Plant Therapy: Indoor Plants that Improve Health and Wellbeing
It's no secret that plants enrich spaces. They breathe life into a room, inject colour, and create texture and shape. They also improve air quality, increase productivity and can boost your immune system. Tending to them improves your mental health and wellbeing by helping you become more mindful, grounding you and reconnecting you with nature. Studies show that simply being surrounded by greenery has a positive effect on stress levels.
Here are our top plant picks to cultivate health and wellness.
Snake Plant aka Mother-in-Law's Tongue (Sansevieria)
If you were to choose one plant to aid respiratory problems, the snake plant is it. Deemed one of the top air-purifying plants, it helps remove toxins like benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and xylene. It also produces a ton of oxygen at night, making it a great plant to keep in your bedroom. Plus, it's a succulent plant, which means the sturdy leaves thrive on neglect and can grow in just about any climate. Just set it and forget it.
The snake plant's stiff, upright and sculptural leaves add height and great architectural form to a room. We love how the dark green foliage with white and yellow striping add a touch of colour to a space decorated with neutrals, resulting in a well-balanced look. We think they look best when in a corner, or flanking something in your home.
Light: Low to bright, indirect.
Water: Low to moderate.
Maintenance: Wipe leaves to keep them dust-free. These guys can tolerate some neglect, so they're perfect for black-thumbed gardeners. Remember the lower the light, the less water they'll need.
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Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus Lyrata)
Let's talk about the "it" houseplant for a hot sec—the fiddle leaf fig. While we love the look of its lush, dark green, glossy, scalloped leaves, they offer health benefits too! The fiddle leaf fig's broad leaves are incredibly efficient at purifying the air and are also great at controlling humidity.
However, they're a more high-maintenance plant, which means proper placement is vital. If you can find the right spot in your home to keep it happy, adding a large fiddle leaf fig tree does a great job of anchoring and grounding a room by creating a focal point. Their large, scalloped leaves quickly fill empty spaces, add an updated tropical feel to any corner, and soften hard edges of the walls, windows, and door frames.
Light: Bright, indirect.
Water: Moderate/High.
Maintenance: Fertilise every few months during the warmer seasons. Fiddle Leaf Figs have fantastic root systems that grow fast so be warned if you plant directly into the ground, you will get a massive tree with an extensive root system that can be destructive.
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Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
Don't let this plant with its striking deep, emerald green leaves and beautiful white flowers fool you. It's not just a pretty face. It's working overtime to remove all common indoor pollutants and even mould from the air. It's so effective that it's one of NASA's top-ranked plants for this purpose.
The Peace Lily is an easy-to-care-for and versatile plant. Although it's quite tropical, its broad foliage looks great in both traditional and modern spaces, adding a bit of drama. Place it in an area with plenty of space around it to show off its shiny leaves. Most serve as floor plants, but smaller ones look great on the kitchen counter or in a plant stand by an entryway, in the living room or bedroom.
Light: Low to bright, indirect.
Water: Moderate/High in warmer months.
Maintenance: Keep leaves dust-free by regularly wiping with a damp cloth or watering in the shower. In summer they need daily watering so make sure you have a drip tray in your planter.
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Bamboo Palm (Dypsis Lutescens)
The Bamboo Palm is another hardy plant that also does an excellent job at detoxing your house –removing chemical contaminants from the air like formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and benzene. It's also a natural humidifier, producing a litre of ambient water every 24 hours, making it well-suited plant for those with breathing troubles.
Bamboo Palms grow quickly, and their tall leaves make a statement, but their slender trunks don't occupy too much space. We think they look great when they're placed by colourful wall art, rugs and cushions. It's a real accent to your home.
Light: Bright, indirect.
Water: Moderate.
Maintenance: Fertilise with a diluted liquid fertiliser every few months during the warmer seasons. Trim back expired leaves and mist between waterings.