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10 best houseplants
Houseplants provide many benefits to our health and wellbeing. They can clean our air, help us have better sleeps, reduce stress, and so much more. Here are the 10 best houseplants for improving your quality of life and some basic tips to care for them.
By Mike Wells, Leading Vocational Teacher, Horticulture
1. Golden Cane Palm
A great daytime oxygen producer. Best suited for work and entertainment areas of our homes.
2. Mother-In-Law’s Tongue or Snake plant
A prolific night time oxygen generator, best for bedrooms.
3. Devil’s Ivy
Quite tolerant of occasional neglect. Grow it on a totem or climbing frame.
4. Philodendron varieties
Some may need some climbing support in the pot.
5. Bamboo Palm
Great for a well-lit corner and provides some height as well.
6. Peace Lily
This easy-to-grow indoor plant will reward you with white blooms.
7. Boston Fern
Will excel in a hanging basket, but make sure it stays moist.
8. English Ivy
Grow this on a climbing frame, or in a hanging basket.
9. Weeping Fig
Prefers warmer areas and high humidity.
10. Dracaena varieties
Narrow, upright growers for a well-lit corner or screening effect.
Not only do many houseplants help remove volatile organic chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene from the air we breathe, simply having a green environment around us improves our mood, concentration, productivity, and social behaviour.
BONUS tips: caring for your houseplants
- For best results, grow your house plants in a quality peat or coir based potting mix
- Keep moist but not wet
- Feed every couple of months with a ½ strength liquid fertiliser
- Make sure they are situated in a well-lit (no direct sunlight), airy spot in your home
- Keep an eye out for mealy bugs and scale (two common houseplant pests)