Houseplant Appreciation Day: Easy Options and Helpful Tips

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Houseplant Appreciation Day is January 10…

In honor of Houseplant Appreciation Day, this plant lady wants to share some more plant tips with you including the easiest houseplants to own!
 
If you’ve read my previous posts, you’ll remember I normally focus on outdoor gardening but January 10th is Houseplant Appreciation Day! There’s an indoor wonderland of gardening that I love too. So let’s appreciate some of the green babies that make our homes a little brighter, a little colorful, and give us a little pick me up.

Why Houseplant Appreciation Day?!

Image: Ana-Sofia with a monstera deliciosa
Monstera Deliciosa.
Whether you have houseplants or are thinking of acquiring some, you should know there is much to be appreciated. One of the many benefits of houseplants is that they are scientifically proven to help improve our mood and relieve stress. Who else needs that in the new year? I know I do!
 
Houseplants help cleanse our air, remove some air pollutants, and remove carbon dioxide. Studies have even shown they can reduce indoor dust! The more plants you have, the higher the benefit. There are little to no negatives when it comes to having a houseplant unless you start to run out of room for where to put them!  For Houseplant Appreciation Day you can give your plants a little extra loving, or get yourself one you’ve been itching to try.

Easy to care for plants and how to keep them alive!

But I have a black thumb!

One of the most common questions I get is what are the easiest houseplants to care for? I think many people think they have a black thumb. But I’m here to tell you that you too can keep some houseplants alive! Stick to the right plants, and you’ll have no problem! The biggest mistake people make is to overwater their plants, discover yellowing leaves, and think they’re too dry and water some more. These plants I mention below can be a little forgotten and will do just fine.  

Snake plant (sansevieria or dracaena trifasciata)

Image: Ana-Sofia holds 2 different kids of snake plants
Different species of Snake plants.
Snake plants are also known as mother-in-law’s tongue… so, I’ll just leave that tidbit right there. Anyway, these plants are so beautiful, have such interesting shapes, and are foolproof to take care of. As long as you don’t overwater them. NASA studies show they remove formaldehyde from the air. They’re perfect for bedrooms or any room really. We keep one in our room, one in our son’s room, and two in the family room. I think we really enjoy this houseplant. These come in different colors, wider or thinner, and are all stunning. Snake plants can live in low light or bright light and will thrive in either. Water them once or twice a month (yes, that’s it). Check to make sure their dirt is bone dry before watering and you’ll have ongoing success. 

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Image: Ana-Sofia with a few pothos plants
Various species of Pothos.

A Pothos plant is also a must-have for your houseplant collection. If you don’t already have one, treat yourself on Houseplant Appreciation Day! Pothos come in nine different varieties. Depending on how young you get them, they can be small like these pictured or long trailing. That’s why these make for the perfect hanging houseplant. As they grow, they begin to trail down and look gorgeous. Pothos like bright light but not being in the direct sun. They can tolerate low light but may lose some of their color. You’ll notice droopy leaves when it’s thirsty. Pothos can be watered once a week or biweekly, but remember, always check the soil dryness. 

ZZ Plant (zamioculcas zamiifolia)

Image: Ana-Sofia showing off some ZZ plants
ZZ Plant and Raven ZZ Plant.

The famous ZZ plants are some stunning houseplants and would be a great addition to your home if you don’t own one. These plants don’t require a ton of light and a little neglect doesn’t do them any harm. There are a few varieties of ZZ plants but my favorites are the classic green ZZ plant and the Raven ZZ that has deep dark leaves that look nearly black. These houseplants have funky growth and bring a unique look to any house. Water the ZZ once a week or every couple of weeks, always checking their soil. They like to be dry before watering. If you see yellow leaves, they are getting too much water. Hold off a week before watering again.

Caveat, if you have curious pets or even curious small children, keep ZZ plants on a higher level. Ingesting them can make humans very sick or be toxic to pets in high amounts.

Other houseplants to consider…

Two other great houseplants that I highly recommend and are fairly easy to care for are Aloe plants and Monstera Deliciosas. The aloe has great medicinal benefits. Aloe grows and reproduces without any help, requires very little water (also once a month or so), and has a great look. 

The Monstera Deliciosa is one you’ve likely seen before with their grand leaves with holes in them. The uniqueness of these leaves make them very desirable and brings a little bit of the tropics right into your home. I’ve found the Monstera to be low maintenance, watering once a week deeply but always checking how dry the soil is.

Appreciate your houseplants!

So today, it’s time to thank those green babies for what they do. Give your houseplants a little extra love today or acquire some new friends! Studies show that they love music and talking to them actually stimulates growth. Thank them with a little dusting, a nice watering, or some fertilizer. If you haven’t already, why not name your plant babies, too?
 
Please feel free to reach out if you have any follow-up questions or want any more suggestions! You can always find me on Instagram.
 
So, which plant will you be appreciating on Houseplant Appreciation Day or which one caught your eye to bring home? Let me know in the comments!
 
Updated December 2023
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Ana-Sofia DuLaney
Ana-Sofia is a Miami native that chose to never leave her hometown. She attended FIU and is an attorney that graduated from the University of Miami School of Law. Ana-Sofia finally became more than friends with her childhood neighbor after over 10 years, and now they are happily married! She was a proud dog mom before she became a human mom, and after the birth of their now four-year-old son, Ana-Sofia has been lucky enough to work from home. In August 2021, their family grew by one more and they welcomed a new baby boy to the bunch! She loves traveling with her family but also loves staying home curled up on the couch. An avid Dave Matthews fan, Ana-Sofia is also a self proclaimed extroverted introvert, grammar freak, Harry Potter obsessed, Heat and UM cheering, and gardening loving mama that hopes she’s doing right by her sons while trying to reduce her ecological footprint. Follow her on Instagram as she tries to live each day fully @TheAnaMachine or her gardening journey on @GardeningInJeans

4 COMMENTS

  1. I love how you encourage even those with the worse thumbs! Glad that there is still hope for us least capable of thriving when gardening. Going to look into these plants and see which would be best suited in our home.

    Thank you, Ana-Sofia! Your dedication to gardening is so admirable!

  2. Thank you for the tips! I love snake plants. And the zz plant is adorable. I can’t wait for you to design my new house with plants!

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