House Plants - Revisiting the benefits and meeting the new.
Let’s recap .............Emotional and Mental Health Benefits.
- Spending time in nature , looking at plants and flowers both inside and outside has for a long time been recognised as a peaceful moment , engaging the senses and telling the brain to be present and mindful in that moment. Whilst the practise of being mindful can be undertaken during almost any task it been shown in recent studies that being with plants verses say using a computer will significantly reduce stress levels. (One Study Source)
- Mental health and mindset. Setting ourselves goals to feel the 'wins'. There is a huge sense of achievement and love that goes into nurturing even the simplest of house plants. (Some really take no care and will grow in just air!) I think nothing can beat the feeling of coming home after a stressful day or waking first ting in the morning to find your spider plant has had a little baby or your prayer plant has a new leaf unfurling, it can really bring a sense of achievement, happiness and well being.
- The colour green promotes feelings of emotional stability , love and security which is important to our ongoing mental health. All colours in fact trigger an emotional response in animals and humans. There are many studies explaining this as a therapy in its own right. Most humans are drawn to things that are aesthetically pleasing , so to have green around us can be of benefit to our emotional health. (One Study Source)
- Studies have shown it can also improve our concentration and productivity by around 15%! (Dr Chris Knight from the University of Exeter concluded this in his study from 2014)
- Plants bring feelings of calm, reduce anxiety and make perfect relaxation aids.
Physical and Emotional Health Benefits.
- Better air quality come from having living plants around the home. They do an excellent job as all plants do in absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, which is what we breathe so excellent news for us! One NASA study showed they improved air quality by 87%. (One Study Source)
- Increases humidity by a process called transpiration, this is where it takes up water through roots and and let water out through its leaves. This can help deter illnesses certainly during the winter months.
- Reduces VOC's (volatile organic compounds) These are substances found in some cleaning products, paints, furnishings, glues, fuels, air fresheners etc often found in many homes. VOC's are also commonly known as 'smog' which is when these substances mix with nitrogen oxides. If you live in a city or even visited on you will understand the experiences associated to smog and the effects it can have on your health.
A year on....
So last year I introduced you to Sansevieria Fernwood Milkado, Calathea Zebina, Cholorophytum colosseum and Aloe Barbadenis, which are all thriving and allowing propagation. I promised to share my collection as it grew.
Sansevieria triad, laurentil (Mother In Laws Tounge)
This plant has been one of the most easiest to look after. It needs little water or fuss. The plant is a master at changing oxygen and carbon dioxide using a unique process only found in a small number of plant species. Its called CAM photosethisis and means they can survive conditions with little to no water. Some might say the perfect house plant. They have a bold, tough, pointy exterior that is evergreen. Mine has a lovely yellow border which adds to its appeal. But they come in many shapes and sizes , tall or short, with round, flat or concave leaves, and variegated with dark green, silver, light green, yellow, or white patterns. I got mine at the local garden centre but also noticed they had some good looking plants on Amazon.
Maranta ‘Fascinator’ Leuconeura (Prayer Plant)
Known as the prayer plant as the leaves fold together at night time, and unfold in the morning light, this whole species of plant are one of my favourite. Having already owned the zebra, I can't help but love the strong colours, patterns and character this plant brings to my home. It is not the easiest to look after and yet one of the most eye pleasing and fascinating plants to own. I love watching the leaves as the light in the house changes, you can see it move in real time. It brings such a lovely life to the inside. It has oval-shaped leaves that have a light-and-dark-green feathered pattern with red veins, and red underneath. Its leaves grow to about 12 cm long, it goes dormant in the winter so don't worry if you don't see any new growth but in the warmer months expect it to lavish you with extra leaves!. I bought this one from my local Lidl when I spotted it, but they can be sourced many places though, local garden centres seems to love them as much as me and they can be bought online online.
Swiss Cheese Plant Monstera delicious (Cheese Plant)
This plant helped me understand that you buy a plant and find a location for it in your home. Don't expect house plants to thrive in conditions they don't like. In saying that this one is not to fussy but you will gain the most from it if you keep it in sunlight but not direct sun. Keep watering when the top couple of cms of the soil are dry and give it a mist if you can every other day and it will thrive. It is a monster with huge leaves that sprawl out but its stunning. Its name actually translates to delicious monster! It will need space to grow, mine is trying to clim out of its basket. Some people like to stake the leaves to grow up a stake. I'm going to let mine be all jungle like and enjoy it filling up its space. Mine came from Ikea but I have again found similar ones online.
Pilea Peperomioides (Chinese Money Plant)
This plant was on my wish list for a long time. I just never found it at any garden centres. It turns out they are easy to propagate but grow very slowly so not overly popular with nurseries. This was lucky for me as in my search, I came across this wonderful shop (found via instagram) Pilea Plant shop. They offered to post one at a very reasonable cost. It arrived safely and in amazing condition. This plant doesn't like full sun, and likes a little humidity and temperatures above 10 degrees. Known as the friendship plant it is a native of the Southwestern Yunnan province of China.This is where a Norwegian missionary by the name of Agnar Espegren found it. He brought it with him first to India and then back to Norway in 1946. As he traveled throughout Norway, he gave little baby plants to friends. When an extra plant grows its easy to separate from the mother plant and then you can grow it on for further pots around the house or to share with friends just as Angar Espegren did. They have large, circular, shiny, leaves, which can have a diameter of over 15 centimeters increasing the overall plant size, up to around 30 cms and 17-20 cms high. This is mine, I hope one day it will be that big and full.
Peperomia Prostrata (String Of Turtles)
This is a rare but interesting plant that actually seems to be fairly expensive in most places. It has tiny dark green and blue variegated fleshy button leaves, which look like they are swollen with water. Its a succulent which has beautiful pattern of white veins, which range in colour. This is how it gets its name string of turtles. It is a hanging plant that tends to stay on the small side. Their leaves are very delicate and can fall off easily if you move it around or bash into it, so put it somewhere safe. They have a shallow root system so don't have to be repotted very often. They do need drainage and don't over water them. I bought mine as two cuttings from an ESTY shop Plantasia House plants, they offer excellent advice on how to grow on and so far mine have been very successful. Its a great way of growing some of the more rare species. It is really stunning and although very little gets lots of attention. There is also something very satisfying about growing on your own plants, it will give you satisfaction, pride and achievement. Especially when you can do this again when the plant is more mature.
Tradescantia fluminensis (Spiderwort, Quicksilver)
This also came from the Plantasia House Plant company as two cuttings. Again easy to propogate this is a trailing foliage plant. The leaves are striped white and green, long and have a slightly pointy tips. This is a plant for a shady spot in the house, it really doesn't like any hot sun. It grows fast and looks great in a hanging basket or as a trailing plant. This plant makes a fabulous house plant to grown on as it will quickly become a spectacular plant. Did you know it can grow up to one inch a week! Get your tape measures out and see how quickly yours grows.
Peperomia Argyriea (Watermelon)
A native to South America the Peperomia Argyreia is a small plant grown for its attractive leaves. This is how it gets its name as the leaf pattern looks like the outside of a watermelon. The leaves are rounded and fleshy. It is also quite a rare plant but one that will grow from cuttings. I got this cutting again from Plantasia House Plant company. They like a bright room, in a shaded spot, without direct sunlight. In their natural habitat they reside undercover of forests with some sun and shade so we need to try and replicate this at home. It is always a good idea to find out where plants grow naturally so you can replicate it at home.
Peperomia Piccollo (Banda)
This plant has distinctive thick, pale silvery, green leaves with some dark green or sometimes purple veins. The stems area fleshy, succulent and red in colour. Its an eye catcher and popular house plant. It can grow in most rooms away from direct light. I have not seen it from mine yet but they are meant to grow green spikes of tiny flowers in summer. I'm hoping this happens to mine and will share some photos if it does. They mostly originate from South America and tend to grow up to 25cm in height with their flowers. I purchased this one in passing at my local co-op. It wasn't labelled to took me a while to find out what it was but kindly The Little Botanical shared with me what it was, so if you want one I would say pop over to them.
Sansevieria triad, laurentil (Mother In Laws Tounge)
Maranta ‘Fascinator’ Leuconeura (Prayer Plant)
Known as the prayer plant as the leaves fold together at night time, and unfold in the morning light, this whole species of plant are one of my favourite. Having already owned the zebra, I can't help but love the strong colours, patterns and character this plant brings to my home. It is not the easiest to look after and yet one of the most eye pleasing and fascinating plants to own. I love watching the leaves as the light in the house changes, you can see it move in real time. It brings such a lovely life to the inside. It has oval-shaped leaves that have a light-and-dark-green feathered pattern with red veins, and red underneath. Its leaves grow to about 12 cm long, it goes dormant in the winter so don't worry if you don't see any new growth but in the warmer months expect it to lavish you with extra leaves!. I bought this one from my local Lidl when I spotted it, but they can be sourced many places though, local garden centres seems to love them as much as me and they can be bought online online.
Swiss Cheese Plant Monstera delicious (Cheese Plant)
This plant helped me understand that you buy a plant and find a location for it in your home. Don't expect house plants to thrive in conditions they don't like. In saying that this one is not to fussy but you will gain the most from it if you keep it in sunlight but not direct sun. Keep watering when the top couple of cms of the soil are dry and give it a mist if you can every other day and it will thrive. It is a monster with huge leaves that sprawl out but its stunning. Its name actually translates to delicious monster! It will need space to grow, mine is trying to clim out of its basket. Some people like to stake the leaves to grow up a stake. I'm going to let mine be all jungle like and enjoy it filling up its space. Mine came from Ikea but I have again found similar ones online.
Pilea Peperomioides (Chinese Money Plant)
This plant was on my wish list for a long time. I just never found it at any garden centres. It turns out they are easy to propagate but grow very slowly so not overly popular with nurseries. This was lucky for me as in my search, I came across this wonderful shop (found via instagram) Pilea Plant shop. They offered to post one at a very reasonable cost. It arrived safely and in amazing condition. This plant doesn't like full sun, and likes a little humidity and temperatures above 10 degrees. Known as the friendship plant it is a native of the Southwestern Yunnan province of China.This is where a Norwegian missionary by the name of Agnar Espegren found it. He brought it with him first to India and then back to Norway in 1946. As he traveled throughout Norway, he gave little baby plants to friends. When an extra plant grows its easy to separate from the mother plant and then you can grow it on for further pots around the house or to share with friends just as Angar Espegren did. They have large, circular, shiny, leaves, which can have a diameter of over 15 centimeters increasing the overall plant size, up to around 30 cms and 17-20 cms high. This is mine, I hope one day it will be that big and full.
Peperomia Prostrata (String Of Turtles)
This is a rare but interesting plant that actually seems to be fairly expensive in most places. It has tiny dark green and blue variegated fleshy button leaves, which look like they are swollen with water. Its a succulent which has beautiful pattern of white veins, which range in colour. This is how it gets its name string of turtles. It is a hanging plant that tends to stay on the small side. Their leaves are very delicate and can fall off easily if you move it around or bash into it, so put it somewhere safe. They have a shallow root system so don't have to be repotted very often. They do need drainage and don't over water them. I bought mine as two cuttings from an ESTY shop Plantasia House plants, they offer excellent advice on how to grow on and so far mine have been very successful. Its a great way of growing some of the more rare species. It is really stunning and although very little gets lots of attention. There is also something very satisfying about growing on your own plants, it will give you satisfaction, pride and achievement. Especially when you can do this again when the plant is more mature.
Tradescantia fluminensis (Spiderwort, Quicksilver)
This also came from the Plantasia House Plant company as two cuttings. Again easy to propogate this is a trailing foliage plant. The leaves are striped white and green, long and have a slightly pointy tips. This is a plant for a shady spot in the house, it really doesn't like any hot sun. It grows fast and looks great in a hanging basket or as a trailing plant. This plant makes a fabulous house plant to grown on as it will quickly become a spectacular plant. Did you know it can grow up to one inch a week! Get your tape measures out and see how quickly yours grows.
Peperomia Argyriea (Watermelon)
A native to South America the Peperomia Argyreia is a small plant grown for its attractive leaves. This is how it gets its name as the leaf pattern looks like the outside of a watermelon. The leaves are rounded and fleshy. It is also quite a rare plant but one that will grow from cuttings. I got this cutting again from Plantasia House Plant company. They like a bright room, in a shaded spot, without direct sunlight. In their natural habitat they reside undercover of forests with some sun and shade so we need to try and replicate this at home. It is always a good idea to find out where plants grow naturally so you can replicate it at home. Peperomia Piccollo (Banda)
This plant has distinctive thick, pale silvery, green leaves with some dark green or sometimes purple veins. The stems area fleshy, succulent and red in colour. Its an eye catcher and popular house plant. It can grow in most rooms away from direct light. I have not seen it from mine yet but they are meant to grow green spikes of tiny flowers in summer. I'm hoping this happens to mine and will share some photos if it does. They mostly originate from South America and tend to grow up to 25cm in height with their flowers. I purchased this one in passing at my local co-op. It wasn't labelled to took me a while to find out what it was but kindly The Little Botanical shared with me what it was, so if you want one I would say pop over to them.
I have found the house plant community to be so friendly, people are happy to share all their hints and tips, and as my wish list and collection grows I will continue to share these with you. If you already have a collection or would like to tell me about your favourites. Please let me know in the comments below.
I have found the house plant community to be so friendly, people are happy to share all their hints and tips, and as my wish list and collection grows I will continue to share these with you. If you already have a collection or would like to tell me about your favourites. Please let me know in the comments below.
I hope you have found this post helpful or interesting. Let me know in the comments below and why not share this blog post with others so they too can enjoy the benefits of house plants at home.
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