Yahoo Finance 7 best house plants that will boost your mood and indoor space
These are strange times. But as the majority of the nation gets used to a new routine of remote working and social distancing, there has never been a more perfect time to create your own indoor jungle.
A house full of plants doesn’t only look good, it’s also been proven to provide a host of psychological benefits: improved mood, reduced stress levels, greater productivity and longer attention span. So if you’re struggling to concentrate in your new home office, start thinking green.
One study even showed that recovering patients in rooms with plants had lower blood pressure and lower ratings of pain, anxiety and fatigue. Like we said: plants have never been more timely.
For those of us who are locked up in our homes for the foreseeable future, don’t think you’re safe just yet: studies have shown that indoor pollution levels are often much higher than those outside.
So if you start to develop a cough, it could just be dust particles, “volatile organic compounds” (nasty toxins emitted from your furniture, paint and washing detergents) or aerosol chemicals. Indeed, some four million people around the world die each year due to these harmful indoor pollutants.
But that’s enough scaremongering. There are plenty of species of houseplant that can suck up all these toxins for you, and pump out fresh oxygen to boot. Other plants can even help alleviate your allergies.
Regardless of the size of your indoor space, picking the right plants can give you all of these benefits and more. Even better news: the more plants used, the bigger the benefit to air quality and overall wellbeing.
Using these benefits as a ballpark, we have rounded up a selection of the best and easiest-to-care-for houseplants that can make your environment a little bit greener, cleaner and happier, which is surely a worthy investment.
You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.
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Canopy Plants Monstera minima
Air purifying: Yes
Toxicity: Yes, don't eat my leaves
Care: Dappled/indirect sunlight; let top inch of soil become dry before watering (about once a week)
The younger, rarer relative of the giant-leafed cheese plant plastered all over every Instagrammer’s feed, the monstera minima is easy to care for, fast-growing and a great house plant for beginners. Fun fact: it grows sideways, but you can train it to grow up a bamboo cane or down from a bookcase or shelf.
Like most plants in the Araceae family, its favourite spot will get some sun, some shade, and it will need watering about once a week. Because it grows so fast (it can reach up to five metres in the wild), you will need to get him some bamboo supports if you want him to stay upright, trim him if he starts to take over your home and repot once a year.
Canopy Plants, run by Saskia out of a leafy Peckham studio (plans to open a store have been put on hold, but stay tuned), is all about “bringing plants to the people”. With an amazing range from cult favourites to rare, variegated showstoppers, next-day delivery and bespoke sustainable packaging, it is really is hitting the mark. This is one to watch.
Buy now £28.00, Canopy Plants
Patch fiddle-leaf fig
Air purifying: Fiddle leaf-fig isn't, but the aloe or peace lily are
Toxicity: Watch out for warnings on their site
Care: Patch caters to all levels; there are detailed care guides, including videos, on their site
We tested a selection of plants from Patch’s extensive range. One of the standouts was a fiddle-leaf fig – the easy-to-care-for showstopper is definitely having a moment. Those gorgeous big leaves will do best in medium light, humidity and a good mist every few days. He might look a bit sad while he gets used to his new home, or in winter, but don’t we all? Just give him time to adjust and he’ll soon be the focal point of any room.
We also tried out a rubber plant. Patch describes him as a “plant with presence”, and with stunning variegated leaves, he certainly is. Again, big leaves require a lot of light, humidity and a good clean every now and then to keep the pores clear.
A staple for any indoor jungle-cultivator, the humble aloe is a popular choice for his low-maintenance looks. Those spiny leaves hold a lot of water, but keep him in a bright, warm spot. Your trusty aloe will also help to remove pollutants from the air, take up carbon dioxide and breathe abundant oxygen back into the air around. So relax, take a deep breath, and enjoy a plant that has adapted to live all over the world.
As for Patch, it’s been dominating the market for houseplant delivery in London since launching in 2015 – for good reason: expect a great online shopping experience, reliable delivery and spot-on aftercare. Now it’s expanding the service to the rest of the UK.
It offers a great entry price for new growers – our top tip is to buy the cheaper, smaller versions of plants that grow big. That way you not only get more for your money, but you get a guaranteed jungle for your efforts too.
Buy now £12.00, Patch
Forest Sansevieria ‘moonshine’
Air purifying: Big yes
Toxicity: Mildly… probably don’t eat itâ
Care: Moderate to bright indirect light; allow soil to dry out between waterings, soak and drain thoroughly
With its silver-grey-green leaves, this exotic houseplant is sure to add a bit of eye-catching elegance to your home or office space. You can see the colour of the leaves darken in the shade, so it’s best in moderate-to-bright indirect light, but it can adapt too.
The moonshine doesn’t need much care either – in fact, too much of it will make it neglect you. They are known for being “rough and tough”, and will only suffer if over-watered. They’re also great air-purifiers that passively absorb toxins such as nitrogen oxides and formaldehyde.
The East Dulwich and Deptford-based Forest (the stores are beautifully minimal, putting all the focus on the plants) promotes mood-enhancing and air cleaning plants. For extra points, the brand also holds various workshops from flower arranging to terrarium building, offers a free potting service and recycles its packaging.
Buy now £15.00, Forest
Beards and Daisies prayer plant
Air purifying: Yes
Pet/baby safe: Yes
Care: Regular watering, medium light, humidity
This distinctive plant, which earns its name from the way its leaves fold together at night, is perfect for people new to plant parenthood or with busy lifestyles, as they require minimal light and watering.
Native to the rainforests of Brazil, calatheas come in a range of colours in the wild, but we think this variety, with its red-veined green leaves with pink undersides, is the most spectacular. While calatheas are sometimes known for being divas (they prefer filtered water over tap), we haven’t managed to kill this one yet. They’ll do best in indirect light in humid bathrooms, and check the soil once a week for watering.
With pay later options and next day delivery, Beards and Daisies makes turning your home into a jungle with its exciting range of plants almost too easy. As an added bonus, it’s not just the plants that are green: 95 per cent of the packaging is biodegradable or recyclable, including the starch-based fill chips, which can be dissolved in water.
Buy now £14.99, Beards and Daisies
Ikea desert candle cactus
Air purifying: No
Pet/baby safe: No
Care: Minimal
The desert candle cactus is the perfect plant if you want to make a statement without putting any effort in… and we really mean no effort. The euphorbia acrurensis needs a bright spot and the occasional clean (dust isn’t good for it, but steer clear of the spikes), but otherwise leave the soil to completely dry out between waterings. You may want to use a cactus-specific feed during spring and summer. Our tip is to select one with a sturdy stem – ours was thin at the base, probably due to the way cacti are mass-grown, so needed propping up.
Ikea has a great track record when it comes to houseplants, with its huge range of low-cost options making it easier and cheaper than ever to start your own jungle or try growing something new. However, you may be limited by what you can get if you’re only shopping online. For the best choice, head over to your nearest store (and probably rent a van for all the goodies you’ll be bringing home).
Buy now £45.00, Ikea
Hortology golden pothos
Air purifying: Yes
Toxicity: Yes
Care: Will tolerate pretty much anything but generally bright, humid spots and check soil weekly
All hail the king of hanging plants. Golden pothos might also win the award for easiest to please: it’s happy almost anywhere (though it will grow quicker in a brighter spot) and looks good hanging from a ceiling or dangling off a shelf. It can even be trained to grow up a wall. In the wild it can grow up to 20 metres tall – depending on your space and desired jungle size, you may want to prune back sadder stems with clean scissors.
It’s often found growing up the trunks of large trees in the forests of southeast Asia: that’s how it gets (one of its many) nicknames devil’s ivy, because it’s equally happy in the shade. This is an ideal beginner plant as it doles out big rewards for little effort (infrequent watering; maybe douse with fertiliser once in spring and summer).
Hortology is a household name in the world of houseplants and, with their extensive range and online guides, a great point of reference for beginner and advanced growers alike.
Buy now £6.99, Hortology
The Watered Garden medium gift box
The plant gift boxes from The Watered Garden, a Nottingham-based online shop with a very Instagram-worthy unit at Sneinton Market if you ever get the chance to pop by, are the perfect present for a plant-loving friend… or, let’s face it, for your plant-loving self.
There are three sizes to choose from and you can pick from a random selection of cacti and succulents, leafy greens, or Watered Garden’s monthly favourites. Whatever you go for, you’re sure to be in for a nice surprise as the range features weird, wonderful and rare houseplants for any type of space and grower. We received the peperomia hope (keep the soil dry and well-drained; warm, bright spot), a polka dot begonia (indirect light, regular misting) and a fishbone prayer plant (bright, indirect light to maintain variegation on the leaves; keep soil moist).
And while you’re selecting the perfect gift box for your friend (yourself), why not pick up one of Watered Garden’s plant pun tote bags, calathea key rings or even a build-your-own terrarium kit to complete your weird plant lady look.
Buy now £30.00, The Watered Garden
The verdict: House plants
For those looking a fully green experience, Canopy Plants is the obvious choice. The range, and the branding, is gorgeous and very affordable (there are even subscriptions if you’re not satisfied with just the one), the packaging is sustainable and you can pat yourself on the back for a supporting a new, independent brand too.
For its low cost, speedy delivery and in-depth care guides, Patch is a great entry into the world of houseplants. The only thing you’ll struggle with is stopping yourself from ordering more and more.
Beards and Daisies, meanwhile, is making a name for itself with its high-quality plants and even better packaging. Not a leaf out of place!
