Adding house plants can inject color and life into your house, and consequently enhance its appearance and even your quality of life. But in addition to the aesthetic benefits, house plants are known for acting as a natural air filter, meaning that having them can significantly enhance the quality of air in your house. However, there are many types of houseplants and, therefore, picking the right one for your house can be quite a daunting task. You have to consider a number of factors, including moisture content in your house, light availability, and the specific benefits that you would like to achieve. Below are some of the most common house plants for home improvement.
Fiddle-Leaf Fig Tree
The Fiddle-Leaf Fig Tree is one of the best indoor plants that you can grow in your house. It features large and heavily veined leaves that grow upright on its tall stem. This plant is native to tropical rainforests, meaning that they thrive well in wet and warm conditions, so taking care of them can be somewhat challenging for homeowners outside the tropics. The good news is that the Fiddle-Leaf Fig Tree is a tough, resilient plant that can withstand conditions that are less than perfect.
Benjamina Ficus Tree
The Benjamina Ficus Tree, commonly known as the Weeping Fig Tree, is one of the most common indoor plants found in homes and offices due to its aesthetic appeal characterized by a light gray trunk and a spreading canopy. This tropical tree can grow up to 60 feet in its natural habitat, but it has to be pruned to keep it between 3 feet and 6 feet to remain suitable for the indoor environment. Benjamina Ficus is native to the tropical and subtropical climates of Asia and Australia, and replicating this climate in your house may not be easy.
The plant is quite sensitive to light, humidity, and temperatures and it can shed its leaves when it is stressed. Therefore, for you to make it thrive in your house, you have to keep the temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees, ensure that the plant is watered moderately, and keep it at a location where it has access to adequate indirect sunlight. The plant also prefers high humidity, so you may need a humidifier to keep it happy.
Ficus Alii Braid Plant
Ficus Alii Braid Plant is commonly known as Banana Leaf Fig due to the shape of its leaves, which are long and slender. The plant is native to China, India, and Southeast Asia, but it can be an excellent houseplant. Compared to its cousins, such as the Fiddle Leaf Fig and Ficus Benjamina, the Ficus Alii Braid is much easier to take care of. This is because it is less likely to shed its leaf when subjected to imperfect environmental conditions. You just have to ensure that it is moderately watered and it has access to adequate indirect sunlight. Although Ficus Alii Braid Plant is less intimidating as a houseplant, it is not in any way less dramatic.
Bi-Color Dracaena Plant
The Bi-Color Dracaena Plant is a special variety of the Dragon Plant. It is characterized by deep green leaves, which are lined with a thin elegant red strand encasing the ivory yellow and emerald green bands. It can grow up to 3 feet in an indoor environment and its long leaves can grow up to more than an inch wide and up to a foot long, making it a bushy tree. Its dramatic foliage and colorful patterns will make it an excellent focal point of any room in your house. Additionally the Bi-Color Dracaena is highly adaptable and taking care of it under imperfect environmental conditions should not give you problems.
Tropic Snow Plant
The Tropical Snow Plant, also known as the Dieffenbachia Plant is one of the most popular tropical house plants. Although it is native to the tropics of South America and Central America, this plant is quite resilient and it is known for its tolerance to shade, making it easy to care for in an indoor environment. The Tropic Snow Plant has a lot of big variegated leaves and you can be sure that it will bring some jungle spirit to your house.
Umbrella Tree
The Umbrella Tree is also commonly known as Octopus Tree or the Parasol Tree. Its name can be attributed to its unique eight spoke style foliage that looks like an umbrella. It is a large house plant that can grow up to 6 feet tall in an indoor environment. However, the Umbrella is still low maintenance and an easy indoor plant to look after. By just watering it a few times every month, you will have a beautiful plant to brighten up any dull corner of your living room.
Rising Sun Plant
The Rising Sun Plant is also commonly known as the Good Luck Plant. This house plant is known for its rich tropical color, so you can count on it to bring a truly exotic feel to your house. Its evergreen leaves usually get some contrasting pink margins when the plant reaches maturity. In addition to its colorfulness, the Rising Sun Plant is easy to take care of. It only needs adequate sunlight, watering, and occasional pruning to get rid of any damaged or dead foliage.
Lavender
Lavender is a flowering plant that is known for its pleasant aroma. However, Lavender is also associated with a number of stress-relieving mental health benefits. The plant requires well-drained soil and a lot of sunlight to flourish. Therefore, you have to ensure that you place it at a spot where it can access adequate indirect sunlight. Lavender also requires deep watering, but you should be careful not to overdo it. Of course, you can place this small indoor plant in any room, but it will be most beneficial in your bedroom since it is going to help you sleep better.
Aloe Vera
You have probably heard of the medicinal value of Aloe Vera, but did you know that Aloe Vera is also one of the best house plants that you can have? However, for this type of indoor plant to thrive in your house, it needs deep watering and its soil should then be left to dry slightly. With a lot of sunlight, the plant could turn brown, so it is best for you to keep it under indirect sunlight.
Overall, it is apparent that house plants can bring plenty of benefits to your house. However, when shopping for one, there are so many types of indoor plants that you may get overwhelmed. For you to make the right decision, consider what you want to achieve and how committed you are to taking care of the plant.
Ready to purchase your house plant? We offer all the available house plants above - and more - at Brighter Blooms!
