The annual human autumn migration from outdoor activities to more indoor focused tasks has commenced, so let us shift gears this week and delve into some houseplants. I spend plenty of time, like I am sure many of you do as well, outdoors in the yard year around. However, there are those days when the warmth of the house calls to us, and we choose to escape the rain, wind and everything else Mother Nature throws at us by stepping inside to focus on indoor gardening.
Houseplant popularity has skyrocketed in the past few years as beautifying interior landscapes has become a serious trend. This rings true for both the home and the office as useful and attractive plants can be found for just about anywhere indoors. I will continue talking houseplants off and on in the coming weeks, but for starters let’s focus on houseplants that purify the air we breathe inside. In specific terms, options that go the extra mile in removing toxins from our air and leaving us good, old, healthy oxygen in return.
As we talk purification, keep in mind that there are some excellent resources out there that have studied exactly which plants are best, and exactly what benefits they provide for the interior landscape. How about this one to start with… NASA (yes that’s right, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration), they have an outstanding list going on their site. I mean seriously, if a courageous astronaut needs some fresh air on the ISS, that same plant will surely help in my living room, right? Here are few easy purifying plant options recommended by our very own Houseplant Queens (as I call them) at Sunnyside Nursery…
Dracaena: These make sturdy specimens just about anywhere in the house, taking various light conditions and are often used commercially in restaurants and hotels. Many great varieties exist, each with distinct foliage, habit and some with striking variegation. Two great varieties to check out are ‘Lisa’ (large bold green foliage) and ‘Janet Craig’ (layered, twisting green foliage). Dracaenas are true specimens, with most growing to 6-feet to 8-feet tall over time. Plants that are getting too large can be simply lopped off, then soon enough (if you put your patient pants on) fresh growth will emerge on the stalks and off they go again.
Pothos: These lovely trailing plants are super easy and add nice foliage in the interior scape. Whether trailing gently out of a pot, going vertical by climbing a cool moss pole or even grown in a hanging basket, they are sure to please. Most take indirect light well, as evidenced by the one sitting on my desk that is nowhere near a window, but some cultivars can take more. Some of the favorites around here are ‘Neon' (bright yellow foliage), ‘Marble Queen’ (white/green marbled foliage) and ‘Global Green’ (smaller leaves mottled light/dark green).
Sansevieria: These are also known as “Snake Plants” and possess a high range of light tolerance. As a bonus, they also tend to thrive on neglect and don’t take much water. There is a range of foliage options on these; narrow, wide, spiraled, green, or variegated. If yours is struggling, most often it is simply being kept too wet! Snake Plants do a wonderful job of purifying small spaces, and also are known to emit negative ions, boost memory and act as a natural sterilizer for the air you are breathing indoors.
Spider Plants: Another indoor plant that is tolerant of all lighting and super easy. These old-fashioned goodies are plants that keeps on giving since they are simple to propagate or harvest the little “pups” (think plant babies) that form on their tips. They are lovely in hanging baskets or trailing from pots. Again, lots of flavors to choose from, including solid green or green with white foliage, and even some with interesting twisting and curled texture. Yes, your grandma has one, the teacher probably does to, but so should you!
Ficus: These make great house specimens with time, and even take high-light conditions. Choices like ‘Elastica’, ‘Benjamina’ and others are heavy leaf-breathers indoors, providing extra oxygen. Keep foliage clean by polishing them on occasion with some warm soapy water, or even a simple duster will help. These should be kept on the dry side when watering, and remember this, if it is bright enough to read a book, it is bright enough for a Ficus to thrive!
Boston Fern: These are all about foliage, forming lovely bushy specimens over time, all the while helping to increase humidity indoors and providing oxygen/removing toxins as an excellent filtering plant. Indirect light is best, but hang them almost anywhere you like, including even outdoors in the summer months. Ferns have lovely fronds that provide unique texture indoors. Mist these on a consistent basis, at least once a week preferably, in the morning to keep them lush and thriving.
Spathiphyllum: Often called the “Peace Lily”, these are also reliable and easy to grow indoors. They bloom best in brighter light, but will grow almost anywhere. The spoon-shaped flowers are white, but some subtle variegated flavors are out there if you seek foliage interest. Watering can be a little touchy on these, but watch your plants, if they are starting to weep a bit (or go into “drama mode” as the Queens call it here), it’s time to water and they will perk right back up.
I encourage all of you to look these up, as well as many others, and consider adding them to your interior landscape mix. Getting into a houseplant routine over the fall and winter months will result in some seriously happy houseplants, and maybe even help some of those seasonal withdrawals from outdoor gardening subside. If you are like me, we must keep growing something! One can always speak with a professional at your local garden center for advice, and allow them to help you select the best specimens for your indoor needs. Adding a nice mix of plants into your home will help purify your air, almost acting as a natural HEPA filter if you will, resulting in plenty of fresh oxygen for you to breathe. I think you will find that houseplants are super fun, especially when caring for them in the nice, warm confines of home this time of year.
