The Best House Plants for Beginners
A plant in your home can improve oxygen levels and lower the amount of dust and pollution. In best houseplants , caring for it can be a great source of satisfaction--it's even been known to boost mental well-being.
Which house plant is the best for you? We talked to experts for their top choices.
Marble Queen Pothos
Pothos (Epipremnum Aureum) is a popular house plant due to its heart-shaped leaves and stunning white variation. It's also one of the easiest to care for, making it an ideal choice for beginners. Like many tropical plants, pothos thrives in all kinds of light conditions, but it prefers moderate levels of indirect sunlight. It is also able to thrive in less light conditions or in complete shade. It also thrives in humid conditions, and soil that is a little acidic.
So long that the soil isn't allowed to completely dry out it is tolerant of missed waterings, though overwatering is the most common cause of death in houseplants. If you're unsure, stick your finger into the soil and see if the soil is moist. If not, water the plant. If the leaves turn yellow, it's likely due to the absence of light or too much direct sun, or it could be an indication of fungal disease.
Unlike most plants, pothos is able to take on air pollution, such as ozone and Volatile Organic Compounds. good house plants 's a great choice for kitchens or bathrooms in order to help filter the air.
This plant is susceptible to disease and pests as are other plants. It is recommended to address problems as soon as possible to prevent them from spreading. Thrips and mealybugs are among the most frequent pests found on this plant. Keeping low maintenance house plants -watered and fed will help keep these insects away from attacking it in the first place.
Trim the stem tips regularly to keep your plant looking great. This will keep the leaves full and marbled and also prevent the vines from growing too long. These stem tip clippings can also be used to propagate new plants.
If you want your Marble Queen to get taller you can encourage it to climb by giving it something to hold onto. This could be a moss trellis or rod, or even string. Make sure to spray the moss or any other support with water as part of your regular irrigation routine to help it grow quicker.
Monstera
The Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera delica) is also known as the Monstera plant, is one of the most popular houseplants in the present. The leaves are dotted with natural holes called leaf fenestrationand can give an exotic look to any space. It's also easy to propagate by cutting it and growing it in water making it a good option for people who are new to gardening.
Monstera deliciosa is a fast-growing plant, and it will need to be relocated every few months as the roots develop. Take a few leaves off and then repot the plant in a potting soil that is well-drained. Make sure your container is well-ventilated. You can also add perlite or lava rock to the soil to aid in aeration, if necessary.
As house plants, these evergreen vines can be easily cared for provided they get enough light and humidity. They will happily climb up a trellis or climb downwards. You can easily shape them to your liking by pruning. It's easy to mist a large tree with a spray bottle filled with water to increase the amount of humidity in its leaves daily.
Despite its name, a monstera is not a succulent. While succulents have thick fleshy leaves that hold water and nutrients, monsteras have thin heart-shaped leaves adorned with fenestrations. Monsteras can tolerate dry climates, but they require more moisture and humidity than succulents.
It's important to note that, while the fenestrations on monstera leaves give them the appearance of they could be consumed, they are not safe to consume. The fruit, stems and leaves of this plant contain toxic oxalic acids and could cause pain to the mouth and throat in the event of consumption.
If you've already mastered the fiddle leaf fig, Blank suggests moving to the monstera to get a feel for how easy indoor gardening can be. "A monstera can be adapted to many different conditions," says Blank. It requires a warm climate, but it can withstand lower temperatures and higher humidity than what homes typically provide.
ZZ Plant
The ZZ plant is one of the toughest house plants. It's slow-growing and tough and can withstand a variety of conditions. It can thrive in dark places and doesn't seem to be affected by low humidity. It's also tolerant of neglectful owners and requires only periodic watering to live. The leaves of this tropical succulent could be lime green, black-purple, or a combination of both colors as they mature.
Divide the rhizomes of the ZZ plant that are the tubers that look like roots that are located at the bottom of the stems. Take the plant out of its pot, cut off the rhizomes, and trim them slightly before placing them in new pots filled with fresh soil mix. You can also grow new ZZs by using stem cuttings with two leaves that measure about an inch long. Place the cuttings in pots with 50:50 mix of perlite and multipurpose compost and put them in a warm spot. It can take up to an entire year for the cuttings' roots to develop into a new plant.
Despite being among the most durable house plants, there are some things that can cause this species to die, such as overwatering direct sunlight, dry soil. Water the ZZ plant only when its soil is dry. It's okay to leave the soil moist. The plant can go for weeks without watering since its rhizomes store water.
The plant isn't a magnet for many insects, but it could be susceptible to fungus and rot. To prevent these issues, remove the old and dead leaves regularly from the plant. It is also essential to keep it away from small children and pets as the leaves and stems can cause irritation if eaten.
The ZZ plant is a fantastic air purifier, as it can assist in removing toluene, benzene and xylene from indoor air. It can also absorb volatile organic compounds, such as carbon monoxide and formaldehyde. This makes the ZZ plant an ideal option for apartments and offices that aren't well-ventilated.
Parlor Palm
Palms have a long history as indoor plants, and for good reason. They provide the tropical feel to living spaces and endure a variety of lighting conditions and temperatures. The chamaedorea, or parlor palm is no different. 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 it can also be planted in areas with less light levels, such as rooms facing east or north. It's a slow grower, so it may take up to a year it to reach its full height of 2 to 6 feet.
If you would like your plant to grow and flourish, you can fertilize it every month by using a balanced liquid fertilizer. Bridget Zazzara is the retail indoor and seasonal plant supervisor at Logan's Trading Company. She recommends using a well draining mix. Find a soil that is slightly acidic to alkaline, with an acidity between 6.1 and 7.8, and be sure to add a bit of sphagnum peat moss which helps improve the soil's structure and water retention.
Keep your palms in a safe distance from drafty areas, and mist their leaves every day to ensure that they are humid. You can also include an air humidifier to your home. If your palm in the parlor becomes rootbound, repot it in the spring. Overwatering can cause root decay. Water the plant as soon as the top inch of compost is dry. In warmer weather, you should water more often. In winter, water less.
The palms are attractive for bees. But keep them out of the reach of pets and children. The needle-like leaves can be poisonous and be consumed. They also attract mealybugs. These insects appear as white, fluffy small blobs that are hidden beneath the leaves. They can be difficult for you to get rid of. If you spot them, clean them off with a cotton bud or a cloth soaked in an insecticide containing fatty acids or plants oils.