Thinking of becoming a plant parent? This is your sign to do it!
Plants have rapidly become very trendy in the interior decor community. As well as creating beautiful, peaceful aesthetics, plant-decorated rooms are super Instagrammable! If you’re one of those people who’d love to be a plant parent but struggles keeping even a cactus alive, we’ll be talking about some of the easiest indoor plants to look after in the UK.
But before we get to this, let’s talk about the ‘why’.
Why have indoor plants?
There are so many benefits for bringing the outdoors in. NASA says that houseplants remove 87% of the toxins from the air. One of the major benefits is that plants purify and cleanse the air, ultimately improving your mood, lifting your spirits and increasing creativity and focus, making a houseplant the perfect companion, especially if you’re self isolating or working from home.
Plants are also gorgeous ways of filling up those empty corners in your house. Empty space? Chuck a plant in it. (Well, maybe not literally ‘chuck’…) This works particularly well on bookshelves. Or, if you’ve got an empty wall space and don’t want to invest in some elaborate, modernist, very ambiguous, very expensive piece of art – hook on a hanging basket and pop a plant inside! It really brightens up the room and is a great addition to your Instagram feed. Trust us.
Plants also calm your heart rate and lower your blood pressure. They make a wonderful addition to bathrooms, especially if you’re wanting to feel a little extra zen alongside your bath salts. They’re the perfect companion for those self-care spa days.
The Easiest Plants to Care For
So, we’ve convinced you. You want to become a plant parent. But what if you’re awful at looking after plants? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
First thing’s first, you have to take into consideration what sort of environment your plant will thrive in. Do they like humidity? Direct sunlight? Do they prefer a bit of shade? A bit of air? Some sunglasses, a recliner and a mojito? If it’s the latter, then we hate to break it to you, but the UK is a little too rainy for cocktails and sunbathing.
Some easy-to-look-after and all-around great houseplants for the UK are the Snake plant, Paddle plant, devil’s ivy and cacti. They’re pretty low maintenance plants that don’t require 24/7 attention. They prefer indirect sunlight and you don’t have to water them religiously. Only water when the soil is dry. The one skill required to keep these plants alive is common sense.
You may be waiting for us to mention the orchid. They’re super popular, and don’t get us wrong, we love an orchid, but they’re not the easiest to look after. Orchids, in fact, are known to drop dead at the most minor of inconveniences. They’re perfect for fellow drama queens, though. But don’t say we didn’t warn you!
An even better way to personalise your home is to pick out the right plant accessories. A carefully chosen plant pot makes all the difference! You could match your room, make it a statement piece. Go crazy. Get creative. When it comes to plant pots, the world is your oyster.
Use tea cups or glasses or empty syrup tins, if you want. Make it quirky. Personalise it. Make it you. It’s a great activity for the kids, too. Buy a plain pot and sit down and paint it together one afternoon. Fun for all the family, and a great way to make a house a home.
If you’re looking for your next home, contact Carman Friend today, and we’ll be more than happy to talk you through the latest properties we have to offer.
