Do You Have a Green Thumb or Black Thumb When It Comes to House Plants?

House plants have been proven to reduce stress and anxiety, improve positive thinking, productivity, and focus, and purify indoor air. Not to mention the fact that they make a great accessory in practically any room of the home. Bringing some of the outdoors in and adding some color and texture has a long list of benefits, but if you have a black thumb, you may be hesitant to invest in a houseplant and send yet another plant to its demise. Fortunately, there are some beautiful and resilient houseplants out there that even you can keep alive. It is all about choosing the right houseplant for your space and your level of commitment.

Air Plants

If you haven’t encountered an air plant before, prepare to enter a new world of possibilities. Air plants can literally grow anywhere and there is no need for a pot or soil. They get all the nutrients and most of the water they need from the air. This makes them about as low-maintenance as it gets. Their versatility also allows you to get creative with where you place them. You can create all sorts of different displays and there are a wide variety of air plant colors and shapes to choose from. Some even flower throughout the year.

Care Tips

In nature, air plants use their leaves to absorb all the nutrients and water they need. Bringing them indoors reduces their exposure to humid air, so you will need to water them occasionally. Some people recommend spraying the air plant with a mister every couple days, but the best way to water them is to fill your sink with water and let the plants float for 20 to 60 minutes. Once they are done soaking, take a second to hold them upside down to let water drain before letting them sit on a towel to dry. You will only have to do this once a week.

Spider Plants

Spider plants are another great option for beginners who want to add some greenery to their apartment, but aren’t quite ready to become a master gardener. They are also popular for their air purifying properties. Perhaps the best part about spider plants is that they produce baby plantlets as they grow. These can be snipped off and placed in their own pot where they will quickly begin to grow on their own. Basically, you will always have a plant that is constantly generating perfect housewarming gifts for your friends.

Care Tips

Spider plants do best in indirect sunlight. Typically, the plant will need to be watered every 1-2 weeks. If the soil is dry to the touch it is time to add some water. Be sure to pot the spider plant in a container with drainage holes so that you can saturate the soil with water and any excess will simply drain out. When you return your spider plant to its usual spot in your home, try to rotate its position so that different sections can soak up the light.

What to Be on the Lookout For

If you start to notice that the leaf tips are turning brown, this can indicate a reaction to fluoridated water. Allowing the plant to sit over night should allow most of the fluorides to evaporate. You will also want to make sure that your spider plants get plenty of beauty rest. They need several hours of complete darkness each night in order to produce plantlets.

Money Trees

Money trees have a great tropical look and a unique trunk that includes several stems that naturally braid together. According to certain traditions, the money tree is known to bring wealth to its caregiver, and the interlocking trunk sections “lock-in” good. It is a beautiful and low-maintenance plant and if it happens to bring some money and good fortune your way, so be it.

Care Tips

When placed in a big enough pot, a money tree can grow to be 6-8 feet tall. However, you can keep yours small by planting it in smaller pots. Money trees enjoy medium to bright indirect light, so they can be placed just about anywhere in a room with a window. There is also good news for helicopter houseplant parents who have a tendency to over water their plant: it is difficult to over water a money tree. A good watering about every 1-2 weeks should be plenty to keep your money tree thriving.

If you have pets, all three of the houseplants list above are completely safe for pets.

Even if you don’t naturally have a green thumb, these easy-to-care-for houseplants will have everyone fooled. You can add color and texture to your home and reduce stress without taking on a lot of responsibility when it comes to caring for plants. Start with these low-maintenance options and you may find that you have a knack for plants after all. For more design ideas that will improve your space, be sure to visit bandbox.