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You’ve heard of crazy cat ladies. Get ready for…houseplant hustlers! We’re here to talk all things houseplant: how to start fostering green space, the whats, whys, and hows of becoming a plant parent, and the unparalleled benefits of indoor plants.
Evolutionarily, we are somewhat primed to be thinking about green, at least those of us with a green thumb. Green has been the color of our largest source of food, the places we’ve tramped around in and slept within, and an implicit symbol of growth, fertility, and humanity. It’s a color that gets our attention by signaling many implicit messages to our physical bodies and embedded minds.
Research has established a definitive link between tending to houseplants and reduced stress. This could be attributed to the human attenuation to “green,” especially as we spend most of our time indoors. A study conducted in 2015 found decreased autonomic nervous system activation + blood pressure when participants engaged with plant-related tasks versus computer-related tasks. This is huge! It's aa relatively easy, low commitment way to incorporate green spaces into your home while engaging with anti-anxiety practices. Besides anxiolytic qualities, house plants offer quantifiable health benefits: many of them filter toxins, excess moisture, and impurities from the air in your home. The microscopic organisms that live within your plants' soil, a happy byproduct of a lush &natural home, also contribute healthy gases and bacteria to your home's biosphere. Double, triple, and quadruple win!
Because there are so many plant admirers... succulent lovers, monstera fanatics, bamboo likers, it can feel overwhelming trying to position yourself in the discourse. Fear not: we’ve assembled a beginner friendly guide for which plants are best for which plant parents and in which places.
Pothos
The pothos plant is a beginner-friendly, pet-unfriendly vine plant. It’s native to the South Pacific islands and notorious for its pointy leaves, quick-growing vines, and preference for indirect or fluorescent light. Depending on the humidity in your home, you only need to water pothos every one to two weeks; whenever the soil completely dries out is an indicator that your pothos is thirsty.
Notice their position atop the mantle: a sprawling and anxiety-relieving piece of decor.
Philodendron
Like the pothos, the philodendron has a preference for indirect sunlight. It’s also a beginner-friendly plant: it remains relatively contained in a pot, unlike the draping pothos plant. The philodendron only needs to be watered once a week in the warmer months. In the winter months, plant parents recommend you let the soil completely dry out before the next watering session. Philodendrons are best suited for humid environments despite their low maintenance watering schedule; think about putting them in your bathroom or near a sink!
Aloe vera
Our summertime best friend, the penultimate sunburn cure: aloe vera. She’s low maintenance--requiring only one watering session per week--but she prefers direct and consistent sunlight. As a plus, aloe vera can be propagated--or bred beyond the parent plant--so that you can keep growing more aloe vera plants in different pots. Yet another bonus: the aloe vera plant is an efficient toxin remover, meaning that it acts as a natural air purifier. Plant parents recommend you keep them in places that are toxin-ridden--like where you frequently use cleaning products, detergents, or soaps--in order for them to perform at optimal efficiency.
Purple spiderwort
Although there are different varieties of spiderwort--native to the Americas--purple spiderwort adds a tropical pop of color to your established sea of green. The purple variety requires full, direct sunlight exposure; besides this, it’s an extremely beginner-friendly exotic plant. The spiderwort family also has distinct flower blooms that only last about a day--it’s a fun challenge trying to catch their gorgeous (and temporary) blossoms.
Chives (and herbs, more generally)
Your kitchen is the perfect place to grow plants with an intention of utility. Imagine not having to spend money on basil, parsley, cilantro, chives--you only have to harvest them from your windowsill! Although different herbs obviously have different requirements, including varying degrees of sunlight, watering, pruning, and general upkeep, most of them have similar enough growing patterns. If you’re interested in a more comprehensive, kitchen-oriented growing resource, you can check this out. Back to chives: they grow quickest in warm weather and require direct sunlight. They require a pot that has sufficient drainage capacities and have good cohabiters (see: cilantro and parsley) in said pots. Once established, chives will regrow after they’re cut. No more grocery runs!
Plant influencers, like Becca de la Plants and Wild Fern, are an excellent resource for nascent plant parents. There, they have how-to videos on growing, upkeep, plant jargon, tips-and-tricks, and expansion all for your plant tool-kit. Happy growing!
