Adding houseplants to your home or apartment is a great, low cost tactic to brighten up your space and increase the air quality. Filling a room with green and colorful plants can really lift the mood. However, having them all die when the winter months roll around is a sure way to do the opposite. I have collated here a list of ten houseplants that will look great in your space all year round. In addition, I’ve included tips to ensure they make it through the cooler winter months.
Many of the houseplants on this list happen to be toxic to cats and dogs. If you have pets in your house ensure you research how suitable a specific plant is before you get your heart set on bringing it into the home.
Rubber tree (Ficus elastica)
This great house plant variety can grow from one to eight feet tall and when paired with a beautiful pot can have a real presence in a room. It is suggested to purchase as a small plant as it will adapt to indoor living conditions as it grows. This plant is resilient and can grow in low light conditions. Make sure not to over water this plant as this will lead to the leaves falling off.
Warning – Toxic to cats and dogs.
Aloe (Aloe barbadensis)
This succulent species is a great aesthetic addition to any room with the additional benefits of being able to soothe your skin if you catch too much sun. This succulent requires very little care or watering. Ensuring that the soil is kept moist by placing your finger an inch deep is sufficient to maintain the plant. This plant is in no hurry to flower though and can take three to four years to flower. Luckily, it is pretty whether flowering or not.
Warning – Toxic to cats and dogs.
Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
These palms can grow up to four feet tall and are great for new growers due to their ease of maintenance. They can grow well with little water and low light. This means they easily survive cooler winter months. These palms are slow growers and depending on light conditions can take around three years to develop to their full size.
Devils ivy (Epipremnum aureum)
This ivy plant has beautiful arrow shaped leaves than can grow indoors on vines up to six feet tall. This plant can easily make it through winter as it must be kept out of direct sunlight and under watering will do no harm except slightly stunt growth.
Warning – Toxic to cats, dogs and horses.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree (Ficus pandurata)
The fiddle leaf fig tree is a little harder to care for due to the amount of sunlight it requires for growth. As long as you can place this tree close to a low draught window you will be fine! You will also need to keep a close eye on the moisture levels of the soil as dry soil will necessitate additional watering. The tree can grow up to ten feet tall indoors and can look great next to an entrance way as long as there is adequate natural light.
Warning – Toxic to cats, dogs and horses.
Bunny Ear Cactus (Opuntia Microdasys)
This cute sounding cactus can make a great addition to your desk with the maximum height being around 18 inches. The cactus is native to northern Mexico and desert regions of Arizona. It thrives with plenty of access to direct sunlight. The cactus enjoys cooler spells in the winter so it is recommended that you keep it away from any heating vents.
Warning – spines will cause irritation on contact.
Heart leaf Philodendron (Philodendron scandens)
This houseplant is extremely easy to care for, it neither requires direct sunlight or frequent watering. The heart shaped leaves make it a pretty accompaniment to any room. Growing up to five feet indoors and being a great wall climber, this plant looks great spanning an interior wall like a sprawling piece of artwork.
Warning – Toxic to cats and dogs.
Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
The snake plant has knife shaped leaves that stick directly up and can slowly grow up to 3 feet in length. This plant can look great in a small ceramic pot due to the density and marbled coloring of the leaves. The snake plant is very easy to care for and has the added benefit of being a great air purifier.
Warning – Toxic to cats and dogs.
ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
The ZZ plant is extremely resilient, being able to withstand neglect, drought and low-light conditions. The small glossy leaves can grow on stems up to three feet tall. This plant is a fairly slow grower and will take up to two years to reach this size. As with the snake plant, the ZZ is a great air purifier and has been proven to remove toxins such as toluene, xylene and benzene from the air.
Warning – Toxic to cats and dogs.
Jade Plant (Crassula Ovata)
The Jade plant mimics a bonsai in the sense that it grows like a miniature tree with a trunk, branches and leaves. The Jade is a very easy to care for plant. It is able to go through periods of neglect due to its efficient storage of water in its’ waxy succulent leaves. In some cultures, the jade tree is meant to bring good luck and money. Fortunately, the aesthetics of the plant justifys keeping it if no money suddenly appears.
Warning – Toxic to cats and dogs.
Now that you have been given some options for new houseplants, these quick tips will ensure that they will survive the winter.
Reduce watering
As we enter the winter months, many houseplants will want to enter their dormant phase. They will slow down in growth during these colder periods. It is important to reduce watering during this time. Too much water during this period could result in root rot. A good way to ensure you are not over watering is to only water when the soil is dry two inches in depth. You can easily test this by pushing your finger two inches deep into the soil and feeling for moisture.
Pro-tip: Ensure that the water you are adding is at room temperature, this will ensure the plants roots aren’t shocked.
Maximize light exposure
During winter, the window of daily sunshine decreases. As a result, leaveing your plants in their regular positions could lead to a lack of sunlight. If you can, move your plants to west or south facing window sills during the winter. It is also a good idea to rotate your plants every week during periods of low sunlight to stop them from growing out in the direction of the source of sunlight.
Pro-tip: Clean your windows inside and out to ensure that the maximum amount of light is able to penetrate.
Clean the leaves
Like everything else indoors, the plants’ leaves will accumulate a layer of dust over time. Either wiping the leaves or giving them a lukewarm shower will ensure you take the layer of grime and dust off. With the dust removed, the leaves will more efficiently photosynthesis the sunlight they bask in.
Increase humidity
The majority of houseplants originate from tropical regions and as such thrive in conditions of higher humidity. In a heated home, humidity levels will drop to between 10 and 20 percent. When houseplants prefer a humidity of around 50%, it is important to do what you can to increase humidity. To easily increase humidity, it is a good idea to place a bowl of rocks under your plant pots that you can fill with water to just below the top line of the rocks. This will cause the water to evaporate without soaking the soil, allowing the plant to be in a more humid environment.
Monitor temperature
Houseplants like temperatures around 50-70°F. It is important to research the specific plants you have and identify the range that would best suit them. It’s also important to decrease the chances of temperature swings affecting your plants. You wouldn’t want to leave the majority of houseplants next to a radiator or fireplace, nor would you leave one in the path of the cold draught from an air conditioning unit.
Houseplants can make a space come to life and feel extra special. Hopefully you will be inspired to go out and pick up some houseplants for your own space. With the tips provided here, you should now be able to care for them and watch them grow for years to come.
Kaitlin is a travel writer and marketing consultant. On any given day, you can find her surfing, reading, and/or on the eternal search for the cutest cafes (with tons of power sockets, of course).
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