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| Indoor Plants to Grow This Spring |
4 Indoor Plants to Grow This Spring
One of the joys of nesting into your home is creating a space you love and feel at peace in. If you love tackling a good house project during the spring months, we have the perfect seasonal idea for you—indoor plants.
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| Growing plants |
Growing indoor plants is a popular interior design trend that has benefits that go far beyond design aesthetic. Not only does indoor foliage add a pop of color or dynamic dimension to your living space, but research shows there are a plethora of health benefits to growing indoor plants as well. From purifying the air to helping you sleep, plants are not only pleasing to the eye but great for your health.
Indoor Plants: A Breath of Fresh Air, Literally
Did you know indoor air can be even more polluted than outdoor air? Gross, we know.
Lucky for all of us aspiring gardeners, one of the easiest ways to purify indoor air is to grow potted plants. Plants naturally filter the air and increase oxygen levels through photosynthesis.
One study done by NASA in 1989, titled “Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement” showed that common plant species removed pollutants such as benzene, toluene, xylene, and formaldehyde from the air. Given the fact many of these pollutants are known carcinogens that can lead to skin damage and respiratory problems, it’s doesn’t take a physician to tell you it’s wise to avoid breathing them in. The best part is that it only takes a few plants to make a huge change to indoor air quality. All the more reason to grow them, right?
Additionally, studies have shown plants help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Yes, you heard us right. Walking into a home full of flora can help calm and relax you. This happens because the soil contains microbes dubbed "outdoorphins" which work as natural antidepressants. Pretty cool, right? It’s also been discovered that indoor plants can improve sleep quality. Add some plants to your bedroom and you can say goodbye to restless nights caused by a lumpy, old mattress or the pesky allergies that keep you up at night during the spring.
So whether or not you have a green thumb, with little extra effort, here are four indoor plants you can learn to grow this spring!
Garden Mum
If you’re looking for a houseplant that’s pleasing to the eye and acts as a natural air purifier, consider investing in a garden mum! These pretty plants have been popular for centuries and were originally cultivated in China. They are inexpensive and can be found at most garden stores. This plant incredibly low-maintenance and really only needs regular water to thrive. Make sure you water under the leaves to avoid potential fungus issues.
Spider Plant
Also known as a “ribbon plant” during the Victorian Era, a spider plant is another good option to consider adding to your home. This houseplant is easy to grow and pretty difficult to kill, meaning that you don’t need a green thumb to keep it thriving.
It loves indirect sunlight, so place it on a windowsill where you get the most sun! Like the garden mum, spider plants have air-purifying properties and can help keep your home’s atmosphere fresh.
Ficus
Why not try something a bit bolder to add both clean air and greenery in your home?
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| Add clean air and greenery to your home |
Ficus is actually a tree that originates from Southeast Asia, however, it’s a modest one that typically stays between two and ten feet when grown indoors. It’s a low-maintenance option that offers a lot of growth and style for a small price and doesn’t require hours of care.
Plant it in loamy soil and water it once the soil begins to dry. If the leaves turn yellow, try watering more frequently.
Aloe Vera
Finally, if you’re looking for an easy-to-handle indoor plant that is incredibly useful, try the aloe vera plant. This succulent is one of the oldest and most researched medical plants around, and it just needs mild temperatures around 70 degrees and a little sun to grow.
Don’t worry about watering it too much, either – the soil needs to be dry. Aloe vera is great for skin irritations and injuries, too, so it’s a handy plant to have around.
So if you are looking for a new hobby to learn this spring, mastering the art of indoor gardening is a great way to both revamp and cleanse your interior while simultaneously improving your health. Go ahead, get planting!
Author: Lisa Smalls
Author: Lisa Smalls
"Lisa is a freelance writer from North Carolina. When she isn't writing, she loves working on house projects like flipping furniture and developing her green thumb!"
Inveigle Magazine