Does your house look like a jungle full of lush, green plants on every surface? Or do you steer clear of flora due to a black thumb and zero confidence in sustaining the life of a plant? If it's the latter, there's help out there for you.
Besides being pretty to look at, house plants offer a variety of benefits around the house. They can improve the air quality of your home or office and can improve your mood. At the very least they can give you something to do. Still not convinced that you can successfully nurture a living thing in your home?
Not all house plants need to be watered every day. Some can even go days without any water. Not all house plants need to be in direct sunlight, receive fertilizer or be trimmed back. And no, you don't have to talk to your plants in order for them to thrive. You should pick a plant that works with your lifestyle; one that you can devote as much or as little time as you need to keep your plant beautiful.
Easier said than done, right? Wrong. HowStuffWorks has already done a lot of the research for you. All you need to do is visit the House Plants page to get the lowdown on which plant is right for you (and which plants may not be so right for you). If you're interested in turning your thumb from the darkest of black to the greenest of green, then we can help. After all, our thumbs match the greenest of rolling hills in Ireland; or at least that nice, fluffy fern in the kitchen!
House plants bring the fresh beauty of the outdoors inside your home. Learn about different kinds of house plants and how to care for them.
Sedum, plants found primarily in the northern hemisphere, and are ideal rock garden plants. They are known to grow in inhospitable places for many years. Bright light and heavy soil with good drainage with help the sedum thrive. Learn how to care for this plant. See more »
Melocactus, a ribbed, ball-shaped flowering cactus from Mexico, develops a cap on the top of the plant at maturity. It was one of the first cacti ever seen by Europeans. Bright light and heavy soil are required for maximum growth. Learn how to care for this cactus.
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Miltonia orchids, also known as pansy orchids, bloom open, flat flowers. Read about the Miltonia orchid's traits and growing conditions.
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Moth orchid produces flowers varying from white to violet, along with silvery leaves and aerial roots. It's simple to grow in the home, unlike most orchids. Learn more about how to prune moth orchid.
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Mother-in-law's tongue, or dumb cane, has toxic sap that can cause a painful loss of speech if ingested. This easy-to-care-for house plant produces thick green stems with white to yellow marbled leaves. Read more.
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The mountain cereus (oreocereus hendriksenianus) has strong ribs, reddish spines, and long, silky hair. This plant required bright light, and heavy soil that is well drained. It should also be kept dry during the winter. Learn how to care for this cactus.
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Myrtle (Myrtus communis), is a foliage plant originally from western Asia. It is usually available in fall, winter, and spring. Myrtle will last from one to three weeks and adds texture to any arrangement. Learn more about this fragrant plant.
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The nananthus schoonesii, a small South African succulent, and has single, daisy-like flowers. The flower is large compared to the rest of the plant, which is a contrast the name nananthus, which means dwarf flower. Learn how to care for this cactus.
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Neoregelia contains about 50 species and many varieties. Most are from eastern Brazil. They were named in honor of Eduard A. von Regel, the 19th century superintendent of the Botanic Garden in St. Petersburg, Russia. Learn more about Neoregalia.
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Nerve plant's leaves are heavily veined in pink or white. They are borne in pairs on creeping stems. This plant is rather demanding and does best in a terrarium. Read about its preferred conditions.
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Nidularia get their name from the Latin word for "nest" because of the unique leaf structures that they grow just before their flowers bloom. These Brazilian plants like to grow on decaying logs. Learn much more about Nidularia in this article.
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The Norfolk Island pine makes a wonderful indoor Christmas tree for those looking to spruce up their homes for the holidays. Learn more about growing the Norfolk Island pine tree in this article.
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The Odontoglossum genus of orchids include 300 diverse varieties. Learn about the traits and growing conditions of Odontoglossum orchids.
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Old man cactus probably got its name from being covered in downy, white hairs. Read more to learn why this easy-to-care-for house plant is not as gentle as it seems.
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Oleander is dear to gardeners' hearts because of its scent and abundance of blooms in rich, warm colors. It can reach heights of six feet. Learn more about why Oleander should be grown outdoors.
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Some Oncidium orchids grow flower sprays up to ten feet long. Read about these orchids and their traits and growing conditions in this article.
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Oxtongue is a succulent with thick leaves that are often covered with white wartlike protuberances or white spots. After a cool winter rest it bears tall stems with pink, yellow, or red flowers. Read more.
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Paphiopedilum, or lady slipper orchid, grows strikingly colorful flowers. Read about this orchid's traits and best growing conditions in this article.
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Parlor palm, or good luck palm, is a slow-growing house plant with bright green, fan-shaped leaves. It is quite easy to care for under the right circumstances. Read more about its flowers and needs.
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Peace lily, or spathe flower, is the not-so-constant gardener's dream. Very easy to care for, it can grow with little light exposure. Learn why it looks great even when not flowering.
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Peacock plant, also known as the zebra plant, is a beautiful and very decorative house plant grown for its very characteristic foliage. Learn how to grow the peacock plant in this article.
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