The Best House Plants for Beginners
A houseplant can boost the levels of oxygen, lessen pollution and dust, and enhance your indoor air quality. The care and maintenance of a plant can be a great source of satisfaction--it's even proven to improve mental well-being.
Which house plant is best for you? Experts gave us their recommendations.
Marble Queen Pothos
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is among the most sought-after house plants, with its heart-shaped leaves and gorgeous white variegation. It is also easy to care for, making it an ideal choice for those who are new to gardening. Like other tropical plants, pothos thrives in a variety of light conditions, but it prefers moderate levels of indirect sunlight. It is also able to thrive in lower levels of light or in complete shade. A moderately humid household and an acidic soil mix work well for this plant, too.
As long as the soil is not allowed to dry out completely, this plant is tolerant of not getting watered, even though overwatering is a common cause of death in houseplants. If you're not sure you can test your finger with the soil test: Place your finger about two inches deep into the soil to see whether it's damp; if not, it's time for an irrigation. If the leaves turn yellow, it's likely due to a lack of light or too much direct sunlight, or it could be an indication of fungal disease.
Pothos, unlike many plants, can withstand air pollution, including Ozone. It's a great choice for a bathroom or kitchen where it can filter the air.
Like many other plants This one is also susceptible to pests and diseases. It is recommended to address problems quickly, so that they don't spread throughout the house. Pests like mealybugs and thrips are most common on this plant. Keep your Marble Queen Pothos well-watered, and it will be less likely to attract these pests.
Trim the tips of the stem regularly to keep your plant looking great. This helps the marbled foliage keep its fullness and stops the vines from getting too long. These stem tip clippings may be used to create new plants.
If you wish for your Marble Queen to get taller, encourage it to climb by providing it with something to cling to. This could be a moss trellis, rod, or even string. Be sure to spray the moss or any other support with water as part your regular routine of irrigation to help it grow quicker.
Monstera
The Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera delica) is also known as the Monstera plant, is one of the most sought-after houseplants of today. The leaves are dotted with natural holes called leaf fenestrationand can add an exotic feel to any room. It's easy to propagate through cutting and growing it in water making it a good option for those who are just starting out.
Monstera deliciosa is a fast-growing plant and you may have to pot it up every few months. Take a few leaves and plant it in a well-drained potting soil. Make sure you make sure that the container is well ventilated and add in other ingredients such as perlite or lava rocks for increased soil aeration if needed.
As house plants they can be easily cared for when they are given enough light and humidity. They're content to climb a trellis or a vine downwards and are easily pruned to shape them if you prefer it in a particular way. You can mist a Monstera with a water spray bottle to increase the humidity in its leaves.
Contrary to its name Monstera is not a succulent. While low maintenance house plants have thick fleshy leaves that hold water however, monsteras have tinier heart-shaped leaves with fenestrations. Monsteras can withstand dry climates, but require more moisture and humidity than succulents.
The leaves of the monstera plant, despite their appearance aren't edible. The stems, fruits and leaves contain oxalic acid, which can cause mouth and throat irritation if consumed.
Blank suggests that those who have learned to play the fiddle-leaf fig, move on to a Monstera to get a better feel of how easy it can be to plant indoors. "A monstera can adapt to a variety of conditions," says Blank. It requires a warm environment, but it is able to be able to withstand lower temperatures and more humidity than what homes typically provide.
ZZ Plant
The ZZ plant is among the toughest house plants. It's slow-growing and hardy, surviving a wide range of conditions. It can thrive in shady areas and isn't averse to low humidity. It's also tolerant of neglectful owners, and needs only occasional waterings to thrive. The leaves of this tropical succulent could be lime green, black-purple, or a combination of both as they grow.
Divide good house plants from the ZZ plant and the tubers that look like roots at the bottom of the stems. Lift the plant out of its pot, separate the rhizomes and trim them a bit before placing them in new pots that have fresh soil mix. You can also plant new ZZs by using stem cuttings with two leaves, each measuring about an inch in length. Plant the cuttings into a pot containing 50/50 mix of perlite and multipurpose soil. Place the pot in an area that is warm. It could take up to a year for the cuttings of the plant to develop.
Despite being one of the most robust house plants, there are some things that can cause this species to die, such as overwatering, direct sunlight and dry soil. Water the ZZ plant only when its soil feels dry. If the soil is damp it's fine to let it be. The plant can go for weeks without watering because its rhizomes store water.
The plant is not a pest magnet, but it is susceptible to rot and fungus. The best way to prevent these problems is to routinely remove dead and old leaves from the plant. Keep it away from children and pets, as the stalks and leaves could be irritating when ingested.
The ZZ plant is a great air purifier because it can assist in removing benzene, toluene and xylene from indoor environments. It's also able to take in volatile organic compounds, like carbon monoxide and formaldehyde. This makes the ZZ plant a great option for apartments and offices that aren't well-ventilated.
Parlor Palm
Palms are a well-loved indoor plant, and with good reason. They provide tropical, lush vibes to living spaces, and tolerate a wide variety of lighting conditions as well as temperatures. The chamaedorea elegans, or parlor palm, is not an exception. The plant, also referred to as neanthe Bella palm is native to Central America and is gaining in popularity because of its versatility. It grows best in bright, filtered light, but can also be grown in areas with lower light levels, such as rooms facing north or east. It is a slow-growing plant so it could take up to a year for it to reach its full height of 2-6 feet.
If you're looking to stimulate growth, fertilize the plant every month with an appropriate liquid fertilizer. It needs a well-draining mix and Bridget Zazzara, retail indoor and seasonal plant manager at Logan's Trading Company, recommends using the same potting soil as you would use for cacti and succulents. Find soil that drains well and has a pH of between 6.1 and 7.8. Include a bit of sphagnum moss to improve the soil's structure and retention of water.
Keep your parlor palms away from drafty areas, and mist their leaves every day to keep the humidity in check. You can also install a humidifier to your home. Repot your palms in spring if it becomes rootbound. It's important not to overwater, though, as the plant could be susceptible to root rot. Water the plant as soon as the top inch of compost is dry. Water more frequently during warm weather, but less often in winter.
The palms are attractive to bees. But keep them out of the reach of pets and children. The needle-like leaves of these palms can be poisonous if eaten and are an ideal habitat for mealybugs. These insects appear as fluffy, white floating blobs beneath the leaves. They are difficult to remove. If you see these insects, you can wipe them off with a cotton bud or cloth coated with an insecticide that is made up of the fatty acids or plant oils.