Nothing gets me quite excited like the sight of green in my home every morning. I’m excited to see how my plants are doing and if I’m being a good plant parent. The truth is plants give me purpose to wake up on a daily. That is probably why they’ve become so wildly popular in the lockdown, no? It brings people happiness in a time where joy is sparse. Take it from me, I don’t have a green thumb and I’m still learning how to care for my plants effectively. Just start with these bad boys I’ve listed below and it will give you the confidence to invest in more finicky plants.
Plants are temperamental; they all react and respond differently to climate, space, size of the pot, type of pot, light, fertilizer and watering process. Don’t be terrified, a simple rule of thumb to follow is that when the soil feels dry to touch 1.5 inches into the pot then your plant is thirsty. Plastic or terracotta pots with good drainage are the best kind of posts for your plants. While ceramic pots look lovely they don’t do much for the health of your plant. Because they have a restricted amount of breathing space in them.
Read on for more information on the type of plants you should invest in this year:
1) Snake Plant
Needs 1 cup of water every 2 weeks. It acts as an air purifier and absorbs carbon dioxide at night. It is toxic for pets.
2) ZZ Plant
Needs 1 cup of water a month. This plant could survive the drought and can go up to 4 months without water. It is a superior air purifier. This too is toxic for pets.
3) Pothos
Needs 1 cup of water every week or when the soil is dry. It grows well in water too. Toxic for pets but removes toxins from the air.
4) Boston Fern
Needs 1 cup of water twice a week. Add enough water so that it flows out the drainage holes on the bottom of the container. Boston ferns require a high degree of humidity to thrive. Place the pot in a bowl full of rocks so that it rests on top of the rocks. Pour water into the bowl to increase humidity. You can also mist the fern daily, to keep the humidity high.
5) Peace Lilly
Needs 1 cup of water every week or when the plant starts to droop because drooping leaves is your plant telling you it needs water. It brings calm and oxygen into space and will aid with sleep. Spritz the leaves with soft or distilled water.
6) Rubber Plant
Needs ½ cup of water once a week. This plant helps clean the indoor air from pollutants. This plant is hard to kill. You’ll also need to wipe down the leaves of this plant often as it is prone to collecting dust.
7) Fiddle Fig Leaf
Water once a week and mist daily. This plant doesn’t like to be moved and is toxic to pets. You can still have the plant in your home if you trim the bottom leaves off and put it in a jute basket. This will distract your pet enough to not bite on the leaves. They are temperamental and show signs of any distress by dropping leaves.
8) Spider Plant
This plant needs 1cup of water once a week or when the soil is dry. They are adaptable and easy to grow and this makes them perfect for people who don’t have a green thumb! Water your spider plant with distilled or purified water as hard water leaves behind minerals that will destroy the plant.
9) Aloe Vera
Aloes prefer dry soil conditions, so 1 cup of water every month should do. For best results, let the soil at the base of the plant become dry and crumbly before watering. It is a rich succulent and is handy for skincare and minor kitchen burns.
10) English Ivy
Make sure you keep the soil moist, so water till the soil is damp. It is attractive in appearance and is a climber, so given the right location it will pick up steam. The leaves also tend to change shape with age. This plant can cause skin irritation so it’s best to use gardening gloves when pruning or potting to help protect your skin.
11) Birds Of Paradise
Needs 2 cups every 1-2 weeks, you can expect to water more often in brighter light and less often in lower light. Birds of Paradise can be sensitive to hard tap water. Try using filtered water or leaving water out overnight before using. They are full of personality and make a real statement in any room if that is what you want.
Remember if your plant gets direct light you will have to water it more often. Expect to water more often in brighter light and less often in lower light. Spray your plants with Neem oil to ward off pests. Change their positions so each of them gets enough time in the sun if your home doesn’t receive enough sunlight. For the most part, these guys are the easiest lot to handle but don’t be discouraged if one or more don’t survive. We live to learn another day.
Which plants do you plan on investing in to spruce up your life? Let us know in the comments below!
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