Seven best indoor plants for fall and winter
The holidays are over and the decorations have come down. But that's not the end of sprucing up your decor with some natural elements. Indoor plants offer the perfect solution.
But since plants aren't designed for an indoor environment, you need to look for plants that are highly adaptable or plants whose natural outdoor conditions you can closely mimic.
"Highly adaptable means they are forgiving if you forget to water them on occasion or if you water them a little too much. They may show signs of stress, but will bounce back," says Kylee Baumle, co-author of "Indoor Plant Decor: The Design Stylebook for Houseplants" (St. Lynn's Press, 2013) and creator of the "Our Little Acre" blog.
"Tropical plants also typically make good indoor plants because in their natural environment, they're generally vigorous growers that like the same conditions that humans do," she says.
Baumle also advises against choosing plants that require a lot of sunlight since the northern hemisphere has lower quality of sunlight during the fall and winter months.
Luckily, there are plenty of plants that meet these specifications. Here are seven of the best plants to brighten your home this season:
1. ZZ plant
This tropical native of eastern Africa first is a popular houseplant because it requires little maintenance and fits in well with both traditional and modern home decor.
2. Boston fern
Ferns of all different shapes and sizes make great indoor plants, though Boston ferns are the most common variety. It's important to note that ferns require humid conditions, so trying misting it once or twice a week during the dry winter months.
3. Orchids
These flowering plants are a great way to add a pop of color to a room, whether it's a pretty purple or bright white. They're a surprisingly hardy plant and prefer bright, indirect light.
4. Peace lily
Not only do these lilies brighten up a space, they actually are great natural air purifiers. They do best in low to medium light and require watering about once a week.
5. Hurricane plant
This striking plant originates from the tropical rain forest of southern Mexico, but thrives in home environments. It's also known as the "Swiss cheese plant" due to the ribbons or holes that naturally appear in its large leaves.
6. Chinese evergreen
No time to take care of a houseplant? Then the Chinese evergreen is the perfect plant for you. It's super durable, able to withstand poor light, dry air and drought.
7. Dragon tree
A native of Madagascar, this slow growing tree is best known for its slim, pointed leaves. Although it's quick to show the effects of neglect, it bounces back quickly.
Baumle's No. 1 piece of care advice for houseplants: Don't overwater! "More plants die from this than underwatering - or just about any other thing a human can do to a plant," says Baumle. "The easiest way to determine a plant's water needs is to poke your finger into the first couple of inches of soil. If it's completely dry, then it's OK to water. If you feel moisture, wait. My general rule of thumb for watering is, when in doubt, don't."
She also recommends periodically rinsing dusty plants in the shower or wiping down their leaves. Dust can block a plant's ability to breathe and perform photosynthesis. For people with pets, be sure to keep poisonous plants like lilies out of reach or simply avoid them altogether.
Although all of these plants are pretty easy to care for, that doesn't mean they're going to last forever. And that's OK, Baumle says.
"We need to shift our thinking when it comes to growing plants in the house. When we plant annuals in the spring, we know even as we're digging the hole for planting, that in October or so, those plants are goners, due to frost and freezing. We're perfectly fine with that," she says. "If you get six months out of a houseplant, is it not the same? The houseplant palette is so large that if one plant doesn't work out, just try something else. They aren't expensive and changing it up from time to time can be a good thing!"