What indoor plants to choose?

"I would love to have plants at home, but I don't have a green thumb," "my interior isn't bright enough," "I always forget to water my plants," "I have a cat that loves to scratch my ficus": in short, do you think it's impossible to bring a touch of greenery into your home?

Stop with the prejudices! There are plenty of plants that require almost no maintenance, no light, and not much water. You just need to choose them based on the constraints of your home (and your habits).

Discover all our tips for choosing the right indoor plants without too much effort in this article.

First, why have plants in your home?

Because they make a home lively, warm, and inviting

Indoor plants add a warm and inviting touch to a room. They bring energy, a little life to your space! Whether it's a simple green plant or flowering plants, they always add a beautiful splash of color.

Many flowering plants exist, and some can also climb if you're considering a vertical garden. Even certain cacti can bloom. And then there are the scents of the flowers!

Of course, indoor plants bring greenery and freshness to your decor. They are essential elements for a natural or Scandinavian style of decoration, both of which are very dear to us.

Pots are also decorative objects in their own right. Whether small or large, made of clay, glazed, or wicker basket style, there are as many styles of pots as there are styles of decoration! 

Because the benefits of plants purify indoor air

Plants are a simple, effective, and ecological way to purify the air in our homes. In addition to decorating our rooms and bringing a natural touch, they can limit or even eliminate pollution in our interiors. We think of both our health and the environment thanks to air-purifying plants that improve air quality.

However, only certain indoor plants have the capacity to be air-purifying. Among them are:

• Indoor palms
• Philodendrons
• Indoor ferns
• Chlorophytums

And if you don't have a green thumb: here are the basics for maintaining indoor plants

Now that you're convinced to bring plenty of greenery into your home, you need to choose the right plants. Several factors come into play: exposure, humidity, the size of spaces, and of course, your personal tastes.

Let's start with some basic tips for maintaining your plants.

Watering your plants

Water them at least once a week in winter and twice in summer. Of course, watering is a balance to find between too much and not enough! A little tip: if your plant is short on water, the surface substrate will be dry to the touch. Naturally, adjust your frequency for extreme temperature changes.

The location of your plants

Find the right room and the right spot for your plant. Depending on the spaces, your plants will have more or less light and more or less humidity. Each species has its characteristics, so you must choose them according to where they will live happily. To know this, always read the instructions suited to the variety you own.

Observing your plants

Be attentive to their behavior and adjust your habits in case of weaknesses.

Pay close attention to the container you choose. The pot must always accommodate your plant's growth. Start with clay balls at the bottom of the pot to facilitate water drainage, pour in the potting soil, and then cover with dirt. Don't forget to give it a little water! 

Choose indoor plants that don't need much water

Do you tend to forget to water? Fortunately, some plants are more resilient than others.

While shade plants are generally easy to maintain, there are indoor plants that require a little extra attention as they often thirst.

Conversely, many plants need to be watered sparingly at home; otherwise, they may wilt.

These varieties do not need much water:

• Succulents
• Cactus
• Aloe vera
• Ceropegia
• Zamioculcas or ZZ plant
• Mother-in-law's tongue
• Ficus
• Chlorophytum

Opt for indoor plants that don't need much sunlight

Is your room not very bright? If your house or apartment is rather dark, or if you want a plant to brighten a corner that doesn't receive direct light, you can turn to varieties that don't need much sunlight to grow and survive indoors. 

Among them are:

• Ficus elastica
• Chlorophytum
• Caladium
• Peace lily
• Aglaonema
• Snake plant or Mother-in-law's tongue
• Dwarf yucca
• Dracaena
• Mountain palm
• Pothos
• Ivy
• Syngonium

Choose plants that are resistant to dry, exposed areas, such as near windows, doors, or radiators. 

What plants for the rooms in your home?

Let's start with the size of the plants! XXL, small cactus, climbing plants: depending on the space you have, the options will vary. So how do you choose the ideal plant for the rooms in your home?

Plants in the entrance of the house or apartment

These are passage areas that often lack light. The exposure is usually low, so it's advisable to favor plants that can handle special conditions and low light. 

Be cautious of drafts that can dry out your plants. Therefore, it is recommended to choose resilient plants for this area of the house. Opt for large plants next to a pretty coat rack or small cacti on an entryway table.

Plants in the living room

These are typically quite bright rooms. This is exactly the type of space where a touch of green is welcome! Since these are often the largest rooms in a home, large plants can add a natural decorative touch.

A monstera with its beautiful large leaves or an indoor palm like the phoenix or Kentia creates an exotic and warm atmosphere. Place them next to a comfortable rocking chair to create a cozy relaxation spot. With large plants, you can also delineate spaces!

Consider vertical gardens with climbing plants or trailing plants. They make beautiful ornaments to decorate a wall or part of the room. Placing them on top of a shelf is an excellent way to hide items you love but aren't "very pretty."

Also, think about dried flower bouquets! On a dresser, these bouquets bring color and nature to your living space (with almost no maintenance).

Plants in the kitchen

In the kitchen, plants often have enough light and ambient humidity to thrive. However, the proximity to the oven, fridge, freezer, and cooking plates can cause sudden temperature changes. It is advisable to ventilate your kitchen to renew the ambient air. 

Many plants will thrive in your kitchen; consider spring-blooming bulbs like hyacinths and crocuses, or plants with decorative fruits like cayenne pepper or love apple.

Plants in the bedroom

For the bedroom, avoid plants that emit a strong fragrance, as this can disrupt sleep. Opt for green plants with decorative foliage like dracaena, schefflera, and areca.

However, be careful not to overcrowd your bedroom with plants. It's important to sleep in a clean space.

Plants in the office and library

It is said that green has calming virtues and that plants can help with concentration! This is yet another reason to have plants in your office.

Think about small shelves and the ventilation of your library by placing small potted plants or trailing plants. However, be careful not to overload the space to avoid distracting your attention. Stay focused!

Conclusion

Adding indoor plants is not as difficult as one might think. First, you need to choose species that fit your home. Depending on humidity, light, and space, the plants will vary, and so will the maintenance.

But it's worth it: beautiful plants add a natural and warm decorative touch while also purifying the air in your home! So, are you ready to take the plunge?