5 Excellent Plants To Grow Inside

Even if you don’t have a green thumb, there are lots of plants that can easily be grown inside with relatively little care. There are even edible plants that can be grown indoors without being a gardening mastermind and with very little space.

If you recently purchased Washington, DC real estate or are thinking about buying any place without room for a garden, these plants are just some to consider for growing inside.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is an especially handy plant to have around as its well-known as an effective healing treatment for things like sunburn, poison ivy, rosacea, acne, and more.

It’s incredibly easy to care for, with smaller varieties ideal for growing in a sunny kitchen window with plenty of bright light.

As it’s a succulent, like cacti, it does best in dry conditions. Plant in a cactus potting soil mix or use regular potting soil mixed with sand or additional perlite. The pot should have lots of drainage holes as the plant won’t tolerate standing water.

Peace Lily

In the late 1980s, NASA started researching houseplants that could be used to provide purer, cleaner air for its space station.

It was discovered that several types could do just that while also helping to balance indoor humidity, which removes stickiness and reduces the hazards of mold.

The peace lily is ideal for reducing humidity levels as it helps to absorb moisture in the air through its leaves.

Even better is that it’s easy to grow and needs only a little sunlight to thrive. In addition to removing moisture in the air, it can help eliminate pollutants and toxins.

It’s a great option for a bathroom as it can keep tile and shower curtains from developing mildew and absorb potentially harmful vapors from things from chemical products that are used in the space.

Grow it in a warm spot but away from direct sunlight and keep the potting soil moist at all times.

Spider Plant

One of the reasons so many people add spider plants to their homes is that they’re beautiful with their elegant, long leaves and easy to grow.

The plants are also known to quickly remove toxins and purify the air, helping to absorb things like formaldehyde (common in carpeting) as well as carbon dioxide. They’re also good for removing mold and can help balance humidity levels too.

These plants require little care which makes them excellent office plants. In fact, with spider plants, less is often more. They can thrive even in low light conditions, but optimally, place them in moderate, indirect sunlight. Keep the soil moist but don’t let it get soggy, it’s better to underwater than to water too much.

Basil

Basil is a beneficial edible plant to grow, popular for culinary use, especially for flavoring sauces, stews, and meats. It can easily be grown indoors by planting seeds or a starter in one of the smaller globe type containers.

They’re perfect for a sunny window as they require warm temperatures, plenty of sunshine and water. Water once a day if it’s hot, otherwise, every other day.

Air Plants

 One of the best plants for those without a green thumb or very little time is air plants, officially known as tillandsia. While they need some attention to thrive, it takes little effort.

The plants have tiny vessels in their leaves called trichomes, which capture moisture and nutrients in the air.

They use their roots to anchor themselves to an object, allowing them to grow in all sorts of locations.

Air plants have also been found to remove airborne contaminants that can lead to allergies, headaches, and other problems while improving the air quality around them.

Air plants do well in a kitchen window or bathroom where they can get indirect light; the steam from a shower will help them thrive. Water once a week for optimal health, perhaps occasionally misting in-between if they seem to be drying out.