Always wanted a houseplant but don’t know where to start? Here are more reasons you shouldn’t wait!
1. Get fresh air
Have you ever gone into your house in the winter and felt like your air was stale? Maybe it wasn’t necessarily smelly but it was stuffy and dry? Houseplants are a great way to add some life into your air so you can breathe easier. As you take in Oxygen and release Carbon Dioxide your plant will be breathing just like you, but in reverse! It will be taking all that used up air and recycling it back to you while raising your house’s oxygen levels. Plants can also release some of the moisture from their watering and return it back into the air raising the humidity levels in your house.
2. Reduce toxins
Nasa released a Clean Air Study from 1989 that showed that houseplants can help filter out toxins in the air. Houseplants can efficiently clean up your air and leave it better than they found it. Not all houseplants clean up the same toxins but each one makes a big dent in the air purity levels of your home.
3. Reduce winter blues
Even if you don’t suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder it can be easy to get a little blue during the cold winter months. Houseplants can help raise your happiness levels, especially flowering plants. It makes sense when you think about it! How many happy events were marked by flowers and greenery? There are plenty of theories that have looked at nature’s impact on people to try and explain why it has positive effects. Even though you could get a similar effect by putting up posters of greenery there is something more powerful about having something green and living that you can touch, see, and smell.
4. Get your stats up
There are correlations between being around plants and improved attentiveness and productivity, lower blood pressure and level of anxiety, as well as raising happiness levels and feelings of satisfaction. All kinds of studies have seen correlations between having houseplants and improving the human condition. The reasons why are unique for each individual but a couple possibilities can be the happiness boost of having something green and growing, the satisfaction of taking care of something, the good effects of plants’ air purification, and so many more.
5. Share the wealth
There are a lot of houseplants that can grow so big that you get to share the wealth! Either you can take a clipping from one plant and put it somewhere else in your home or you can give it away. Taking care of your plants means that you will have plenty of wealth to share and you give out some plant babies at no expense.
If you’ve never had a green thumb then don’t worry because there are many different kinds of houseplants and you’ll find the one that’s right for you. Here are some of the most low-maintenance houseplants to start with. Keep in mind that every plant should have some drainage. Either put something underneath to catch water or buy a pot that comes with a drainage compartment attached (these can be inexpensive).
Spider Plant
It likes to be a little drier so don’t drench it. Keep it partially in the sun but don’t let it bake. The little runners that come off the plant are easy to replant for a whole new plant.
Snake Plant
A low maintenance plant that likes some sunlight. Doesn’t want a lot of water so let it dry out before you water it again. Can grow quite big.
Boston Fern
Big fluffy fern that loves sunlight. This guy also likes water so keep it moist but not drenched.
Pothos
Can handle nearly any level of light, but will change appearance based on light levels. Trailing plant that doesn’t want a lot of water. Let it dry out before watering again. TOXIC TO PETS.
Succulents
Water haters and sun lovers. If you forget to water your plants this one is for you. Water once a week in the summer and once a month in the winter.
Peace Lilly
Low light survivor. Water it all or nothing. Big dose of water and then let it dry out.
