Spring has sprung! That means it’s time for spring cleaning and bringing a little of the outdoors inside.
Plants for interior design
Houseplants are a big interior design trend this year, and you can really have fun with making your home livelier with the addition of greenery. Keeping up with design trends is not the only reason to choose indoor plants as part of your decor, because they have health benefits that go beyond their aesthetic appeal (but more on that later).
At some point or another you have probably toyed with the idea of adding some foliage to your interior. There’s just one problem: you can barely keep a store bought bouquet of flowers alive. But that doesn’t mean you can’t exercise your green thumb this spring. We’ve come up with the fool proof beginner’s guide to growing indoor plants this spring. All it takes is a little sun, water, and willingness to learn!
Photo by Nathan Fertig on Unsplash
Here are 4 easy-to-grow plants that any beginner can start with this spring:
Snake Plant
Snake Plant is a great plant for those of you with a brown thumb. This plant needs very little water and grows well in both direct and indirect light and is easily propagated by placing one of the sword-shaped leaves into some soil or a container of water.
ZZ Plant
The ZZ Plant has beautiful, glossy leaves on arching stems. You can grow this plant in moderate indirect light, but it also does well in windowless rooms, such as an office or bathroom, as long as there is a decent amount of fluorescent light.
Pothos
Photo by Patrick Perkins on Unsplash
Pothos is a popular house plant because it is nearly impossible to kill (which is exactly the type of plant beginners want to grow)! In fact, it’s probably the most commonly grown indoor plant, and it’s resilience is probably why. This plant prefers low, indirect sunlight which makes it a great option for most anyone to grow. Plant pothos in a potting soil and water w every so often when the first two inches of soil become dry.
Air Plant
Scientifically referred to as Tillandsia, this plant is nicknamed, and commonly called, “air plant”, because they get most of their nutrients from the air. Air plant is a great plant for beginners to try their hand at growing because they are very low maintenance. When it comes to watering, look to the weather. When it’s hot and humid, water more frequently. When it’s cold and dry, you can water less frequently.
Health Benefits of Indoor Plants
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
The benefits of indoor plants go far beyond adding a little foliage to spruce up your interior. Both your mind and body can reap the benefits plants have to offer. So if you aren’t convinced you should exercise your gardening abilities, here are a few reasons why you should reconsider:
Improved Air Quality
According to a NASA study, certain plants are excellent to grow indoors to purify the air. Although this study by Dr. B.C. Wolverton was conducted in the 1980’s, its findings remain evergreen. Most people spend the majority of their time indoors, whether at work or at home, and adding plants to indoor spaces provides a healthier environment.
Better Sleep
Surprisingly, adding houseplants to your decor can improve your chances of getting quality sleep. Lavender is a soothing herb that can be grown indoors, as long as there is high indirect light or direct light from a window in your home. Houseplants can contribute to relaxation, but it is also important that your bed and bedroom environment are cozy and comfortable. In order to create a more relaxing environment in your bedroom, you can choose earthy tones for your bedding and furniture.
Increased Humidity
Through a process known as transpiration, indoor plants increase humidity in the air. This is great for those with dry skin or respiratory problems. If increasing humidity in the air is a quality you are seeking, you can look for high-transpiration plants when making a selection.
Embellishing your home with indoor plants doesn’t end with aesthetic value. Houseplants can actually interact with your mind, body, and home by purifying the air, improving sleep, and, ultimately, enhancing quality of life.
Lisa is a freelance writer from North Carolina who works regularly with Mattress Advisor writing reviews. Although she writes about sleep most of the time, there is nothing more she loves than working in eher garden on saturday mornings and seeing what plant she can grow next!
