Winter can be hard for a lot of people mental health wise. The cold keeps people indoors, and the weather can become dreary or downright depressing. That’s why now is the best time to try your hand at raising some plant children. Whether you’re an expert gardener or a hopeful beginner, you can rest assured that there are a plethora of indoor plants that are easy to take care of indoors. They’re a great resource for boosting mood and morale, and some can even be used for medicinal purposes. They also have shown that they can remove up to 87% of air toxins in 24 hours. If you want to try your hand at raising an indoor plant, we recommend trying out one of the five plants below!
Snake Plant
Snake plants come in all shapes and sizes, and they have beautiful shades of green. While most plants release oxygen during the day and carbon dioxide at night (when photosynthesis stops), these plants release oxygen at night. So this is the perfect plant to keep next to your bed so you wake up feeling refreshed.
Fun fact: NASA and university researchers have shown these plants help filter pollutants from air.
Care tips: Give your snake plant a warm, sunny spot in the house. This plant doesn’t need much water, so water it only when leaves are looking dry.
Caution: These plants are toxic to cats and dogs if eaten.
Succulent
Like snake plants, succulents will filter toxins from the air and release oxygen while you sleep. There are also succulents, like the yucca plant, that is easy to grow in your home and has a variety of medicinal purposes. You can use it to help treat cuts and scratches or you can eat it to help with inflammation. (Remember that not all succulents are edible. Do your research before grabbing one and taking a bite).
Fun fact: Succulents can actually help humidify the air! They release water vapor through pores during photosynthesis.
Care tips: Make sure your succulents are next to a window where they can get at least 6 hours of sun. During the fall and winter, they won’t need much water. Only water once the top 1.25 inches are dry. Also, water the soil directly, as opposed to spraying it with a water bottle.
Rosemary
The best part of growing an herb is that it can be both beautiful and useful. Rosemary will grow quickly so you’ll always have a fresh sprig handy for chicken, pork, or even cocktails. (Remember that fresh herbs give so much more flavor than dried flakes). Rosemary is not only delicious and aromatic, it is also a rich source of antioxidants. It has also shown that it can help decrease the inflammatory response caused by disorders like arthritis. For more information on the power of an anti-inflammatory diet, check out our article, The Power of an Anti-inflammatory Diet.
Fun fact: You can grow a full rosemary plant from just a cut rosemary stem. Keep it in a soilless mix until it roots, and then you can put it in a pot with soil.
Care tips: Keep your rosemary plant in front of a south-facing window because it loves the sun! For watering, make sure the top soil is dry but that it’s not all dried out. Misting between watering will help keep the plant moist.
Christmas Cactus
Winter time can often be dark, dreary, cloudy, or snowy, and it can lead to feeling sad or depressed. If this is the case for you, an indoor plant like the Christmas cactus could be essential to your mental health. It has bright red (or pink) blooms, and it thrives in cooler temperatures.
Fun fact: Christmas cacti are pet friendly! They also need continuous darkness at night in order to bloom.
Care tips: Keep your Christmas cactus potted in soil mixed with some sand for drainage, and put it in a sunny but cool corner. Allow soil to dry completely between watering.
Pothos
Pothos are great indoor plants that can survive on little care and light. So if you’re a planting noob, this would be a great place to start. This little guy can either hang or sit on a desk, which makes it the perfect work companion. It cleans the air and releases oxygen during the day, which will help you feel your best. Keep this plant around your most active space during the day, as it will help decrease your stress and make you feel more relaxed.
Fun fact: You’ll usually find this plant hanging around the atrium area of hotels.
Care tips: Keep near a window if possible, but pothos will survive just fine anywhere in your home. Water every few days when the soil dries out.
Caution: These plants are toxic to cats and dogs if eaten.
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Resources:
https://www.elledecor.com/life-culture/fun-at-home/news/g3284/best-indoor-plants-for-apartments/
https://blog.annieselke.com/best-fall-blooming-indoor-plants/
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/a20705923/indoor-herb-garden/
