Hardy Houseplants: Cleansing & Relaxing

Relaxing Plants for Home and Office That Support Your Health

Even if you have a talent for killing plants, these puppies will defy the odds and turn you into an enthusiastic horticulture advocate. There’s even NASA research that supports this. Relaxation is a consequence of environmental scrubbing just at caring for the plants is relaxing in itself.

Living with plants and caring for them is such wonderful therapy for the soul. As you bring life inside, you maintain your connection with nature and get the satisfaction of watching the natural process of growth. This facilitates relaxation.

You learn to care about the health of your plants and cultivate compassion in ways that are surprisingly easy and rewarding. And these plants take care of you in return. Does it get any better than that?

Read about the benefits and how to care for these rock stars of the plant world.

Houseplants are a truly delightful addition to any home. They’re a great decoration, but they also have profound impacts besides just looking good. They create a relaxed ambiance in pretty any room of your home. According to a 2008 study, researchers found that hospital patients who had plants in their rooms reported much less stress than those who didn’t. That’s why we’ve compiled for you this useful guide to the 10 easiest houseplants to grow. Enjoy!

1. Aloe Vera, Aloe barbadensis miller

Aloe vera is one of my favorite plants to grow. They stay small if you keep them in a smaller pot but get much larger if you transfer them to a larger one. They’re succulents, so they don’t mind a little bit of neglect. Not just that, but they also have some medicinal properties. They’re good for detoxing the body when you add a bit to a smoothie or a juice, can be used to soothe the pain from cuts and burns on your body, and they’re also good for cleaning the air of pollutants. If your air quality is too poor, the plant will begin to show brown spots. Aloe vera enjoys warm, sunny conditions.

2. English ivy, Hedera helix

NASA found that the English Ivy is one of the most purifying houseplants you can have, but be warned! English ivy is extremely, extremely invasive in non-native environments. It makes a great houseplant and it’s seriously easy to grow, but keep it indoors in a pot if it doesn’t grow as a native plant in your area. It enjoys moderate temperatures and medium sunlight.

3. Bamboo palm, Chamaedorea

The bamboo palm also made NASA’s list of best air-purifying plants. It’s especially good at cleansing the air of benzene and trichloroethylene, but require a little more maintenance than the others listed here. They enjoy lots of water and need shade or indirect sunlight. This makes them a great candidate for the kitchen. I keep mine by the kitchen sink. Every time I clean my dishes, I’m reminded that it’s there and needs a squirt of water.

4. Dracaena, Dracaena braunii

It’s not uncommon for a dracaena to grow to ceiling height, up to 15 feet tall, but they can be stunted by staying in a smaller pot. These beautiful plants are known for removing xylene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde. They do like lots of sunlight and moderate water, however.

5. Golden pothos, Epipremnum aureum

Last but certainly not least is the nearly mythic indestructible golden pothos. It made NASA’s list for its ability to easily clear formaldehyde from our air and the things are seriously difficult to kill. They’re a vine, so they make great hanging baskets. They’ll grow and grow and grow until they’ve reached the floor. They like cool temperatures, low levels of light, and while they do enjoy plenty of water, they can take some serious neglect.

And that’s our list! These plants are all commonly available at nurseries, inexpensive, and are very, very easy to grow. What could be more relaxing Which one is your favorite?