The essential details which need to know about having a house plant
Before purchasing a house plant, it is necessary to learn the basic needs of these green organisms. To maintain a proper level of care after indoor vegetation, one should consider the minimum requirements that must be fulfilled daily. In general, any houseplant should be provided with sufficient light, water, humidity, and nutrients (Shepperd). As living organisms that thrive through photosynthesis, plants require constant access to sunlight, which they transform into energy (Shepperd). Therefore, before purchasing even the most resilient kinds of vegetation, it is essential to find a perfect spot for the future house companion, preferably one in the west or east location. The majority of house plants need dissipated indirect sunlight, which will benefit their living processes without depriving them of vital energy or burning the leaves.
Another essential detail to review is the demand for watering, a crucial part of indoor plant care. In addition to sunlight, all vegetation is dependent on water, which offers the plants necessary moisture and protects them from dehydration (Steinkopf). To properly manage the living organism, the owner should frequently provide room-temperature soft water to the plant, maintaining a balance between dehydration and dampness. Usually, vegetation requires more water during growing periods, between spring and autumn, and should be watered to a smaller extent in winter.
An appropriate level of humidity is also imperative to keep a luscious environment for the indoor plants. Although many beginners overlook the importance of this aspect, it should be given careful consideration, as some species can be exceptionally demanding in this area. Most common types of house plants require a percentage of humidity between 40 to 50%, which is higher than ordinary indoor humidity (Boughner). However, sustaining necessary moisture is not as challenging as it seems, as contemporary solutions vary significantly, from productivity to practicality. Such simple options as wet pebbles in the plant trays and spraying containers can be used to establish the needed environment.
Furthermore, to create an atmosphere that will allow the vegetation to thrive and demonstrate its finest qualities, a plant owner should invest in additional nutritional supplements. As not every necessary chemical can be derived from sunlight and water, especially in the enclosed environment of a plant pot, it is recommended to include particular vegetation mixtures, ensuring the prosperity of the green organism (Davis). Similar to the watering schedule, nutritional elements should be added more frequently during spring and early autumn and should be provided less regularly or not at all during winter months.
The most common types of house plants
As the trend of house gardening developed, more species were introduced to the indoor environment, properly adapting to the closed spaces of living quarters. In the current age, a plant enthusiast has a wide variety of indoor plants to choose from, as the majority of them will be completely comfortable inside living quarters (Steinkopf). Some of the most popular variants include foliage plants, flowering plants, cacti, and succulents (Boughner). Foliage-typed plants usually do not bloom and remain the same during the whole year, becoming a perfect addition to the home environment. Furthermore, they are considered less complicated and effort-consuming, as they can survive under different circumstances. Excellent examples of foliage plants are Boston Fern, Spider Plant, Snake Plant, Dracaena, English Ivy, and Rubber Plant (Boughner). Under the right conditions, they will demonstrate tremendous green beauty, excellently vitalizing the interior.
A different group of plants, the blossoming kind, is also adored by numerous plant owners. Although they might require more attention to flower properly, the results are often incredibly astonishing, even for the simplest plants. Such Instances as Cyclamen, Anthurium, Urn Plant, African Violets, and Begonia are usually placed indoors and cherished for their colored exterior and modest care demands (Boughner). Another popular option is orchids, especially the Cattleya varieties, which are less susceptible to diseases due to mismanagement, and simultaneously have a striking appearance.
As for the cacti, this type of plant is probably one of the most famous for its resilience and exceptional adaptation to different conditions. Commonly found in a dry desert-like environment, cacti can survive for a significantly long time without water, perfectly suiting the needs of plant owners with little time (Boughner). Moreover, these green organisms manifest a remarkable amount of shapes and sizes, with some of them even able to bloom. Typically, Pereskia, the Golden Barrel Cactus, Christmas and Easter cactus, and Gynmocalycium are grown indoors.
Finally, a kind of common house plant similar to cacti is succulents, which are also well-known for storing necessary water resources in the stems. However, succulents do not have any spines or needles, making them a safer option for the owners (Steinkopf). Available in numerous shapes and colors, most succulents can bloom as well and can be easily handled even by novice individuals. Some popular options include Jade, Kalanchoe, Sedum, and Aloe, which are resilient plants that can survive dehydration for a significant amount of time compared to foliage or blooming varieties (Boughner). With proper care, succulents can reward the owners with exceptional beauty and active growth.
How choose a house plant?
Deciding on purchasing an indoor plant requires careful consideration from the future caretaker. As any living organisms, plants need an appropriate level of attention and a suitable environment that will allow them to prosper. Buying a plant that cannot live under the current conditions or is too difficult to handle can be a serious mistake, resulting in severe consequences for the vegetation. Therefore, before taking a beautiful green life-form home, it is recommended to evaluate the atmosphere in the housing, adapting the decision accordingly.
The first assessment that will crucially impact the future choice is the amount of sunlight available inside the room where the plant will be staying. Most types of vegetation do not outlive frequent change of location, meaning that additional thought should be given to the permanent place of living (Shepperd). The dedicated spot should not be under direct sun rays, as they will scorch the leaves; however, a considerable lack of light is also not recommended. A perfect location would be facing east or west, avoiding the midday heat. However, if such a spot is unavailable, it is possible to find plant species that prosper in low light conditions or can survive direct sunlight, for example, succulents for little lighting and cacti for the heat.
Another consideration should be given to the amount of time that will be dedicated to the vegetation. As some plants require substantial effort to sustain their proper form, one should decide if this requirement will be fulfilled. For instance, the majority of orchids require extensive care and the provision of a perfect atmosphere, similar to their native conditions (Boughner). High humidity, warmth, and bright sunlight are needed almost the whole year, making it challenging to maintain their growth. Another good example of a time-consuming category can be exotic or tropical plants, which demand specific conditions to be sustained (Davis). Coming from the warm and humid regions of Asia and Africa, such plants as Zebra Plant, Calathea, and Wax Plant are usually suggested for experienced gardeners. However, bromeliads, succulents, and cacti can be easily kept by novice enthusiasts, as they can endure the lack of water, low sunlight, and potential caring mistakes.
The easiest house plants to grow/have for beginners
When first starting the gardening activity, it is possible to choose particular kinds of vegetation that are capable of outliving some neglect from the owner. Whether the insufficient attention is based on forgetfulness or absence of knowledge, these green organisms can sustain themselves for some period of time, offering the owner a possibility to gain some needed experience. The most common plants recommended for beginners include Philodendron, or Sweetheart Plant, Jade, cacti, and Snake Plant (Boughner). From the blooming species, Peace Lily, Pink Calla, African violets, and Cyclamen are perfect options for novices (Steinkopf). Well-recognized for their beauty and resistance, they can tolerate slight dehydration, dry air, and low sunlight and are also less susceptible to being affected by insects or diseases. Furthermore, no specific methods of pruning or nutritional support are needed to maintain the necessary environment for these plants. Nevertheless, when presented with proper care and attention, these species will offer striking foliage and will frequently bloom, rewarding the owner for the effort given.
Some types of cactus house plants
Cacti house plants are prevalent among both novice and experienced gardeners, who cherish them for a number of exceptional qualities. There are three types of cacti, primitives, desert, and epiphyte, all of which have adapted to withstand the harsh conditions of extreme heat and dryness (Boughner). From the first group, only Pereskia is usually house grown, and it demands additional effort from the owner in regard to pruning and constant care. In contrast to most indoor plants, the primitives do not hibernate in winter and should be watered and supported during this period as well.
The second group of cacti, desert cacti, includes a variety of common house plants. This is the largest and most diverse type of cacti family, which lacks leaves and presents thick stems and spines. After that, there’s a wide range of appearances for the desert cacti, beginning from the size of spines and ending with the blooming cycles (Boughner). Particular sorts display thick needles and excessive stems, while others are quite small and less dangerous. Some bigger examples include the Golden Barrel Cactus, African Milk Tree, and Cereus, while Echinopsis and Bishop’s Cap are usually much smaller. In regard to blooming, Gymnocalycium and Aylostera usually manifest small flowers with bright sunlight and nutritional support.
Epiphytes, the third type of cacti plants, are drastically different from the previously discussed groups. Having evolved to live in trees, these cacti have thin stems and almost no spines, which necessitates more water and potting soil to be provided (Boughner). Christmas and Easter Cactus, as well as Angel Wings, are often grown inside. These varieties are dormant during the winter months and should be given less water and fertilizer during this time.
Some big leaf house plants
Several types of house plants, usually foliage type, have considerably large leaves and can perfectly reanimate the atmosphere of an apartment. Commonly found in the tropical regions, these bigleaf representatives can also adapt to the environment of enclosed quarters, given the availability of necessary sunlight, water, and humidity. The species are known as Croton, bromeliads, Schefflera, and Monstera Deliciosa can grow into substantial sizes and display large, broad foliage. Some other exemplary instances are Calathea, Elephant Ear Plant, and such philodendron varieties as Xanadu and Gloriosum (Steinkopf). Nevertheless, some of these species, especially philodendron and the elephant ear plant, might be difficult to find, given their rarity. Furthermore, native to the specific environment present in the locations of Asia and Africa, these living organisms require sufficient sunlight during the year and relatively high humidity, around 70-80%, which might be challenging to maintain inside living rooms.
Some flowering house plants
Flowering house plants are considered an exceptional addition to any home given their colorful appearance and spectacular ability to survive in the living quarters. Cyclamen, African Violets, Pink Calla Lilies, and Peace Lily are popular among many gardeners who prefer to grow blooming species. These exemplars are easy to sustain during the whole year, and they do not require extensive care or particular conditions to grow flowers (Shepperd). However, for those seeking more exotic blossoms, anthurium and orchids might be an excellent choice. Moreover, some flowering plants, for instance, the Chinese Jasmine, are cherished for their fragrance qualities, which are often present in exotic tropical flowers.
Sort of house plants which are good for low light
A complication connected to plant placing is the availability of natural sunlight, which is not often accessible in the living quarters. Fortunately, several plant species can survive the difficult conditions of low light. a good example is the Cast-Iron Plant, which is extremely durable and even recommended to not be disturbed as much as possible, as it prefers infrequent watering and almost no re-potting (Davis). Another instance is the Chinese Evergreen, which also thrives on little light and can be easily placed in spots facing the north direction. After that, the Corn Plant and the ZZ Plant are also similar to the previous exemplars and should be placed in the low sunlight location.
Do house plants purify the air?
A significant number of house plants can act as indoor air purifiers, consuming excessive carbon dioxide and other dangerous elements present Inside the housing. Scientific investigations suggest that particular varieties off the foliage group can mediate the negative outputs of industrial facilities and carbon-emitting devices that are present in the living quarters situated near or within the cities (Sevik et al.). The Boston Fern, Spider Plant, Pygmy Date Palm, and Snake Plant are excellent pollution fighters, which can enrich the enclosed atmosphere.
Some house plants that are good with pets, like cats and dogs
An imperative consideration for the future house plant owner is the presence of home pets, which will also interact with the green organism. However, some vegetation develops toxins that are dangerous for other animals, especially cats, dogs, and birds, that can be poisoned after biting or chewing the leaves (Boughner). African Violets, Spider Plant, Boston Fern, Polka Dot Plant, Calathea, and bromeliads are perfectly safe for domestic animals, which might be prompted to chew their leaves or flowers. In contrast, Cyclamen, Monstera, and other tropical exemplars should be introduced with special care and attention, as they can cause severe intoxication even in humans.
References
Boughner, Bernice. Cheap And Easy Houseplants: Indoor Gardening for Everyone. iUniverse, 2006.
Davis, Julie Bawden. Indoor Gardening the Organic Way: How to Create a Natural and Sustaining Environment for Your Houseplants. Taylor Trade Publishing, 2006.
Sevik, Hakan, et al. “The Influence of House Plants on Indoor CO 2.” Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, vol. 26, no. 4, 2017, pp. 1643–51.
Shepperd, Peter. Houseplants 101: How to Choose, Style, Grow and Nurture Your Indoor Plants. Wryting, 2020.
Steinkopf, Lisa Eldred. Houseplants: The Complete Guide to Choosing, Growing, and Caring for Indoor Plants. Cool Springs Press, 2017.