As apartment residents, we take up so many thoughtful measures to liven up the spaces we reside in. We arrange every nook, every corner and space with such dedication in our houses to make it feel like home. Not only do indoor plants in apartments add a dash of aesthetic appeal, but they have been proven to have positive effects on our health and overall well-being. Here are some advantages of keeping leafy friends in our homes that may surprise you:
- Plants are known to improve the quality of air. This has been proven by NASA through the various studies and findings. Plants have been known to reduce levels of carbon dioxide, benzene and nitrogen dioxide. They also reduce airborne dust levels and keep the air temperatures relatively cooler.
- Did you know that indoor plants can boost your productivity? With Work from Home becoming a norm during COVID times, plants can be great work buddies! This has been backed up by multiple studies.
- With work comes unavoidable stress and poor mental health follows stress. But guess what? A study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology found that Indoor plants in apartments or office can make you feel more comfortable, soothed and natural.
- Being able to look at plants or flowers or simply being in their presence has been proven to fasten recovery from an illness and induce and overall feeling of well-being in ourselves. Patients admitted in hospitals benefit greatly from being in touch with nature.
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The 5 perfect indoor plants in apartments:
1. Snake Plant or Mother-in-law’s Tongue
Contrary to it’s strange latter name, this plant is one of the most tolerant plants out there. It’s called a snake plant because of its long slender leaves that can grow up to two meters. They are extremely tough and can survive under minimal care and maintenance. Snake plant requires very less water and can grow in a variety of light conditions. They are relatively cheaper too and are often chosen by those who have very less time to take care of plants. Moreover, they are a sweet addition to a coffee table, a bedside table or even the kitchen table. They also help purify the air by removing toxins like formaldehyde and benzene. Truly, this can be called as an all rounder plant.
2. Spider Plant
Spider plants are pretty low maintenance as well and perfect as indoor plants in apartments. They have long skinny leaves that grow out from heir plants. They are self propagating, petite in size and can grow in low to bright indirect light. You might need to water them frequently but one has to be careful and avoid letting it get soggy. Spider plants start to droop noticeably indicating their need for water. They are a great option for apartment dwellers in cities with high levels of pollution because they help tackle toxins like carbon monoxide. If abundance is something you’d like to go after in plants, then spider plants can be a great option for you.
3. Peace Lilly
This beautiful plant showcases long, dark, glossy leaves with elegant white flowers that grow on top. They’re great as indoor plants in apartments because they will easily beautify any dull space or corner of the house. They usually grow up to 65 centimeters and thrive in lower lighted areas. In fact, they do not need direct sunlight. It’s nickname is “closet plant” because too much of direct sunlight can damage it. They are knows for requiring less water and it’s easy to tell when their leaves need to be watered as they begin to droop. Peace Lilly acts as a natural air purifier as it helps in removing toxic gases benzene, formaldehyde and carbon monoxide present in the atmosphere.
4. Aloe Vera
Possibly one of the most popular indoor plants in apartments from this list, Aloe Vera is a multipurpose plant. Not only does it purify the air, it also acts as an instant medication for scrapes and burns as it has skin soothing properties. In fact, aloe vera is a well-known skin care ingredient in many cosmetic products and in its raw form as well. Aloe Vera enjoys plenty of sunlight and prefer their soil to be completely dry between waterings. Therefore, it’s best not to keep them in any shady areas. They only need to be watered once every three weeks. Ideally, they should be placed near a sunny window for a nice growth.
ZZ Plant
If you are keeping indoor plants in apartments for the first time and looking for something low maintenance yet useful, then look no further. A few days of neglect won’t do much harm to this plant. ZZ plant gets its abbreviation from it’s mouthful Latin name Zamioculcas Zamiifolia. This East African native from a country called Zanzibar is actually regarded by some as the “Houseplant of the future.” It’s specialty is that it rarely attracts any pests and is able to thrive under the lowest of light conditions. It doesn’t need to be watered too many times as well, just about three times per month. They are slow growing overall and prefer to live on the drier side.
Some other great options for indoor plants in apartments are Pothos, Devil’s Ivy Pothos, succulents, Cacti, etc.
And that’s the list! We hope you choose a plant best suited for your home and needs. After all, with so much of goodness they carry, plants can be great companions if you live alone in an apartment.