Popular Houseplants
Left to right: Maidenhair fern, Peace lily, ZZ plant
Houseplants not only add beauty indoors, but also improve the health of our environments by releasing oxygen, reducing dust particles and absorbing pollutants in the air. The peaceful Zen feeling they bring can reduce stress. Here are some of our favorite houseplants.
Croton — There are many different varieties of croton in foliage color combinations. It has large leaves with exotic color patterns. The most popular is ‘Petra,’ which has shades of yellow, red and green. This has long been a favorite houseplant for adding a punch of color. Crotons will survive in low to high sunlight areas in your home, but will show more color when you place them in a brighter spot. Water regularly.
ZZ plant — With its tall, succulent stems and architectural structure, this plant is a favorite for homes with modern decor. It requires very little maintenance and is very enduring. Place it in medium to high light, watering only when the soil is dry.
Money plant — Many people believe this plant is lucky and a symbol of wealth. It's often used to bring in green when designing with feng shui principles. Standing upright with green leaves above the trunk, it adds architecture and drama to a room. It grows in any light condition and can be allowed to completely dry between waterings.
Peace lily — The peace lily has undoubtedly been the most common houseplant for years — and with great reason: It is an easy plant to care for with beautiful white blooms that appear regularly throughout the year. It can be placed in lower light areas in your home, but the soil needs to be kept evenly moist to avoid leaf damage.
Maidenhair fern — This delicate-looking fern with soft green leaves that arch gracefully on black stalks is actually quite tough. The key to keeping it happy is to place it in rooms with high humidity, like kitchens and bathrooms. You can also increase the humidity around a maidenhair fern by placing it on a tray of pebbles and keeping water in the tray. Place this fern in a medium to high light spot.
Variegated creeping fig — This vining plant has small, puckered, heart-shaped green and white leaves. It is lovely grown in a hanging basket or trained as a topiary. Place in a bright spot and keep the soil evenly moist.
Creeping fig — This evergreen vine is as easy to grow and as pretty as the variegated variety, but its leaves are solid green.
Golden pothos — This low-maintenance vine is one of the easiest to grow. Place it on a table or shelf or in a anging basket and let the vines trail. Or plant it in a pot with a pole and let it grow up the pole. Grow it in low to medium light and allow the soil to dry between waterings.
Calathea — This indoor plant has large, patterned leaves in shades of deep green and purple. Mid-sized and upright, it can be placed on a tabletop or on the floor. Although it prefers a bright spot, the leaves are sensitive to direct sunlight. Allow the soil to dry slightly before watering.
English ivy —This trailing plant is pretty whether grown on a table, in a hanging basket or trained as topiary. Place it in an area with plenty of light, and keep the soil evenly moist.
Armstrong Garden Centers
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