parents always told you to look for when you asked them to buy you something. However, the “money tree,” or Pachira aquatica to botanists, is known in mythology to bring good fortune to the owner.
This tree can be found in small, tabletop planters or large pots that you can place in the corner of your room.
No matter what size you choose, a money tree is a good feng shui plant. In East Asian cultures, it is said to be able to “trap” good fortune inside its trunks. The five leaves of the plant represent the five elements that balance a life: earth, fire, water, air, and metal.
This tree is extremely popular as a housewarming gift, but if you want to do all you can to promote prosperity in your life, add it to your home.
6. Chinese Evergreens
This plant is highly recommended for those busy people who have trouble caring for their plants. The Chinese evergreen needs very little upkeep to thrive in any environment.
Although it’s a hardy little plant, it’s also lush and beautiful. The leaves are a deep green, and some varieties have silver threaded through them that’s visible in the right lighting.
Chinese evergreens are small enough to keep on any surface or can be coaxed to grow in large planters. However, they can be toxic to cats and dogs, so if you’re trying to maintain a pet-friendly home, this might not be the plant for you.
7. Desert Rose
Frequently found with the cactus, its desert counterpart, this flower is less, well, prickly to handle.
The desert rose’s name is romantic and matches the pink or purple flowers, which bloom beautifully all year.
Although it can grow inside and in various environments, this plant is native to an area south of the Sahara Desert, which is where the name comes from. You might also have heard it called the “desert azalea” or the “impala lily,” among other names.
No matter what you call it, this plant is a crowd favorite. Its bright flowers make it stand out from a distance during its bloom. When it’s not blooming, the small but vivid green leaves still attract interest.
One thing to note with this pretty plant:
It can be toxic to pets and humans. If you have children or furry family members, you might be better off with one of the other plants on this list.
Conclusion
Every home should have at least one plant in it to experience the great benefits of nature. Whether you’re looking for a health boost or you just want to improve your decor, these seven plants can help.
Author Bio
Leon Grundstein has more than 28 years of experience in real estate development, with over two decades of experience in the retirement industry. He founded Tacoma Point Ruston with a game-changing business model to promote a healthy and robust retirement lifestyle for older adults.
