The best indoor plants for your home
Houseplants make the home more cosy and colourful and provide good air. We show you the best indoor plants for your home.
Greenery and blossoms are not confined to the outdoors; plants are also welcome co-inhabitants indoors. Not only do they make the apartment cosier, but they are also super decorative and provide a good indoor climate. But not every plant can be easily kept indoors – some plants need lots of attention and skill to thrive properly indoors.
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Fortunately, there is also the opposite: plants that grow almost by themselves, even indoors. Here you can learn which specimens are the best indoor plants and how to take care of them.
1. Kentia palm
The kentia palm (Howea forsteriana) is an impressive houseplant that impresses with its simple elegance. With its pretty feathery leaves and uniformly dense growth, the kentia palm fits into almost any room and provides the right feel-good factor there. If well cared for, this slow-growing houseplant can reach an impressive height of three meters. Fortunately, however, the palm is very hardy: its only dislike is direct sunlight. On the contrary, it is quite enough to water it only once a week. To ensure that the kentia palm stays looking good for a long time, however, you should wipe off the dust from time to time. Otherwise, an unsightly layer will quickly form, especially on the large leaves.
2. Dragon tree
A classic plant for indoors is also the dragon tree (Dracaena). And rightly so: not only is the dragon tree a wonderfully decorative houseplant even as a specimen, it even improves the indoor climate too. In doing so, the air-purifying plant filters harmful formaldehyde from its environment, ensuring relaxed breathing. But this is not the only reason for its extraordinary popularity as a houseplant – on top of everything else, the care of the evergreen dragon tree is not difficult at all. In a bright to semi-shaded location without direct sunlight, the houseplant only needs regular watering. You should make sure that the substrate has dried before the next watering because the tree does not tolerate waterlogging. High humidity, on the other hand, is not a problem for the dragon tree, which is why it is wonderful for the bathroom.
3. Snake plant
Snake plant (Sansevieria) is known as a houseplant mainly because of its low-maintenance nature. In fact, the plant forgives pretty much any care error, making it suitable even for beginners and people without green fingers. Only two things you should pay attention to when caring for the snake plant: First, the plants should be watered only when the soil in the pot is completely dry (this is about every two weeks). Secondly, it should be given the warmest place possible – snake plant feels comfortable in temperatures of 15 °C and upwards. But there’s more to snake plant than its simple needs suggest: its upright-growing, sword-shaped leaves with a golden-yellow pattern make it a simple but stylish indoor plant that perfectly complements any space.
4. Peace lily
Noble, useful, and also easy to care for? The peace lily (Spathiphyllum) has all three qualities. In addition to its classic elegance, which it gets from its white flowers contrasting with the glossy green of its leaves, the peace lily is also known as an air-purifying plant. Scientific studies have been able to prove that the peace lily can absorb and break down harmful gases, thus providing a favourable indoor climate. And this useful beauty is anything but a diva: if you avoid drafts and waterlogging and ensure temperatures around 20 to 25 °C, the peace lily feels completely at home.
5. Philodendron
Philodendron shows itself to be an extremely attractive green plant with its heart-shaped, nicely drawn leaves. When grown as a climbing plant on a planting pole, the plant provides an exotic flair, but it also shows its best side as a hanging basket plant and quickly provides a great curtain of leaves. But as a plant for indoors, philodendron is popular not only because of its pretty appearance. Its low-maintenance nature also makes it a great houseplant: for example, the philodendron requires little, but offers a lot. Only regular watering philodendron should be, in addition, the room temperature should never fall below 12 °C.
6. ZZ plant
Especially in dark rooms, many plants grow sickly or even begin to care – not so the ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia): even in shady rooms, this plant continues to grow unperturbed. Especially its robust nature makes the plant an ideal roommate. A normal room temperature, no direct sun and a regular sip of water is enough for the plant’s happiness. The extremely robust and frugal plant with its leathery, dark green leaves is also a visual asset to any home. At the same time, with a height of up to one metre, it is also perfectly suitable as a solitaire, thus enriching any room with its charm.
Tip: You can find more plants for dark rooms in our dedicated article.
7. Parlour palm
The parlour palm (Chamaedorea elegans) comes from the mountains, to be more precise from the mountain forests of Mexico. Indoors, the palm with its elegant, overhanging fronds adds a touch of sun, beach, and sea. But if you think you have to put in a lot of effort to get that vacation feeling, you are wrong. Only about every two weeks, the root ball of the plant should be watered in a full bath, so that the roots can soak. Additionally, placed in a light to semi-shaded location without direct midday sun, the parlour palm usually thrives on its own.
8. Devil’s ivy
Whether as a hanging basket, climbing, or specimen plant, the devil’s ivy (Epipremnum aureum) always cuts a fine figure. Their leaf shape is reminiscent of the leaves of philodendron, which is not surprising, after all, both plants are closely related. In addition, however, devil’s ivy is distinguished by unusual leaf colouration and patterning, which can range from dark green to yellow to white. The devil’s ivy feels particularly well in light to semi-shady locations, but it will also tolerate shady spots – only its pattern will not develop as colourfully here. Also, the plant should be watered regularly. If these points are observed, the devil’s ivy will thrive excellently and form amazingly long shoots.
9. Houseleek
With nearly 2000 known varieties, houseleek (Sempervivum) should have something for everyone. In this regard, houseleek shines with its almost incredible diversity, which is reflected in the colour, shape, and size of the plants. Thus, depending on the variety, the beautiful rosette-like foliage not only has a different structure, but can also be coloured in green, red, or blue-grey. Also, the flowers can appear pink, red, or even yellow and white – with houseleek, you can choose almost infinite varieties. But especially its hardy nature makes the houseleek a great plant for indoors. Thus, the houseleek needs watering only once a week, the plant can do without fertiliser altogether. The persistent succulent is even forgiving of rough care mistakes. This may have earned it its botanical name “sempervivum”, meaning “always alive”, among other things.
10. Fiddle-leaf fig
You do not want a small, inconspicuous houseplant but a real eye-catcher? Then the fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) is just the thing for you: with its large, imposing leaves, which are also strikingly veined, the fig draws all eyes to itself. But if you think that such an impressive plant also needs a lot of care, you are wrong. In fact, the fiddle-leaf fig is one of the more easy-to-care-for houseplants. For good growth, it only needs temperatures above 16 °C, should be watered from time to time and receive some fertiliser about every 14 days – only waterlogging should be avoided at all costs. If the fiddle-leaf fig grows over your head if you take too good care of it, you can also reach for the scissors because the plant tolerates pruning very well. However, wear gloves when doing so: the plant sap that escapes can because skin irritation.
Tip: Houseplants should also be fertilised sufficiently, in the pot nutrients are often used up quickly. A liquid fertiliser like our Plantura Liquid Houseplant Food is perfectly suited to the needs of indoor plants and is quickly and easily administered through the irrigation water.
- Perfect for a wide variety of houseplants & foliage plants
- Liquid fertiliser for robust plants & healthy growth
- Quick & easy application - child & pet friendly
Green houseplants are too boring for you? Then find 10 flowering houseplants that bring a little more colour into your home in our dedicated article.
