The Top 20 Best Indoor Plants for your Home

Indoor plants can be a wonderful addition to your home. They can add a wonderful decorative accent to practically any room, and put off fresh oxygen through the leaves. They can also help you to de-stress. Most plants have their pros and cons so it pays to be informed about the benefits and drawbacks of each before you make your selection. For example, some plants are sharp, or may have toxic leaves or blossoms. If you are a pet owner or have small children, you may want to consider the non-hazardous types.

Here is a list of the top 20 best indoor plants for your home.

Ficus

Ficus are among the most popular indoor house plants for both homes and offices. They are highly decorative and they help to purify the air inside. They should be placed in areas that get bright but indirect sunlight. Keep the soil moist by misting them periodically. They cannot tolerate drafts so avoid placing them near doorways leading outside. The sap that is omitted can cause skin irritation for people and animals. Ingesting the leaves may cause vomiting and/or diarrhea.

Boston Fern

Boston Ferns, when properly cared for can grow very large. They are delicate and attractive. One of the best advantages of this plant is that it is the best at purifying the air. They thrive in humid areas with natural lighting. Bathrooms are excellent locations. They require moist soil, but you should let them dry out occasionally in the winter time. You can determine the size of your Boston Fern by the size of the pot. The only downside to a Boston Fern is that the leaves tend to drop and they are vulnerable to rot. Good drainage is necessary and you should be prepared to clean up a mess when they shed their leaves.

Red-Edged Dracaena

This plant is also referred to as dragon tree. It is also good as an air purifier. This attractive plant is best placed in a brightly lit spot and it should be allowed to get dry before you water it again. Red-Edged Dracaena are excellent at removing trichloroethylene, xylene and formaldehyde from the home. This makes it a healthy choice. The drawback is that this plant is vulnerable to leaf spot when water is spilled on them. Water from the base for the best results.

Golden Pothos

Golden Pothos are easy to grow even if you don’t have a green thumb. They are attractive with green foliage that has golden veins running throughout the leaves. They are great for low light locations and are fairly hardy. Allow the plant to dry out before watering again. The plant is attractive and helps to purify the air. The major con to this plant is that it is toxic if ingested. It is not a good idea to have a Golden Pothos within the reach of children or pets.

Peace Lily

Peace Lilies are grown in water. They are a unique plant that has an elegant attractiveness. It’s best to keep them in indirect light in a range from medium to bright. When the water gets low the plant will tell you when to add more because the leaves will droop. You can also mist the plant and watch it perk up again. This plant removes trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, benzene, xylene and toluene from the air. It does contain compounds that may cause skin irritation. When crushed, eaten or chewed, it causes an intense burning sensation.

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemums are beautiful indoor plants that are air purifiers. They prefer bright areas and require well-drained soil. Keep the plant moist but not soggy. NASA has approved this as being one of the best plants for air purification. It removes formalehyde, benzene and ammonia from the air. On the downside, the leaves of this plant are poisonous.

Snake Plant

Snake plants are known for their air cleaning quality. They are also referred to as mother-in-law’s tongue. This plant is hardy and it is uniquely attractive. It thrives best in bright indirect light but can tolerate low light and water. This plat should be watered at the base. The plant should be rotated weekly. Snake plants filter and clean indoor air. They do contain Saponins which are toxic to pets and can lead to vomiting and nausea if ingested.

Spider Plant

Spider Plants are air purifiers. They are hardy and thrive with minimal maintenance. Moist soil is recommended but an occasional drying out won’t hurt them. Bright and indirect sunlight is preferred, ut it can tolerate moderate lighting as long as it is not directly exposed to the sun. The plant must be fertilized every two weeks. Spider plants clean the air of carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, benzene and xylene. They are safe for children and dogs, but they have a very mild hallucinogenic effect for cats.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is a medicinal plant that also makes an attractive and easy to grow houseplant. Repotting into larger containers will stimulate the plant to grow large. Bright and indirect light is recommended. Keep the soil moist, but if you forget to water, it will generally do fine. The sap is gel-like and is a popular remedy for treating burns and cuts. It speeds healing for these types of injuries. It also produces smaller plants regularly which are easy to remove to make new plants. It is not recommended to take this plant outdoors because it attracts insects.

Bamboo Palm

Bamboo Palms add a tropical theme to the environment. They are also referred to as parlor palms. The plant does best in bright indirect light but it can also survive in low light areas. Allow the plam to dry out in between watering. Avoid overwatering. The plant is not toxic to animals or humans and it is good for cleaning formaldehyde from the air. It is vulnerable to spider mites which is identified by a fine webbing in the leaves.

Money Plant

The Money Plant is also known as a jade plant. Keep it in bright light and allow to dry out in between watering. It grows slowly and is a fairly hardy plant. It is one of the best air purification plants. It is toxic to pets so the money plant must be kept out of their reach.

Rubber Plant

The Rubber Plant is a relative of the Ficus. It should be kept in bright indirect light, but it will talerate low light as well. Keep it moist by misting and make sure that the water is at room temperature. Avoid overwatering because it can cause the leaves to turn yellow. This plant offers broad attractive leaves. It is resistant to disease and is good for cleaning the air. On thedown side, the sap of the Rubber plant is poisonous to huans and animals. It can cause skin irritation. The plant can reach up to ten feet in height.

Kalanchoe

This plant is an attractive bloomer. It requires frequent watering and bright light. It must be allowed to get dry in between watering. They only bloom once a season and are considered to be disposable plants. They are good for cleaning the air and it is easy to grown new plants rapidly from cuttings. The plant is only attractive when it is in bloom. In order to force blooming place it in a dark area for 6 weeks, then bring it into the light. This stimulates the formation of flowers.

Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia helps to clean the air. Another name for this plant is a dumb cane. This gorgeous plant has leaved which sport a mottled patterns. They prefer low and indiret light with moist soil that is well-drained. The plant can reach up to 4 ft tall. The plant is toxic to children and pets and may cause irritation of the mouth, difficulty swallowing and excessive drooling in pets. The plant must be rotated weekly.

Fiddle-Leaf Fig

Fiddle Leaf Figs are indoor trees which are excellent at cleaning the indoor air. The plant is tall and features leaves that are in the shape of a violin. Keep them in indirect bright light. They should dry in between watering. Avoid drafts and fertilize once a month. The leaves and other parts of this plant are not toxic to humans. They are toxic to pets. Ingestion of the leaves causes mouth and tongue irritation, drooling and vomiting.

English Ivy

English Ivy is easy to grow but it doesn’t like direct sunlight. Keep it in bright indirect sunlight for the best results. It also requires the soil to be moist and the environment to be cool within the 50 to 65 degree F range. It prefers a humid atmosphere so misting is good for its health. Fertilize regularly during the spring and summer months. Ivy is excellent for removing dog feces and mold from the air. The plant is toxic to humans and pets. Ingesting it can cause fever, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, nausea and skin irritation in those sensitive to it.

Peperomia

There are several different varieties of pereromia. They are members of the pepper family. They do best in moderate to low lighting and the soil must be well drained and kept moist. They reach a height of 18 inches at the maximum. This plant is good fore removing formaldehyde from the air. They are prone to insect infestation and cold drafts damage the leaves. The plant is not toxic to people or animals.

Chinese Evergreen

Chinese Evergreens help purify the air and they are easy to maintain. There are several different varieties available. They do best in well drained soil and low to medium indirect light. They thrive best in humid locations and temperature must be 60 degrees or above. Drafts are detrimental to the plant. The soil should be allowed to dry in between watering. Fertilize this plant every six months. The plant might be toxic to people, dogs and cats.

Warnack Dracaena

This attractive plant is among the top air purifiers. The plant does best in indirect light that is bright and artificial lighting is not a problem for it. Let the plant get a little dry in between watering. The plant reaches a maximum height of 12 feet. The plant is toxic to pets. It can cause drooling, fast heart rate, vomiting loss of appetite and coordination and depression.

Gerber Daisy

Gerber Daisies are air purifiers. They are lovely plants that add color to any room. They do best in dindirect light that is bright, but extreme heat could damage the plant. The soil shold be kept moist in warm weather and a little less moist in winter time. It should be fertilized once a month with a high potassium mix. These plants are not toxic to people or animals. The major issue is that it is hard to get them to rebloom.

A few things to keep in mind

Knowing the unique needs of each plant is important for achieving the best possible results. Before you buy a plant, make sure that it is going to be safe for everyone in the home. While most plants help to purify the air, some are better at it than others. Some are toxic to animals and humans and if you have pets or small children, it may be best to avoid them. Choosing a plant that is the right size for the intended room is also important. There are varieties that remain small without the need for re-potting while others can reach heights of 12 feet and more. For example, the Rubber Tree will grow tall and the Boston Fern, if grown in a large pot will become quite large and bushy.

Each plant has its own unique characteristics and appearance. They also have special care and environmental requirements. The plants that you choose to beautify and cleanse the air in your home should be determined by your ability to properly care for them. This will help you to get the best results and to avoid the frustration of a sickly plant or one that you’re not pleased with. Plants can be an amazing asset for any home but it’s important to choose them with the utmost of care.