Have you been thinking about adding a little greenery to your living room? Yes? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Plants are the best roommates one could ever wish for. They don’t smoke, they don’t steal your snacks, some don’t take up a lot of space, and they don’t talk back! Just kidding! Plants don’t do all those things, but they do naturally purify the air and look great as they add depth and color your living room. While we’re at it, why not choose plants that are good for your health?
But, before we examine the different varieties of indoor plants, their preferred conditions in which to thrive and how to care for them, let’s talk about lighting.
Consider how much lighting your plant will be in day to day. If you are lucky enough to get lots of sunshine throughout your home, then be careful when choosing the right plant for you. Too much sunlight will yellow and burn the leaves of some plants. There are also some plants that do better with limited light.
Let’s review some of those plants from two sources, The Spruce (high light plants) and HGTV (low light plants). We’ll also include tips on how to care for them.
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Plants That Thrive in High Light Areas
- Jade: This is a succulent plant. It stores water in its leaves, stem and roots which helps it tolerate drought. Its leaves are dark green and fleshy. It requires a minimum of four hours of sunlight each day. If you’re experiencing a dark, gloomy day, artificial lighting will fulfill that requirement. With the proper care, these plants can live for many years. Therefore, they should be planted in bigger, heavier pots, with proper drainage as they grow and flower over time.
*Tip: Allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
- Papyrus: Do you remember your history? With its thin reeds, papyrus was used in ancient times by the Egyptians to make paper and even build boats! And guess what? It loves sunlight! There is just one trick to employ that will have you loving this plant, and that is to put your pot with proper drainage in a dish filled with water that you will change weekly and place it where it will get the most sunlight. Then, watch your plant thrive and flower for ten years or longer. But remember to keep its roots wet at all times!
- Gardenia: Although usually grown as an outdoor plant, the Gardenia adds a gloss to your decor due to its shiny leaves. This all-year-round plant thrives in sunlight and blooms often in early spring and summer. Its flowers are white in color and a bit aromatic. Gardenias like their soil to be acidic and must be watered weekly.
Plants That Thrive in Low Light Areas
- Bromeliad Guzmania: Take a look at those vibrant colors! One would think this plant would need a lot of light, but one would be wrong! This plant and others in its family flourish in low light and requires watering every one to two weeks but try not to use hard tap water and use a plant fertilizer every six months. A Bromeliad Guzmania plant can last up to five years.
- Snake Plant: It’s been said the snake plant is hard to kill. These plants do well in low light and handle dry spells extremely well, meaning they should be watered only when the top two inches of soil is dry or every two weeks. If you over water, drain fully to avoid root rot. These plants also flower. The image of a snake plant that has flowered below from The Spruce, shows how beautiful this plant can be.
- Maidenhair Fern: Another easy to care for plant, this is an excellent choice for an area that has indirect light. These plants need their soil to stay moist and might require a humidifier if they are to flourish. These plants rarely bloom.
Hanging Plants
- Marble Queen Pothos: Also from Spruce, we have the Marble Queen Pothos. Like the rubber plant, this is another plant that is hard to kill, except this one can be hung and will thrive in indirect light. It is pleasing to the eye as it cascades out of the pot and trails downward from a mantle or shelf. It does not depend upon intensive care and should only be watered when two inches off the top of the soil is dry. The Marble Queen Pothos can live up to ten years. However, it is toxic to pets if eaten.
- String of Nickels: This delicate succulent plant is another beautiful one to place on a shelf or a mantel. It thrives in shade to medium light and will grow to just eighteen inches in length. Regular watering should occur only when the soil is dry. Do not overwater! Gardening Know How offers great tips on how to care for this plant.
- Spider Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum): Finally, we come to the easiest hanging plant to care for. It doesn’t require any specific condition in which to grow to about three feet. Its babies, or spiderettes hang down from the mother plant like spiders on a web, thus its name. Visit Gardening Know How for tips on how to grow this plant. You should water it well once the soil has dried out.
So, you don’t have a green thumb, huh? And you’re not sure if the light in your home is enough to keep any of the above mentioned plants from dying. Plus, you’re forgetful and it is likely you won’t water your plants regularly. Why not try artificial plants to decorate your living room? They’re perfect because other than a regular dusting of their leaves, they require no maintenance and always look lush and healthy.
There are so many options when it comes to adding greenery to your living room! Many of these require little care so, go for it! Fill up your living room with beautiful plants you’ll admire for years to come.