What Are the 5 Best Indoor Plants?

Which plants make for the best indoor plants? Simply put, they are the ones that are easy to keep alive, are effective at providing oxygen and reducing toxins, and look great in modern homes. Most plants aren’t easy to care for and require meticulous care. Even if you don’t have a lot of time or you haven’t been blessed with a green thumb, there are still some plant varieties that will do well in your home. Here are the 5 best indoor plants that you can use to freshen up your home.

English Ivy (Hedera helix)

English ivy is a commonly found outdoors. When left to grow on its own, it can do serious damage to the exterior of your home and destroy your gutters. However, when raised indoors, it is super easy to care for and is effective for purifying the air on your home.

Because it is a climbing plant, it works great for decorative displays and can be used in almost any type of planting arrangement. You can put it in a hanging basket or use topiary forms to train it to grow in a particular shape. Although this plant can grow rapidly, it can easily be controlled with pruning.

As far as the purifying effects of English ivy, a study found that it can reduce fecal-matter particles and formaldehyde in the air. Formaldehyde is commonly found in hardwood floor resins, household cleaning products and synthetic dyes.

English ivy can also reduce the amount of mold in the air according to a research that was presented to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Airborne mold spores have been linked to many serious illnesses and lowering the airborne mold count with English ivy may be beneficial your health.

Growing conditions: To grow English ivy indoors, all it needs is bright light and occasional watering. Make sure to allow the soil to dry out a bit before watering again. The soil should be dry to the touch on top. In addition, you should also make sure that the planter has sufficient drainage because ivy does not like wet soil or to be left in standing water. The recommended growing temperature range is 55 - 70°F with average to high humidity levels.

Warning: However, take note that English ivy is an invasive species and is very harmful to the environment if released outdoors. If you decide that you no longer want it as a houseplant, make sure that you kill the root system with herbicides and allow the plant to completely die before disposing of it.

Is English ivy safe for children and pets? English ivy is poisonous to children and pets. Although large quantities of the plant have to be ingested in order to cause problems, these plants can cause skin irritations in more sensitive individuals.

Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

The Boston fern is an easy to grow houseplant that is perfect for displaying in hanging baskets. It is also one of the most effective plants for removing indoor air pollutants. The Boston fern can eliminate benzene and xylene, which are volatile organic compounds that are commonly found in gasoline and have been linked to cancer.

Growing conditions: Caring for Boston fern plants requires that you keep them in a cool place with high humidity and indirect sunlight. Make sure that the soil remains damp at all times and use a potting mixture that contains a high level of peat moss. Boston ferns only need to be fertilized a few times per year. The recommended growing temperature range is 60 - 75°F with high humidity levels.

Are Boston ferns safe for children and pets? While other types of ferns are highly toxic, Boston ferns are safe for children and pets

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum

The Chinese evergreen offers variegated foliage making it an excellent choice for a low-light houseplant for your home. It even produces blooms with red berries for added color. It can be used as ground cover around other taller houseplants or showcased on its own.

As far as the air purifying effects of the Chinese evergreen, these plants emit high oxygen content and can remove formaldehyde and benzene from the air.

Growing conditions: The Chinese evergreen prefers locations with full shade. Because they are tropical plants, they also prefer high humidity. Make sure to keep the soil evenly moist without over watering the plant. The recommended growing temperature range is 60 - 75°F.

Is the Chinese evergreen safe for children and pets? The Chinese evergreen is toxic to children and pets and can cause severe irritation if the plant is eaten or chewed.

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

The spider plant is an attractive option for a house plant and features tiny white flowers. These plants are extremely resilient and make a perfect option to display as a specimen plant. You can also easily regrow the plant simply by placing a section of the main plant in a new pot.

As far as the air purifying effects of the spider plant, eliminate benzene, xylene, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide.

Growing conditions: Spider plants prefer bright to medium light. They only need occasional watering during growth. Once they are fully developed they should be watered moderately. Make sure to keep the soil moist and don't let it dry out. The plant should be fertilized twice per month during the spring and summer months. The recommended growing temperature range is 60 - 75°F.

Are spider plants safe for children and pets? Spider plants are safe for children and pets.

Golden Pothos (Scindapsus aures)

The golden pothos grows quickly and is vine that is the perfect option for a hanging basket. These plant is easy to grow and features attractive wide leaves that make it the perfect house plant for any room. Also known as devil's ivy, it is excellent at eliminating formaldehyde in the air.

Growing conditions: The golden pothos prefers bright to medium light. Allow the soil to dry out somewhat between waterings. However, make sure that you don't overwater the plant because this will only lead to root rot. The recommended growing temperature range is 60 - 75°F.

Is the golden pothos safe for children and pets? The golden pothos is toxic to children and pets and can cause skin irritation, vomiting and diarrhea in humans. For pets, it can lead to renal failure and death if ingested.