The addition of indoor plants can bring a new life to any home. Some plants enhance the aesthetics of the home while others provide practical or health benefits. You can place them in a vase or pot to enhance the appeal of your room. There are different types to choose from. Small, big, hanging (vine), and flowering plants are some of the most common types people choose for their homes.
Home gardening is a growing hobby. However, many amateur gardeners don’t have any idea about which plant to buy for their home. So, we have gathered a list of the most popular plants that you can buy for your home.
This list is categorised into two parts. The first part contains plants that might not look pleasing but have practical benefits. The second part consists of plants that can enhance the aesthetics of your room.
Plants with practical benefits
What can be more advantageous than having a plant that can benefit you in practical ways? We have gathered a list of some pants that are beneficial in different ways. You can choose one of them or a combination for your home.
1. Stevia plant
Diabetics may know about the Stevia plant. It is a well-known natural substitute for sugar. It is a tender perennial herb that might reach 12 to 30 inches. Its small tubular flowers have five white petals. The flowers are borne in terminal clusters.
It’s sweeter than white sugar and it doesn’t have artificial ingredients and calories that can harm your health. The FDA (The U.S. Food and Drug Administration) hasn’t approved the raw consumption of its leaves. However, it has been used by tribes in Paraguay for more than 1500 years for sweetness. Since excess of everything and anything is wrong therefore you might use its leaves in small quantities and less frequently to sweeten your tea.
Ideal growing conditions:
- Sunlight: 6-8 hours
- Temperature: around 70°F
- Water requirements: low
You can position it in a room where sunlight is available for 6-8 hours. Don’t let the soil dry completely but standing water can also be harmful. So, just keep it moist.
2. Aloe vera plant
Aloe vera plant is among the most popular ones in Pakistan. Many people choose this one for indoor gardening due to many reasons. It has been used for centuries due to its health, medicinal, beauty, and skincare benefits. This plant has an average height of 24 to 39 inches.
It is a succulent plant species of the genus Aloe. This plant has triangular and fleshy leaves with serrated edges. It has 98.5% water. Therefore, you won’t need to water it often.
The following are some uses and benefits of the aloe vera plant,
- Heartburn relief
- An alternative to mouthwash
- Lowering your blood sugar
- Natural laxative
- Great for skin
These benefits depend upon how you use this plant. Most benefits are associated with its gel. But it is important to use the gel right after you extract it. Otherwise, you might not get the desired benefits.
Ideal growing conditions:
- Temperature: 55°F to 80°F
- Sunlight: Try to avoid intense summer sunlight
- Water requirements: Less frequent
The temperature range is flexible but you should be careful about exposure to sunlight. Keep it in bright conditions inside your home but don’t expose it to sunlight in summer.
3. Venus flytrap (Carnivorous plant)
Venus flytrap is a plant that actually catches and digests the flies and other insects with a trap. It is important to note that it doesn’t rely on carnivory for energy but uses protein for survival in hard conditions. This plant mostly has around six stems with hinged leaves with lined “teeth”. Two leaves can fit together like a clamshell. Average leaves can grow around 5 inches.
The leaves of these plants attract flies and other insects. When the insect sits on the leaves, both of them close rapidly as a clamshell and teeth prevent escaping. Fluids in leaves digest the insect and leave nothing behind. It means they can solve the problems of flies and insects in your room to some extent.
Ideal growing conditions:
- Temperature: 70° to 95° F
- Sunlight: 4 to 6 hours
- Water: Moderate water requirement
Place it under direct sunlight for around 6 hours a day. But keep them in shaded areas in winter. The temperature range is flexible but it must be maintained within the range. You can water it with a frequency of 2 or 3 days. But don’t let the soil dry as this plant needs a constant supply of water.
4. Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata)
Air purifying is a well-known quality of snake plants but it also looks attractive when placed indoors at homes. Dracaena trifasciata is the species name of this plant. It is called a snake plant due to the pale or light green lines that give it a snake-like look. Many people call it mother-in-law’s tongue as well. Its leaves can be 2.3 to 3.0 ft long and 2.0 to 2.4 inches wide. It can reach an average height of around 6ft.
It is one of those rare plants that can convert carbon dioxide into oxygen at night. Therefore, it is best suited for bedrooms for a good night sleep.
Ideal growing conditions:
- Temperature: 60° to 75° F
- Sunlight: Indirect or partial
- Water: Moderate water requirement
You don’t need direct sunlight for a snake plant which makes it suitable indoors. Maintaining temperature is essential otherwise, it will not survive otherwise. You can water it after the soil is dried.
5. Basil plant
If mosquitos are a big problem, the Basil plant is the best choice for your home. It is a plant from the mint family due to its aromatic leaves. It is not just a mosquito repellent but also a kitchen herb. The leaves have a glossy and oval shape along with smooth or slightly toothed edges.
Sweet basil is a common name due to its sweet aroma. This aroma is the reason why it is called mosquito repellant as these insects can’t withstand this aroma. Four elements (citronella, estragole, limonene, and nerolidol) help in repelling them.
Ideal growing conditions:
- Temperature: 50° to 80° F
- Sunlight: 6 to 8 hours
- Water: Moderate water requirement
Basil needs warm conditions to survive as it needs a temperature of up to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and up to 8 hrs of sunlight. However, during intense summers keep it away from the sunlight of mid-day but expose it to sunlight for 2 hours before sunset. It likes to be moist so try to water it frequently. Don’t overwater it as it can rot the plant.
6. Pitcher plant (Carnivorous plant)
The pitcher plant is another carnivorous plant you can get for indoor gardening. It has a pitcher-like shape and traps insects and other small animals in it. It generally grows in poor soil conditions having low levels of nitrogen. This plant traps insects and digests them to fulfil its nitrogen deficiency. Secret nectar in them attracts the prey and thick fluid traps it inside until it is digested. It is another plant you can get if you have an insect problem in your room. The size of a pitcher plant can range from 6 inches to more than 36 inches.
Ideal growing conditions:
- Temperature: 65° to 80° F
- Sunlight: High sunlight requirements
- Water: Moderate water requirement
A pitcher plant is a temperature loving plant that requires a warm temperature. You need to place it under a window that gets direct sunlight most of the time. This plant cannot survive much without moisture. So, you have to keep its soil moist frequently. Just don’t leave it damp in water as it is harmful to it.
Plants for aesthetics
Some plants don’t provide much practical benefit but look beautiful in the room. Here is a list of some plants you can get to enhance the aesthetics of your home/room.
1. Money plant (Epipremnum aureum / Pothos)
Money plant is also known as Epipremnum aureum or Pothos. It is a hardy indoor foliage plant of the arum family. It is an evergreen plant containing waxy green and heart-shaped leaves. Its leaves have splashes of yellow color that enhance its visual appeal. It is a trailing vine. You can simply leave it in a pot. It will grow and cover it after coming out from the pot/vase. It can grow to around 66 ft tall. You can use rods to promote vertical growth of this vine.
Ideal growing conditions:
- Temperature: 65° to 85° F
- Sunlight: 1-2 hours
- Water: Moderate water requirement
Money plants are easy to grow indoors. They need little sunlight. You can also grow this plant in bright conditions with indirect sunlight. You need to keep the soil evenly moist but avoid sogginess. Don’t let the soil dry.
2. Spider plant (Chlorophytum)
Spider plant (Chlorophytum) also known as ornamental house plant can be a great choice for your home. It is good enough to be placed in the living, drawing, or even dining room. It has hanging, long but narrow leaves. Most of their varieties have white or creamy borders on the leaves. The plant can become around 24 inches tall. Length of leave can vary between 8 to 18 inches.
Ideal growing conditions:
- Temperature: 65° to 90° F
- Sunlight: Indirect sunlight
- Water: Moderate water requirement
To keep your spider plant healthy, avoid long exposures to direct sunlight. It can withstand high temperatures of up to 90° F though. You can position it in a way where it receives indirect sunlight. It needs moderate watering but you have to let the soil dry a bit before watering again.
3. Cactus plant
The Cactus plant is a member of the Cactaceae family which is a popular choice of many people. It has over 1700 species so you have many options to choose from. They have thick herbaceous or woody chlorophyll-containing stems and small cushions like structures with trichomes. This plant might not be the best choice if you have kids at home as they have thorns.
Ideal growing conditions:
- Temperature: 70° to 95°+ F
- Sunlight: Direct sunlight (4-6 hours)
- Water: Low water requirement
Cactus is a desert plant that requires exposure to direct sunlight for around 4-6 hours. Its temperature tolerance is high but it cannot withstand low temperatures. Low water requirements don’t mean you can forget about watering it for weeks. It is advised to let the soil dry a bit before watering again.
Note: These recommendations are for some cactus varieties and cannot be generalised for all species in the family.
4. Rose plant
The rose plant is among the most popular flowering plants in Pakistan. The plant itself might not be visually appealing but its flower is the main attraction that can improve the aesthetics of any room. But you have to choose miniature rose plants for this purpose as they can be used indoors. Miniature roses are the ones that have been selectively bred to stay small. This plant can be 1–2 ft wide and tall. Most of them are intensely fragrant so you won’t need any air freshener for your room.
Ideal growing conditions:
- Temperature: 60° to 70° F
- Sunlight: Moderate sunlight
- Water: Slightly higher water requirement
Water requirements for miniature roses are slightly higher than most indoor plants. They cannot bloom in higher temperatures so be careful about it. Miniature rose plants require less sunlight than others but still, you have to place them near a window. Direct sunlight in summer is not suitable for them.
Summary
Home gardening is tough but a great hobby. Growing a plant is like raising a pet. It needs proper care and attention. Plants are not just for their aesthetic value or medicinal uses, they can be kept for one or both reasons. In this blog you’ll find both categories of plants – those which are good to look at, great to smell and those which are full of health and medicinal benefits.
Which indoor plant(s) would you pick from this list? Tell us in the comment box.
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