The Best House Plants for Beginners
A plant in your home can boost oxygen levels and decrease the amount of pollutants and dust. Maintaining a plant's health can give you immense satisfaction, and has been proved to improve your mental well-being.
Which house plant is best for you? We asked experts for their top choices.
Marble Queen Pothos
Pothos (Epipremnum Aureum) is a very popular house plant, thanks to its heart-shaped leaves with stunning white variegation. It's also among the easiest to take care of which makes it a good option for people who are just starting out. Like tall houseplants thrives in a range of lighting conditions, however it prefers moderate levels of indirect sunlight. It can also grow in lower levels of light or in full shade. This plant can also thrive in moderate household humidity and soil that is a little acidic.
As long that the soil isn't allowed to completely dry out the plant will tolerate of missed waterings, though overwatering is the most common cause of death for houseplants. When in doubt you can test your finger with the soil test: Insert your finger a couple of inches deep into the soil to see whether it's moist. If there's no sign of moisture, it's time for watering. If the leaves change color, it's probably due to the absence of light or too much direct sunlight, or it could be a sign of fungal disease.
In contrast to most plants, pothos is able to take on air pollution, such as the ozone layer and volatile organic compounds. It can be utilized in the bathroom or kitchen to filter the air.
This plant is susceptible to disease and pests, just like other plants. It's best to treat problems quickly, so that they don't spread throughout the house. Pests like thrips and mealybugs are most common on this plant. Keep your Marble Queen Pothos well-watered and it will be less likely to attract insects like these.
Trim the tips of the stem regularly to keep your plant looking good. This will keep the leaves full and marbled and also prevent the vines from becoming too long. The stem tips can be used to help propagate plants.
If you want your Marble Queen to grow taller and taller, encourage it to climb by giving it something to cling to. This could be a moss rod, houseplant trellis, or even strings. Be sure to spray the moss or any other support with water as part of your regular routine of irrigation to help it grow quicker.
Monstera
The monstera plant (Monstera deliciosa), commonly known as the Swiss Cheese Plant, is one of today's most popular house plants. Its leaves are naturally hollow, known as leaf fenestration. They gives a tropical look to any room. It's easy to propagate by cutting it and growing it in water which makes it a great option for people who are new to gardening.
Monstera deliciosa is a fast-growing plant, so it may need to be repotted every few months as its roots grow. To keep your plant healthy remove one or two leaves at a time and place it back in soil that is well-drained. Make sure tall houseplants is well-ventilated and add perlite or lava rocks to the soil to aid in Aeration, if needed.
As house plants that are evergreen, these vines can be easily maintained when they are given enough sunlight and humidity. They will happily climb a trellis, or vine downwards. You can easily shape them to your liking by pruning. You can mist a Monstera with a water spray bottle to increase the amount of humidity in its leaves.
A monstera isn't actually a succulent, despite its name. While succulents have thick, fleshy leaves that hold water and nutrients, monsteras have thin heart-shaped leaves that have fenestrations. Monsteras can withstand dry climates but require more moisture and humidity than succulents.
It's important to note that, although the fenestrations on monstera leaves make them appear as if they could be consumed, they are not safe to eat. house plants online , fruit and leaves of this plant are laced with toxic oxalic acids and could cause irritation to the mouth and throat when consumed.
For those who've already mastered the fiddle leaf fig, Blank suggests moving to monstera next in order to get a feel for how easy indoor gardening can be. "A monstera is very flexible, which means it can thrive in a variety of conditions," she says. It needs a warm, humid and humid environment, but can withstand lower temperatures.
ZZ Plant
The ZZ plant is among the toughest house plants. It's slow-growing and tough that can endure a wide variety of conditions. It thrives in dark environments, and is not bothered by low humidity. It's also tolerant of people who aren't paying attention, and requires only occasional waterings to thrive. The leaves of this tropical succulent may mature in lime green, purple black or a mix of both colors.
Divide the rhizomes from the ZZ plant, which are the tubers that look like roots at the base of the stems. Take the plant out of its pot, cut off the rhizomes and trim them slightly before planting them in new pots filled with fresh potting mix. Alternately, you can plant new ZZs from stem cuttings which have two leaves and measure about an inch in length. Plant the cuttings in a pot with 50:50 mix of multipurpose compost and perlite and then place them in a warm spot. It can take up to one year for the cuttings to grow.
Although tall houseplants is one of the most difficult house plants, certain things can cause it to die. These include overwatering, direct sunlight and dry soil. The best way to avoid these issues is to water the ZZ plant only when the soil is dry. If the soil feels damp it's fine to let it as it is. The plant can last for weeks without watering because its rhizomes store water.
The plant doesn't attract a lot of pests, but it can be susceptible to fungus or rot. To avoid problems like this, remove the old and dead leaves regularly from the plant. Keep it out of reach of small children and pets, as the stalks and leaves can be irritating when eaten.
The ZZ plant is an excellent air purifier since it can assist in removing toluene, benzene, and xylene from indoor environments. It's also able to absorb volatile organic compounds, like formaldehyde and carbon monoxide. This makes the ZZ plant a great choice for offices and apartments that aren't well-ventilated.
Parlor Palm
Palms are a well-loved indoor plant, and with good reason. They can be grown in a variety of temperatures and lighting conditions. They also bring a lush, tropical look to your home. The chamaedorea, or palm, also known as parlor, is not different. The plant (also known as the neanthe bella palm) is native to Central America, and it's getting more and more popular for its versatility. It thrives in bright, filtered light, but can also be planted in areas with less light levels, such as rooms that face north or east. It's a slow growing plant so it may take up to a year it to reach its full height of 2 to 6 feet.
If you want your plant to grow and flourish, you can fertilize it monthly with a balanced liquid fertiliser. It requires a well-draining mix and Bridget Zazzara, retail indoor and seasonal plant manager of Logan's Trading Company, recommends using the same potting mix as you would use for succulents and cacti. Choose soil that drains well and has a pH of between 6.1 and 7.8. You can also add a few sphagnum moss to improve the soil's structure and retain water.
Parlor palms love humidity, so be sure to keep them out of areas with drafts and mist the leaves regularly to maintain humidity levels. You can also install a humidifier in your home. Repot your palms in the spring if it becomes rootbound. It is important not to overwater, however, as the plant can become susceptible to root decay. Water the plant as soon as the top inch or so of the compost is dry to the point of contact. In warm weather, you should water more often. In winter, water less.
The palms are attractive to bees. However keep them out of the reach of pets and children. Their needle-like leaves could be poisonous if eaten and are an ideal habitat for mealybugs. These insects appear as fluffy, white small blobs that are hidden beneath the leaves. They can be difficult for you to remove. If you spot them, clean off the bugs with a cotton bud or cloth coated in insecticides that contain fatty acids or plant oils.