Since we went into lockdown a year ago, my newfound houseplant hobby has really – pardon the pun – blossomed. Of course, my parents are now worrying that I’ll never be able to afford a mortgage because I’m spending my money on said houseplants instead of avocados…ok, boomer.
Lockdown may be lifting soon, but it’s likely we’ll still be spending plenty of time working from home, and filling your workspace with greenery can stave off stress, elevate mood, improve cognitive function and upgrade your air quality. From Fiddle Figs to Monstera, here are eight houseplants to suit everyone from plant amateurs to green-fingered pros.
Care level: beginner.
If you’re completely new to houseplants, this is an excellent starter option due to it being almost unkillable – as long as you water it at least once a week. Pothos can survive in very low light, but if you expose it to slightly stronger light, you’ll get a more striking pattern on those leaves, which have multiple variations – from neon to silver-flecked – so you’re sure to find one to fit in with the vibe of your interior.
Care level: beginner.
Air purifying according to NASA? Tick. Beautiful to look at? Tick. Easy to look after? Triple tick. This plant almost thrives on neglect – it can live in low light, and its greatest fear is being overwatered. When you remember it, that’s when you care for it. Kind of like that booty call that only calls you once a year. If you want one that fits with any colour palette, I recommend the ‘Moonshine’ variation.
Care level: beginner.
Another brilliant entry option, tradescantia grows like an absolute weed, likes it when its soil isn’t completely dry and happy to sit in that spot of bright sunshine that everyone tells you to keep your plants out of. Known as the ‘inch plant’, you don’t have to worry if part of it is dying since all you need is an inch to grow it… and regrow again if you fail the first time. That glorious pop of colour is just an added bonus to tradescantia’s easy-care credentials. Show it off on a windowsill or try it trailing from an on-trend rattan hanging basket.
Care level: beginner.
If you’ve got a nurturing personality then these small, cute watermelon-esque plants are perfect for your desk. They grow quickly in bright light, but keep them too close to the sun and they will burn. Watering-wise, they’re happy to be watered once a week, and less in winter. The bold stripes make a statement as well as being soothing to look at, but be warned: they bruise easily. If you accidentally knock a leaf off, just stick it in a glass of water (preferably not the one you drink from during meetings) and you might even have some to give to your friends as a welcome gift when they finally come to yours for a dinner party.
Care level: beginner.
Who in the UK isn’t fantasising about lying on a palm tree-lined beach right now? Well, if you can’t go to the beach, bring the beach to a little corner of your home with this slow-growing plant. Cycad will also be happy to sit in a bright spot, and can even put up with some underwatering. Simply stick on some wave sounds, sit back and daydream.
Care level: intermediate.
If you’ve been on plant TikTok (a joyous part of the internet), you may have seen the videos of people vigorously shaking their fiddle-leaf figs which apparently help to stimulate growth as if it’s being jostled by wind, rain, and wildlife in its natural habit. Other than a minute or two of shaking, these plants hate being moved around. I must confess I have also tried to shake myself to help stimulate growth (or just to feel the wind in my hair again). So far no luck, but I will report back if anything changes. Fiddle’s like their soil exactly so – not too dry but also not too wet – and thrive in a bright spot with dappled light.
Care level: pro.
An absolute plant diva: the equivalent of that celebrity that requests exclusively green M&Ms on their rider. Sometimes, if you even look at it the wrong way it decides to throw a fit and lose a leaf. Optimum care conditions include: filtered, not tap water. Bright, but not direct light. Moist, but not too wet, soil. At least 60% humidity. All that hard work is worth it to see it open its leaves in the day and close them when it gets dark. I wouldn’t recommend using it in place of a clock though – my boss was not impressed when I said it was time to log off at 4pm during the winter months because it was dark and my calathea had closed its leaves.
Care level: intermediate.
Are you even a millennial if you haven’t oohed over interiors images featuring a giant monstera with perfectly dappled sunlight shining through the leaves? Ranging from reasonably priced to a few thousand pounds, there is a huge variety of monstera to choose from, and because they do grow quite quickly, start small and soon it’ll be taking over your house. No extra special requests from this one, it can acclimatise to less-than-ideal conditions like overly bright light or London’s hard tap water. However, if you want it to maintain those beautiful green fronds, ideally it would get sufficient bright (but not harsh) light, filtered water, and a good level of humidity. Monstera is of course a must-have if you also have a full-length mirror in your house that you can take all your OOTDs from.
If you want to grow your houseplant collection, my top plant shops for UK delivery are: Pilea Plant Shop, House of Kojo, Houseplants in the City, Friends or Friends, Loft Leaf and Happy Houseplants.
No plants were hurt in the writing of this article. I hope some of these prickle your fancy!
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