Healthy Homes with House Plants
“Do any of you have a completely unremarkable friend or maybe a houseplant I could go to dinner with on Saturday night?”
-Miranda, Sex and the City
I remember visiting Longwood Gardens as a child with my parents. I found the whole experience incredibly and excruciatingly boring until we got to the greenhouse. It was at that moment that I fell in love with plants growing inside. I felt transported to another world where I could imagine being in some tropical paradise. I found the smells intoxicating and earthy. Here was where I wanted to linger and explore. I am fascinated by texture and am drawn to touch everything. I apparently had touched a plant that I was allergic to for I ended up with hives. Funny that this experience did not deter me in the least from pursuing my passion.
My parents home was always filled with plants. Our kitchen had sort of a jungle feel, being the room with the most sun. My mom had a special hose that connected to the sink to water this collection and even that took hours. I had my favorites: a Staghorn Fern that was mounted to the wall, a Rosary Vine that was several feet long that created the “hair” in a head shaped planter, and a Rabbits Foot Fern that took up most of the powder room. Growing up, I will never forget the biyearly seasonal undertaking of moving the entire greenery collection to capitalize on the fresh outdoors. Our home always looked so stark and empty in the spring and then in the fall we would be visited by snakes, bees, and other delightful critters.
Over the years I have attempted to grow houseplants. I once had a Jade Plant last two years until I left it out in the snow. The Aloe plant loved its windowsill location but didn’t care for its relocation to the outdoor blazing hot concrete patio. This was before I went to school and I was clueless as to what conditions plants preferred. Now educated you might think I have transformed my home into a recreation of my beloved childhood memories. Well, not exactly. I am the queen of neglecting houseplants, actually plants in general. It’s the classic shoemakers kids have no shoes syndrome.
One of my New Year’s intentions this year is to bring some glorious green life into my home. Low maintenance is key for me. Join me this month on my quest to “Green” up my living space.
TOP 25 LOW MAINTENANCE HOUSEPLANTS
NAME | LIGHT | WATER | HABIT |
ARECA PALM
Chrysalidocarpus lutescens |
part to full sun | Keep evenly moist | Tropical and Upright |
ARROWHEAD VINE*
Syngonium podophyllum |
shade to part sun | Keep evenly moist | Bushy |
BAMBOO PALM
Chamaedorea seifrizii |
part to full sun | Keep evenly moist | Tropical and Upright |
BIRD’S NEXT FERN
Asplenium nidus |
shade to part sun | Keep evenly moist | Tropical and Vase shape |
BOSTON FERN
Nephrolepis exaltata |
part to full sun | Keep evenly moist | Bushy |
CAST IRON
Aspidistra elatior |
shade to part sun | Moderate moisture | Upright |
CHINESE EVERGREEN*
Aglaonema commutatum |
shade to part sun | Keep evenly moist | Bushy |
CORN PLANT*
Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’ |
part to full sun | Allow to dry | Upright |
DIEFFENBACHIA*
Dieffenbachia spp. |
shade to part sun | Allow to dry | Tropical and Full |
DRACAENA *
Dracaena spp. |
part to full sun | Allow to dry | Upright |
FIDDLE LEAF FIG
Ficus lyrata |
part to full sun | Allow to dry | Tree-like |
HOYA
Hoya carnosa |
part to full sun | Allow to dry | Trailing |
JADE PLANT
Crassula ovata |
part to full sun | Allow to dry | Tree-like |
LADY PALM
Rhapsis excelsa |
shade to part sun | Allow to dry | Tropical and Upright |
NORFOLK ISLAND PINE
Araucaria heterophylla |
full sun | Allow to dry | Weeping |
PEACE LILY
Spathiphyllum |
shade to part sun | Water heavily | Full and Tropical |
PEPEROMIA*
Pereromia spp. |
shade to part sun | Allow to dry | Round |
PHILODENDRON*
Philodendron spp. |
shade to full sun | Allow to dry | Trailing |
PONYTAIL PALM
Beaucarnea recurvata |
full sun | Allow to dry | Tropical and Tree-like |
POTHOS*
Epipremnum spp. |
shade to full sun | Moderate | Trailing |
RUBBER TREE
Ficus elastica |
part to full sun | Allow to dry | Tropical and Upright |
SCHEFFLERA
Schefflera actinophylla |
part to full sun | Keep evenly moist | Shrub-like |
SNAKE PLANT
Sansevieria trifasciata |
shade to full sun | Allow to dry | Architectural Sword Shape |
SPIDER PLANT
‘Chlorophytum comosum ‘Vittatum’ |
part to full sun | Keep evenly moist | Grass-like |
ZEEZEE PLANT*
Zamioculcas zamiifolia |
shade to full sun | Allow to dry | Tropical |
* Indicates all or part of the plant is poisonous to pets and children if eaten or chewed and may cause severe irritation to tongue, nose, and throat.
Plants bring more than green beauty to our homes. They can help purify the air by removing many toxins that may be present such as: formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide. They have been shown to actually help fight fatigue and colds. In a hospital setting, plants are known to speed up the recovery process. Simply put, plants can make us healthy and happy.
Q: Why do my houseplants have yellow leaves?
A: Yellow leaves is a common problem with houseplants and can be due to a variety of reasons. The number one reason is overwatering. Try using a water meter to determine if your plant needs water. Leaves also may yellow as a plant ages. Lack of light and nutrients are other possible causes.