Houseplants have been trending like crazy in 2019. As we head into fall in Powell River, it’s time to shift our focus back to our interior decor—and all the houseplants we can fit into it! Over the past few years, it’s become wildly popular to layer multiple houseplants into the design of homes and workspaces. This is great news, since keeping houseplants also happens to be good for your physical and mental health.
There are a few types of houseplants that will even tolerate months of neglect while we’ve been enjoying the summer outdoors. At our garden centre, we even carry a selection of super low-maintenance plants that are practically impossible to kill.
These five trendy houseplants include four super easy-care plants and one somewhat high-maintenance one. (It was just too pretty to leave off the list!)
1. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas)
ZZ Plant is the perfect plant for windowless office and cubicle spaces. They have ultra-glossy, vibrant green leaves that are often mistaken for a fake plant, and can thrive in the lowest light. According to a University of Copenhagen study in 2014, the ZZ Plant is one of the best air purifiers, removing xylene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and benzene from the air.
ZZ grows slowly and thrives on neglect. If you jetset away on vacation for a month and your co-worker forgets to water it, ZZ won’t care. ZZ does not like direct sunlight, and the leaves will curl up to get away from the direct sun. If the ZZ plant’s leaves start to turn yellow, it has had too much water. Only water your ZZ when the soil is completely dry.
2. Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
Snake plant is an excellent low-light, small space plant. Also known as Mother-In-Law’s Tongue or Devil’s Tongue, there are about 70 different varieties of snake plant. They can be tall or short, with round, or flat leaves and colour variations of green, silver, yellow, and white. They’d be happy in a cubicle, a room full of windows, or in bathrooms with high humidity. They’re also an excellent option for hallways or entryways.
The tall varieties will eventually grow up to about 1 metre tall. Water your snake plant only when the soil is dry. They do not like direct sun and will burn very quickly if exposed to sunlight.
Snake plant purifies the air, removing formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene. They also absorb CO2 at night, which makes them excellent for bedrooms.
3. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Pothos might be the easiest plant in the world to grow. Pothos is an excellent houseplant because they’re beautiful and nearly impossible to kill. They have trailing vines with pretty heart-shaped green leaves. Some have green, yellow, or white variegation. They are perfect for dorm rooms or offices, and can happily thrive in artificial light.
Pothos are happy with a drink of water every couple of weeks, or when the leaves start to droop. Dry brown leaf edges mean they’ve gotten too dry. Pothos are happy to be a little bit root-bound. However, if the leaves start to droop or wilt within a day or two of watering, it may need a slightly bigger pot. Only go 1 or 2 sizes up.
Pothos is also an excellent air purifier, removing formaldehyde, trichloroethene, toluene, xylene, and benzene from our air.
4. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
Peace lily is low-maintenance and features striking blossoms. Peace lily will tolerate low-light but will bloom more often in brighter light. The blossoms are striking white above the dark green leaves.
Peace lilies like to dry out between watering, so if the soil is damp, let it be for a few days before giving it a drink. Because peace lily transpires through the leaves, it’s a good idea to give it an occasional shower (you can actually set it in the shower or the kitchen sink and give it a rinse with room temperature water), or wipe down its leaves with a damp cloth once or twice a year.
If you find the leaves are drooping or wilting within a few days of watering, it probably needs a new pot. If you must repot, don’t size up beyond 1 or 2 pot sizes.
5. African Mask (Alocasia x amazonica ‘Polly’)
frican Mask is strikingly beautiful and unique but is a little needier as houseplants go. African Mask, or Elephant Ear, is a bit of a diva. The unusual colouring—nearly black leaves with bright white veins and edging—compliment modern design trends.
They need bright, yet indirect and diffused, light. Direct sunlight will burn the leaves. They need very porous soil, and a bit of the rhizome must be above the soil. They don’t like drafts and prefer to be consistently warm and humid. The leaves should be cleaned regularly and misted often. African Mask will also appreciate a pebble tray so water can evaporate up into the canopy of leaves. They do prefer to be root-bound, so don’t re-pot too often and only go up one pot size at a time.
African Mask will go dormant for a few months in the fall every year. At that point, you’ll need to cut back on watering. They come back after a few months.
All of these trendy houseplants are available (some in multiple sizes!) at Mother Nature garden centre. Visit us today, and we’ll help you pick out the perfect new addition. We’ve got something for every place, in every space, for every taste!
