When it comes to indoor furnishings, plants are a cheap way to add some style to your place. Along with the aesthetic benefits, some plants with give us health bonuses too; these usually involve them cleaning the air or removing pests. Here are some of the best ones to take on and how to look after them.

Lighting

One of the most important things they’ll need is a good light source. You can either put them somewhere near a window and let the Sun shine in or use some form of electronic lighting. You’ll want to avoid giving them too much, so as a general rule of thumb, the darker the leaves the less light it needs.

My favourite indoor plant is the peace lily. I’ve had it for about 3 years now and it’s just so resistant to anything that has happened. At one point, I was away for about 3/4 weeks for a holiday and came back to a “dead” shell of a plant. I panicked a little but after a bit of watering it jumped back to life and is still doing great today.

Watering

The reason a lot of houseplants die is because they get a bit too much water which will eventually lead the the roots rotting. Because this is so variable, the only advice I can give you is to check the web for information on how much water it needs. For example, my peppers seem to do best when I keep them well watered at all times, whereas my peace lily prefers to have the soil dry out a little in between each time and get a big drink when I do water it.

Potting

If you’re reusing pots from out in the garden or making your own, be sure to give it a rinse off before you start planting in it to avoid any possible infection spreading. Another thing to make sure of is the drainage system. Fill it up with water and take a look at how easily it flows back out; if it’s having trouble consider adding extra holes to prevent your plant roots from swimming after watering.

Humidity

Humidity is a great thing outside but indoors, you’ll want to keep it under control. A good idea is to spray the leaves with warm water to keep them damp and help them develop a waxy sheen. Keep an eye on them to make sure the leaves don’t get covered in dust.

Fertilisation

Fertilization isn’t as complex as it might seem. Rich, fertile soil will promote faster growth and healthier plants overall so it should definitely be a priority but if you’re not sure about how to get it going, head to your local supermarket and pick up some houseplant fertilizer. It won’t cost much and should come with instructions on the pack/bottle.

Overall, once you’re into the swing of watering regularly and keeping the soil healthy, it’ll seem like no work at all. For more information about hardy houseplants, check out this site