Plants can literally inject a breath of fresh air into any room with their verdant, lush, oxygenating nature. A well-chosen varietal can help create a welcoming living space as much as a beautiful piece of art or furniture—as long as you resist the temptation to turn your home into a jungle (or something akin to a 70s fern bar).
Some plants do better indoors than others, but with so many options available, you don’t have to settle for a boring ficus or unruly rubber plant.
Here are three interesting alternatives to consider:
Aralias: With their gnarled stems and fine, green foliage, these classy plants look more like small trees than mere houseplants. Though often pruned into short bonsai-like specimens, they are happy to grow to great lengths (six feet, or higher). The two main varieties are Ming Aralia, with its delicate, maple-like leaves, and the Balfour Aralia, which has deep-green, saucer-shaped leaves. These plants thrive in well-lit, humid conditions.
Bromeliads (“Air plants”)
Like orchids, most bromeliads live in the rainforest canopy, where they thrive on water and little or no soil. But while orchids look sad and stalky after they bloom, bromeliads are all about their foliage. This ranges from tiny, grey tufts, to huge, explosions of glossy red and purple. Spray them water and dilute fertilizer regularly to keep them happy.
Sansevierias (“Snake Plant” or “Mother-law’s Tongue”): These air-purifying plants provide an excellent vertical color accent to any room. thrive on warmth and bright light, but will also tolerate shade. It is important to pot them in well-drained soil and to avoid over-watering. Because they are believed to produce oxygen at night, they are often placed in the bedroom.
