Mini Guide to Indoor Houseplants (for improving air quality)
When was the last time you gave your home a well-deserved upgrade? By upgrade, I don’t mean branded furniture or expensive equipment. I mean a home improvement that will improve your home AND your life.
How? It’s simple. Adopt a houseplant!
Studies have shown remarkable benefits of keeping houseplants. Some of them include improving your focus, reducing your fatigue, and even boost your healing. Not to forget, it can improve indoor air quality, especially with all the time we’ve been spending at home during the pandemic.
Don’t forget to check out Daybreak’s Self-Care Calendar for more ideas
Here are a few houseplants that can help improve your air quality at home:
Monstera
Sunlight: Indirect light
Water: Every 1-2 weeks
Common problems
- Leaves turning brown and crispy at the edges: Thirsty plant, underwatered
- Wilting plant, dry potting mix: Underwatered or pot-bound
- Yellowing leaves or black stems: Overwatered
Rubber Plant
Sunlight: Bright but indirect light
Water: Keep moist during Summer with well-draining soil;
Water twice a month during dormant season
Common problems
- Leaves lose their luster, lower leaves fall off: Need more light
- Leaves are droopy: Underwatered
- Leaves turn yellow and brown: Overwatered
Snake Plant
Sunlight: Dim indirect light
Water: Let plants dry out between waterings
Common problems
- Yellow or brown leaves, mushy roots and foul smell: Overwatered
- Wrinkled leaves, brown rings on surface: Excessively high temperature
- Leaves bending: Not enough light or unsuitable pot size
Spider Plant
Sunlight: Bright indirect light
Water: Keep soil slightly moist in Summer;
Dry out between waterings in Winter
Common problems
- Brown Leaves: Possible building up of minerals -> water plants until runoff
- Not producing shoots and plantlets: Might be growing in oversized pot
Aloe Vera
Sunlight: Indirect light
Water: Keep soil slightly moist in Summer;
Dry out between waterings in Winter
Common problems
- Mush leaves and roots: Overwatered
- Plant turning brown and soft: Natural rotting (Old lower leaves turn yellow, new leaves grow)
- Leaves bending: Insufficient lighting
To Conclude
I always enjoy expanding my territories with more houseplants and greenery. It gives me a sense of growth and achievement (especially when I manage to keep them alive). Add it along with the long list of health benefits. It’s hard not to want an upgrade for your home and your life.
