Recently I’ve been on a mission of adding more greenery to my home. I started a few years back with a succulent here and there, then finally added two snake plants to the mix too. One in my office and one on my new buffet.
They’ve been impossible to kill as they require little to no attention. As in, they maybe get water whenever I find a half full water glass around my house. Which means, maybe once a month at most. My home also doesn’t get any direct sunlight since I face directly north in my apartment. However, I do get really great indirect light making it ideal for these low maintenance plants.
Since I’ve accomplished keeping TWO whole plants alive for a few years now, I feel like it’s time to add something a little more challenging to the mix. My grandmother always has big beautiful plants in her home. I remember as a kid taking these vintage red enamel watering cans around her house in New York to water them all. Hoping she’ll let me have one now that my plant collection is growing and using leftover water glasses isn’t super classy.
After some research, I got a little overwhelmed with all the information and types of plants I could buy. Plus, finding the ones I wanted became nearly impossible.
Unfortunately, big box home improvement retailers don’t carry a massive variety of plants. Especially if you live in an area that the plant won’t survive outside in, they typically won’t carry them. It makes sense, but it sure does make it annoying to find a fun plant to bring home outside of your classics.
Heading to a local nursery is best to get the tailored assistance you need. So here are some tips from my friends at The Victorian Atlanta.
Best Indoor Plants
How To Find The Right Ones For Your Space
Light And Location
I’m getting ready to start adding some plants to my life, what should I think about? The most important thing to consider is how much light that plant will receive in your home. Plus, if it’s the right amount that the plant needs in order to grow happy and healthy.
So often, people put plants in places in their homes as a style element without thinking of what light requirements the plant actually needs. This can cause the plant to not thrive and then you think you can’t keep plants alive.
Good news is, there’s probably a plant that will work in that spot, but you have to be careful to choose the right one.
How Big The Plant Will Get
Other things to consider are how big the plant will eventually get, how much attention the plant needs and if it is poisonous to pets if you have them.
How Needy The Plant Is
You’ll also want to note how much water a plant will need. Or how needy it could be. If you’re someone who travels a lot (hi that’s me!) you’ll want plants that require less watering than others.
Yes, there are definitely plants out there that can basically be ignored for long periods of time like Snake plants and ivy, and cactus. But then there are plants who need watering quite often like Maidenhair Ferns, African Violets and spider plants.
TIP – Decide where you want to put a plant first before choosing the plant. Plus, if you aren’t home much, a plant that requires a ton of watering won’t work with your lifestyle.
Benefits Of Indoor Plants
Plants are so important for so many reasons and having them in our living and work spaces is actually vital to our health and well-being. They offer both psychological and physical benefits. Tending to plants and caring for them helps to lower stress and anxiety. And the fact that plants absorb toxins in the air and release some water vapor means they have a physical benefit to your air quality.
Best Low Light Plants That Are Easy To Maintain
The top three easiest plants are pothos plant, snake plant and spider plant. Pothos and snake plants come in several varieties so you could collect multiples of these and they wouldn’t look exactly the same
- Pothos Plant
- Snake Plant
- Spider Plant
These guys don’t need a lot of attention or bright light so they are excellent for beginner plant lovers. I think a lot of people think they are more on the boring side, but crazy long pothos vines are still one of my favorite things. And to be honest, if you choose the right planter you can make any plant look cool.
TIP – These plants don’t require a ton of water or maintenance. Typically you’ll only need to water when their soil is dry. Always check the instructions or ask your nursery expert when purchasing your plants so you keep them happy.
Best Bright or Indirect Light Plants
The possibilities are endless for folks with great light! For bright ambient or indirect light, most tropical plants will thrive in those conditions. The best indoor plants for this type of light include:
- monsteras
- philodendrons
- fiddle leaf figs
- bird of paradise
Best Direct Bright Light Plants
If your home gets a lot of direct sunlight, then you can go the cactus and euphorbia route. During the winter when the days are shorter and the sun shifts keep an eye on the light levels. If you feel that something isn’t getting enough sunlight then move it around for a season.
- Cactus
- Sago Palm
- Jade Plant
- Succulents
- String of pearls
TIP – Direct light means real deal sunshine beating down on the plant (meaning it’s location is facing west or east). This is important for cactus and euphorbias. If you get a ton of great indirect light, (as in many hours of not needing any lights on in your home and there’s no shade) you can probably get away with the other options listed besides the cactus and euphorbias.
5 TIPS TO KEEPING YOUR FIDDLE LEAF FIG TREE ALIVE
The Fiddle Leaf Fig has quickly become an Instagram wrothy, must have indoor plant. But many people feel intimidated by them. Or they quickly kill this beautiful houseplant. Here are 5 tips to keeping your fiddle leaf fig tree alive and happy.
1. Repot It The Right Way
Make sure you re-pot it in a nice ceramic or clay pot that is a size or two up from the nursery pot it came in. This is the most important thing you can do for all of your plants when you get them. You want to make sure you choose a potting soil mix that is organic and for indoor plants. Pot fiddles in a tropical mix which is moisture retaining and rich in nutrients.
2. Location, Location, Location
Put it in a spot that is away from drafts and direct sun but in bright indirect light. Rotate it every now and then if you want it to grow evenly.
3. Water It Properly
Water it thoroughly when the top two inches of soil have dried out. Make sure your pot has a drainage hole and watch for the water to start coming out the bottom. If it hasn’t, then chances are you haven’t given it enough water.
4. Keep Them Clean!
Keep its leaves clean and free from dust. You can wipe them down with a clean rag dipped in 2 parts milk and 1 part water and it will make them extra shiny and strong.
5. Trick It With A Spritz
Mist your fiddle leaf every other day or so, especially in the winter when the air in our homes is dry from the heat, with a spray bottle. This tricks the plant into thinking its environment is more humid than it actually is and helps keep it happy.
If you live in Atlanta, I can’t recommend enough heading into The Victorian Atlanta. Even if you already have a plant, she has lots of great unique pots and baskets to keep them in. Her selection is ever-changing too. You can also check out Lush Plant Co, another great plant shop in Decatur.
Photography by Bryce France
