Fancy furnishings and dazzling decor can really spruce up your living space, but nothing gets the job done quite like greenery. Indoor plants not only promote a natural aesthetic — they also purify the air!
Choose your plants based on the lighting in your rooms and the level of care you are willing to provide. More complicated options may require daily attention, while some species need little more than a good soaking once a week.
A spider plant is a great addition to the home because it's so easy-going. It likes bright light — though not necessarily direct sun — is ideal for purifying the air, and is pet friendly.
One of the best aspects of this plant is the cute little baby spiders that pop off of it as the plant grows, which makes this an ideal pick for simple propagation. Fill your home with your original plant's babies, or give them away as gifts.
These plants generally require weekly watering, which makes them one of the easier indoor plants to care for.
If you are looking for some greenery that will bring the decorative drama, then pothos is your top indoor plant choice.
It's not pet-friendly, so if you have fur babies and still want a pothos, you'll want to hang it high up where they can't munch on the leaves. Luckily, this is an excellent plant for hanging, since the heart-shaped leaves readily vine over the sides of the pot.
Place the plant in bright, but not direct, light, and allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.
The name might be offputting to some, but there's nothing scaly about this indoor pot favorite. Snake plants boast an attractive leaf pattern similar to snakeskin, and they're drought-resistant and low maintenance, making them an unassuming addition to the home. Like many others, they are air-purifying and only require watering once every 10 days or so. The snake plant likes bright light but can thrive in lower light as well.
If you want to add some floral touches to your greenery, you can't go wrong with the peace lily. Though beautiful even when not in bloom, this striking plant produces beautiful white flowers when properly cared for. Skip this one if you have pets, though, since the pollen means even out of reach, it could impact your furry friends.
Peace lilies require a bit more care than some other plants. They prefer bright light with patches of shade and moist, but not over-wet, soil. When grown with attention, they can produce their beautiful blooms almost year-round.
Aloe has so many health and cosmetic benefits, it is almost sacrilege to not have an aloe plant in your home. With its cactus-like structure, it is actually pretty easy to grow and care for. The best part is that you can pop off a piece as needed to deal with everything from sunburn to hair care.
This plant prefers bright sunlight and likes to dry out pretty good between waterings. It is not pet-friendly, so keep it out of reach.
The rubber plant is a modern-looking indoor plant that can get very tall in the right conditions, so be sure to prune it routinely. It prefers shady spots with intermittent light. You need only water once a week or so, as it prefers dry soil between waterings.
Rubber plants don't require a ton of attention, so if you are the kind of plant parent that frequently forgets to water your plants, this is a great option for you.
Air plants are a fascinating indoor plant type that have become quite popular recently. They require very different care than most other species. Air plants can be kept in soil-less hanging glass orbs for an artsy decorative vibe. They require water every 10 days or so. Just let them soak for a couple of hours, and back in the orb they go.
The neat little Tillandsea (it's official name) literally requires nothing more: no soil, minimal light, no special attention. They provide that little pop of greenery in spots other plants might not thrive, giving your whole home some of nature's pizazz.
The stunning bromeliad is another show-stopper in terms of the bright blooms and longevity. It likes the soil to dry out a bit between waterings and prefers air temperatures of around 70 degrees — any colder and your plant will protest. The blooms of the bromeliad can last quite a long time, which makes them favorite of plant parents everywhere.
The appearance of this plant mimics the rubber tree, with leaves that are just a bit more lightweight. Unlike rubber trees, though, the jade plant is from the succulent family, so it retains water in those leaves, making it another low-maintenance choice. It prefers bright light and water only when the soil dries out.
The spiky leaves of this tree look menacing, and this plant is just as tough. It requires little to no attention but stands up tall and beautiful with bold leaves shooting out of its base. Place it in a space with low light and watch it thrive. Bear in mind, though, that the dragon tree is toxic to pets.