The 5 best house plants for your bedroom
Turning your room into your very own jungle isn’t just a trend – it is a great way to create a calm & relaxing oasis for sleeping in. Plants not only filter toxins from the air, some plants also release oxygen at night giving you a better nights rest. The best bit? House plants are portable, so they can move whenever you do.
We know for some of you the mere thought of plants has the opposite effect thinking about all the upkeep and care – too much water might cause root rot, different light and temperature needs too… So to save everyone the trauma of a very sad looking plant baby, we’ve compiled our Top 5 list low effort house plants, along with simple care instructions to help you get started.
1. SPIDER PLANT
Now, these beauties are easy to grow houseplants as well as being straightforward to care for. In fact, they’re potentially one of the easiest and most rewarding indoor plants you can grow in your home as they’re adaptable to most living conditions. These spider-like grass plants have the ability to rapidly propagate, through us, people! A “baby”, “pup” or “plantlet” from the mother plant will often root with a very high success rate. Grow your new Spider Plant baby correctly and you can quickly reap the rewards of your hard work. There is never long to wait until the baby is sending up slender shoots of its own, that produce small white flowers which develop into more airborne plantlets.
As we said in the intro houseplants are good for your health and the Spider Plant is no exception…as well as an added bonus, it will strip and safely remove pollutants and chemical vapours from the air in your home.
Basic Care Requirements:
Spider plants can put up with a fair bit of abuse, so they’re great for newbies. It does need some attention in order to really get it performing at its best, but it’s extremely tolerant should you accidentally forget about it from time to time. This is in part due to the thick white roots it produces where it stores food and moisture for long term support.
Put them in indirect light and make sure the soil’s well-drained – a terracotta pot on a dish for watering will do the trick. Water your plant well in the growing months (Spring through to Autumn) and if you’ve put it in a bright spot, you’ll get a fast rate of growth and a good chance of Spider Babies. Water sparingly in Winter as growth slows down no matter what you do at this time of year and if you’ve too much water sloshing around the roots, it can cause root rot. These plants prefer cooler temperatures (13-18°C), so try to keep them out of direct sunlight, and trim off any shrivelled brown leaves as and when they appear.
If you are lucky enough to get some ‘plantlets’ have a look at on how to nurture them
2. ALOE VERA
This is one of the most well-known houseplants because of the gel you find inside its leaves. This spiky and vibrant succulent is not only pretty but it’s pretty useful too. They emit oxygen all the time purifying the air and the gel from its leaves can soothe sun and kitchen burns when rubbed onto the skin. Magic!! There are several different types of Aloe plants you can buy; the majority make good houseplants and grow very fast when compared to other succulents.
Basic Care Requirements:
Aloe Vera plants keep water in their leaves, so they don’t need much extra help – in fact, the most common cause of Aloe Vera death is by overwatering. During Spring and Summer water thoroughly every time the soil has dried out – A good trick is to check the dryness of the soil and ensure at least the top inch is dry before watering the plant. In Autumn and Winter, water much less frequently. Some people don’t water their plants at all during Winter.
Keep yours somewhere bright but away from direct light. Sitting your Aloe Vera plant in any South facing window is a great choice because it will get lots of sunlight. Like most succulents, it’s literally designed for such places and as a result, you will get lots of good quality and even growth.
3. POTHOS
Also known as Devils Ivy is a very easy going houseplant that is almost idiot-proof to grow indoors! It can live almost anywhere, It’s not fussy! It’s rainforest, sprawling, and vine-like characteristics with pretty leaves that twist and grow their own way meaning it is perfect to trail over bookshelves or chests of drawers. There are 5 different common types of Pothos that you can get your hands on; Golden, Marble Queen, Satin, N’Joy and our favourite… Neon. They are easy-going and reasonably drought tolerant as well as serving as a living air-purifier in our homes.
Basic Care Requirements:
Pothos plants cope with most light conditions, but normal indoor light is the best – avoid direct sunlight where possible. Try to aim for any spot in your room where you could sit and comfortably read a book for most of the day. If you struggle to see the words or have to squint because it’s too bright then your plant’s not going to be happy either.
Water your Pothos regularly during the growing seasons and always a lot less in winter, keep the soil moist and let it dry out between watering. The leaves usually indicate when it’s time for more H2O – wilting, browning leaves mean more water’s needed, while yellow leaves indicate you’re overwatering. This is a tropical plant so prefer 21–32°C heat but can survive in temperatures as cool as 12°C. This is especially good news for us Brits…
4. YUCCA PLANT
Reminiscent of a mini palm tree, the Yucca plant will make any room it’s in look tropical. They’re pretty low key to care for and still look great with minimal watering… winning!
The leathery like leaves arch and will eventually yellow and fall off, replaced by the new top growth, this gradually increases the height of the plant. The exposed trunk is certainly attractive but a tall plant can lose its appeal by appearing “leggy”, and this is why it’s normal to find several Yucca’s in a pot all of the different sizes to negate this future “leggy” effect.
Basic Care Requirements:
Yucca plants have chunky trunks so need to be in a sturdy pot that can hold their weight, with plenty of soil. They like bright light and can cope with the direct sun too, and they’re fine with dry soil and dry conditions.
Water your Yucca liberally during warmer months of the year. Like all plants, it’s impossible to give rigid watering intervals, but if conditions are exceptional (bright, warm etc) you could be looking to do this as frequently as once a week or more. The soil should dry out a little between waterings. In Winter a lot less water is required. Which naturally means Yucca plants need to be in a well-draining pot and really don’t need much watering.
Are you and your house plants looking for a room to call home, then we can help! Call us today on 01233 367 367 where one of our friendly lettings team can help.
5. SNAKE PLANT
Snake plants are given their name because of their unique twisty, upright leaves and are truly remarkable and striking easy-care houseplants. With its cacti like properties and appearance of a rising snake, it’s not hard to see why. The Snake Plants are an ever increasingly popular houseguest and much of this has to do with its near indestructible qualities. Its bold and clutter-free lines make it very popular and one of the plants of choice for architecture and interior design, especially because of its reputation as an improver of indoor air quality.
There are a huge number of different snake plants out there that you may be able to get your hands on, and if you get the chance you really should. Some are easy to find, others less so. Trifasciata laurentii or “Mother-in-Law’s Tongue” is the most famous and easily recognised of all.
Basic Care Requirements:
These plants are pretty prone to rot, so choose a soilless potting mixture and use a terracotta pot that won’t trap water inside. Water moderately from Spring to Autumn/Fall, significantly less in the winter months because it won’t need as much water then. By cutting back on the water you will reduce the possibility of root rot.
Even though these are crazy tough and hardy plants they’ll struggle with very cold winter temperatures. If the soil is dry it will survive without issue down to 5°C . Other than that, snake plants are super easy to care for. They like indirect light best but can cope with most conditions.
