12 Indoor Plants That Will Spruce Up The Green Corner Of Your House

Green plants in your house not only add to the aesthetic value but also are beneficial for your physical and mental health too. The first step in identifying a green corner in your house would be to look for a space that receives direct/indirect sunlight and is not congested. You are already blessed if you’re born with a green thumb or have developed it with time but for people who are just starting out in gardening or indoor plants, the best plants to grow indoors would be the ones which are low maintenance. 

Gardeners Tip: These are the best ways on how to make compost at home and give your garden a beautiful look.

Air-purifying plants are one of the best choices to keep at home. They not only purify the air but also add freshness to your space. In case you suffer from a space crunch, vertical gardening would be your answer. Apart from these you need to remember to choose the right plants. For instance, some of the best Indian indoor plants you can keep at home would be ajwain, aralia or even betel leaf (magai paan).Though they do not help in purifying air but they add a nice little green touch to the space and amp up your decor game. However, some of the best indoor plants you can keep in your home are listed below!

12 Best Air-Purifying Indoor Plants That You Must Add In Your Green Corner

The sturdy beauties mentioned in this list can handle a little neglect from your end and are tough enough to withstand harsh conditions. Add these plants to your home for a little zen and to de-stress the entire area.

1. Bird’s Nest Fern 

A bird’s nest fern plant gets its name from the fact that the centre of this plant resembles a bird’s nest. They can be easily identified from their flat, wavy, crinkly fronds and is occasionally also called a crow’s nest fern. This epiphytic species does not thrive well in bright direct sunlight. Literally anyone and everyone can maintain and grow a bird’s nest fern in their home. The only thing you need to keep in mind is you have to protect its leaves from the direct sun. 

2. Spider Plant

One of the best indoor plants to keep at your place, spider plants prefer a place which doesn’t receive direct sunlight and thrives well in moist soil. The best thing about spider plants is the fact that they act as an air-purifying plant too. Apart from adding that beauty to the corner of your house, they help in removing benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and xylene from the air. They are even pet-friendly. But remember spider plants can be mildly hallucinogenic to cats. 

3. Ficus

You can easily spot a ficus in any office space. They are quite a popular houseplant in India and their striking appearance and highly effective air-purifying properties make them the best choice among plant lovers. A ficus loves bright, indirect light and moist soil. Remember to mist your plants occasionally and fertilise them once a month. They make an attractive focal point for a room but a ficus sap is a skin irritant so keep them away from the reach of children or pets. It’s quite a finicky plant and doesn’t like to be moved. Therefore, if you are getting yourself a ficus plant remember these above conditions and you’re good to go. 

4. Peace Lily

Peace lilies offer elegance and beauty to any place they are kept. Carrying a unique look with white flowers these again make one of the best Indian indoor plants. Since they belong to the category of air purifying indoor plants, peace lilies remove benzene, toluene, trichloroethylene and xylene from the air. They are pretty to look at and help in calming one’s anxiety and stress levels too. Peace lily can, however, cause skin irritation since they contain oxalates. If you have a pollen allergy, stay away from peace lilies since the white flowers in them contain pollen grains which can induce allergic reactions. Overall a peace lily is one of the best indoor plants to keep in your house since apart from being a flowering plant, it’s low-maintenance too. 

5. Golden Pothos / Money Plant

These plants grow extensively well in low light and forgiving if you miss occasional watering too. In fact, money plants love a dry spell between waterings but don’t overextend the spell or else you’ll end up killing these plants. Apart from being one of the nicest air-purifying plants, it’s attractive and rarely succumbs to any conditions. Remember that if your money plant has drooping leaves in spite of the watering then you need to repot the plant. It’s better to keep them away from children and pets and never let them chew on its leaves. If you want the best tips on how to maintain money plant then they shall sum up as-making sure that the pot size is adequate, propagate them in water but finally when the roots are developed enough transplant them in soil and give them enough support to climb up. 

6. Snake Plants

Indians often refer to snake plants as sasu maa’s tongue. Snake plants can be easily identified from their upright, strap-like leaves that can tolerate low light conditions well. It’s best to keep snake plants in a space which receives bright indirect sunlight. Water these plants at their base only when the topsoil feels dry to touch. According to NASA, snake plants are on that list of houseplants which helps purify indoor air effectively. If you’re keeping snake plants on a windowsill then remember to turn them a quarter turn every week. It’s relatively easy to look after and is not pet-friendly.

7. Rubber Plant

You will be surprised to learn the fact that rubber plants are related to ficus. Their large leaves absorb the airborne chemicals, breaking them down and rendering them harmless. They absorb carbon dioxide and transform them into breathable oxygen. It eliminates bacteria and mold spores in the air. If given the right conditions they can grow up to 8 feet tall in height. The large surface area of rubber plants makes them efficient in absorbing these harmful chemicals and impurities making them one of the excellent air-purifying plants. 

8. Areca Palm

This interior landscaping plant also helps in purifying the air to a large extent. Apart from being non-toxic and safe for plants, areca palms have extensive green leaves which make it a popular choice among houseplant lovers. They grow well in indirect sunlight with shade from the hot sun. It also requires proper nourishment every two years and helps in removing toluene from the air. To help maintain their lush green leaves you should apply liquid fertiliser every two months. Apart from so many great features areca palms also help in strengthening the nervous system in children. 

9. Lucky Bamboo Plant

This popular feng shui plant makes a regular appearance in most of the Indian homes. They are ideally placed by the windowsill for indirect sunlight and grow well both in soil and water. However, if you plan to grow them in water, remember to put fresh water and change the water every 2 weeks or so. With efficient pruning, one can develop them in various shapes and sizes making them suitable for Indian home decor. 

10. Grape Ivy

A hanging vine-like grape ivy can make an aesthetically pleasing addition to just about any room in the house. It is an easy-to-maintain indoor plant which will do just fine even with low light, dry air and minimal watering. Another one of the great air purifying indoor plants, they help in removing formaldehyde from the air and improves air quality. Grape Ivy also looks amazing with its hanging ornamental leaves making them a perfect plant for home decor. 

11. Song Of India 

Ideally placed on a side table or a mantlepiece, Song Of India, also known as Dracaena Reflexa is a slow-growing houseplant that lives in the symphony of the natural hues to your home. They have bright coloured lime green and yellow leaves that need regular misting and indirect sunlight to thrive well. This low-maintenance fabulous houseplant can live in a 4-inch pot as well as they don’t naturally outgrow that fast. It’s not pet-friendly at all so remember to keep it away from your cats and dogs.

12. Aloe Vera

A desi beauty DIY staple (given women use aloe vera for hair and skin problems too), this ultra-useful plant clears up benzene and formaldehyde, by-products of home cleaners, sprays and so on, from your indoor air. Apart from its benefits in the beauty industry, aloe vera makes an excellent indoor plant as well. They prefer warm and dry soil than wet and cold, so make sure to water them only when the topsoil feels dry. The best place to keep an aloe vera plant would be on a sunny windowsill. If you’re planning to re-pot an aloe vera plant, make sure to not water it for 2-3 days in its new pot since you need to allow the roots to settle first. 

5 Tips To Maintain Indoor Plants

You need to make sure that your indoor plants remain alive and green in your space. To ensure they are well looked after, follow these steps:

1. One of the most common causes of plant deaths is overwatering. Make sure to research your plants well and know their water requirements. The potting soil must be kept moist but not wet.
2. Peat free compost can be used for all indoor plants. Make sure you buy a good quality compost to meet their nutrient requirements.
3. Good drainage is essential for healthy houseplants. Therefore, choose a proper container with drainage holes, put a layer of pebbles in the bottom. From time to time keep checking the drainage holes so that they don’t remain blocked.
4. Understand the plant’s light requirements properly. The foliage plants, especially are divided into three categories: Those that require moderate light, high light, and low light. Remember to keep your plants in spaces according to their needs. 
5. Most indoor plants thrive in high humidity but especially in Indian homes during winter the air quality can be specifically dry. So use a humidifier to maintain the air humidity. Daily misting of the leaves can help as well.

Now that you’ve got a fair idea on how to maintain indoor plants and which are the best indoor plants for your home, look no further. Let us know in the comments below how you’re planning to decorate your home with these above houseplants or post your pictures on Instagram and don’t forget to tag us!