The Beginner’s Guide to Houseplants
On a weekly basis, I receive texts from friends and family or am tagged in houseplant memes on social. I laugh (and feel proud) to be known as the crazy plant lady. Now, you might be picturing my home as a place that can be confused with a jungle, but that’s not entirely accurate. Although, within one summer, I accumulated over 20 houseplants — I’ve (surprisingly) managed to keep most of them alive and healthy. Don’t worry, I’m here to share my secrets (and a list of things to keep in mind to help you decide which houseplants are right for you.)
Some background: I grew up in a house full of plants. My mom, an amazing woman, gardened and arranged flowers on weekends — this was her outlet, and we always had different types of plants in the house. They varied from orchids to sansevierias, to poinsettias — really, depending on the season, my mom always had something new and something different. I don’t think I could imagine a “home” without any houseplants.
When I moved into my new place in Washington, I started with a golden pothos and a mini lucky bamboo; both of which I adopted from my mom. I loved watching the golden pothos grow and do its thing, so I decided I wanted more living things in my empty apartment. Next thing you know, the plants have taken over my space (and honestly, my weekends.)
3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying:
How much space do I really have?
Do you have enough space for plants in your home? How will you incorporate them into your current setup? How big or small can the plants be? These parameters are important (for obvious reasons.) You don’t want to be eating dinner with your plants unless that’s your thing. No judgment. You also probably don’t want to take showers or sleep with your plants... again, no judgment — I know some people actually do some of those things. But before you go out and get green with glee, try to picture the size of plants that can fit in your space.
If you have pets, you’ll want to check whether or not the houseplant you’ve got your eye on is harmful to your fur babies.
What kind of (natural) light do I get?
One of the most important things to houseplant care is having access to natural light. This is also likely the key to helping you decide which types of plants you should buy. Does your place get a lot of natural light throughout the day? Which area of your home do you get the most light, and are you able to store plants there?
Most plants are very delicate and specific (read: finicky) when it comes to how much or how little sunlight they need. Another thing to note is whether the light coming in is direct or indirect. Some plants prefer to soak up the sun; while some just want to flirt with it.
While there are some plants that do not need much light, you’ll want to make sure that you can still provide sufficient lighting for their needs. (Pro-tip: Even plants that don’t need a lot of light still need some rays.)
You could also support your new babies with the purchase of grow lights, which definitely help in low-light situations, especially during the dark winter days. Hello, Seattle.
Am I dedicated enough for this?
Did you know: Houseplants are not only great for decoration, but also provide actual health benefits? Seriously! It’s been proven that houseplants help purify the air inside your home, and help you breathe better, and there are even claims that they can help sharpen your focus. But these benefits only come if your houseplants are healthy! So, let’s get honest here for a second.
How much time are you really willing/planning to dedicate to caring for your plants? Some plants are low-key and low maintenance, and you could literally leave them alone for a couple of weeks and they’ll be just fine. Some plants, like people, need more attention and will be angry at you if you over (or under) water them. And trust me, this will affect your mood, too. So before you spend your hard-earned cash, consider how much time you’re willing or able to dedicate to caring for them.
The Top 5 Houseplants for Beginners
I’ve done the hard work to determine which plants are a little more resilient to new plant parents. Here’s my recommended list of the best plants to start out with, including their benefits and a basic care guide. The rest is up to you — but don’t worry, I believe in you!
ZZ Plant
Benefits
Helps boost productivity and oxygen levels in the home, reduces stress, airborne bacteria, and blood pressure.
Care
Grows best in medium to bright light (but can tolerate low light situations.) It can also go for long periods of time without water.
Pilea
Benefits
Pilea plants (aka UFO plants) provide air purification benefits, propagate easily, and have meaningful symbolism — they also make great gifts!
Care
This plant loves the sun! I’ve experimented with different placements for my pilea but it’s happiest by my window with the most sunlight! Allow the soil to dry between watering — these do not like soggy soil.
Snake Plant
Benefits
Snake plants clean air better than most indoor plants, and have the ability to absorb high amounts of carbon monoxide.
Care
Let the soil dry out before you water again. Even though it's a diehard plant, you risk killing it with root rot if you over water. (I’ve made this mistake and I’m still sad about it.)
Peace Lily
Benefits
Removes harmful toxins from the air. (And who couldn't use a little less toxicity in the air? Smog, dust, an ex.)
Care
As one of the easiest plants to care for, peace lilies prefer partial shade and moist soil. Only water them once a week to keep them happy.
Golden Pothos
Benefits
Arguably one of the easiest plants to grow. These purify the air of formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide, and also eliminate odors.
Care
Thrives in medium to low indirect light. Start by watering weekly and adjust frequency depending on your lighting situation. More light = more water, less light = less water.
Have any questions for our resident green thumb, Darlene? Let us know on Instagram!
