Brits love the best houseplants - and are spending more money on indoor foliage than ever before, according to a poll of 2,000 people commissioned by Miracle-Gro, which states it's around £300 a year. So if, like us, you have caught the houseplant bug and want to know everything there is to know about the best indoor houseplants for your home, we've recruited the help of Modern Gardens expert Jules Barton-Breck and Garden News contributor Marc Rosenburg to help us pick. Whether you are looking to add more greenery to your home - or have an indoor oasis - the best plant subscription boxes could be the way forward for you or an indoor gardener in your life. From the best bonsai plants to nature's air purifiers, we are here to help you find the best house plants for you. • Best indoor plant air purifier:Zamioculcas zamiifolia -View on Thompson Morgan Most houseplants are toxic to cats and dogs, so position them out of the way if your pets are curious nibblers. Many of these on-trend houseplants are easy to look after. Plus, they will look great in your home office or bedroom, so fill your house with greenery and relax! When we think of plants, we tend to look to a standard plant pot that we can sit on the kitchen counter or the middle of the table, but there are so many versatile ways to include plants in your home. Here are our top picks.Best house plants at a glance:
• Best indoor hanging plant:Hoya linearis 'Wax Flower' -View on Crocus
• Best Toughest Indoor Plant:Sansevieria 'Mother-in-Law's Tongue' -View on CrocusThe best indoor houseplants for your home
Best indoor plant air purifier
Price:
£17.99+
www.thompson-morgan.com
Description
This cool-sounding houseplant, Zamioculcas zamiifolia, isn't just a beauty, in fact, studies have
Pros
- Low maintenance and easy to grow
- It's great at removing toxins from the air, improving the air quality in your home.
Cons
- Specific placement
Best Indoor Plant Fabulous Foliage
Price:
£13.59 (was £16.99)
www.waitrosegarden.com
Description
This fishbone cactus gets its name from the shape of its skeleton-shaped leaves. Aren't they
Pros
- Doesn't require much maintenance or water
- Interesting foliage
Cons
- Slow growing
Best Indoor Plant Easy to Grow
Price:
£19.95 (was £25.99)
bloomboxclub.com
Description
Next, we have this unusual plant. Striking, this philodendron variation is known as the 'Imperial
Pros
- Pretty
- It's known for being easy to grow
Cons
- Needs some extra maintenance
Best Indoor Hanging Plant
Description
If you want something for your ceiling and display, fix a hook in your home and display this
Pros
- Sweetly scented
- It's a great hanging plant, perfect for adding greenery at different levels in your home
Cons
- Needs a good amount of light
Best Indoor Plant For A High Shelf
Price:
£7.99
www.dobies.co.uk
Description
This mistletoe cactus will be happy in a corner that doesn't get too much direct sunlight. Even
Pros
- It'll let you know when it needs some water
- It's happy in a corner that doesn't need to get too much direct sunlight
Cons
- Needs some extra care and maintenance
Best Indoor Spider Plant
Price:
£7.99
www.crocus.co.uk
Description
Have you ever fancied a spider plant? Give this snazzy variation a go. Its posh name is
Pros
- Produces pretty, yellow flowers
- It's a compact option, making it suitable for smaller spaces.
Cons
- Needs to be well-watered
Best Toughest Indoor Plant
Price:
£16.99
www.crocus.co.uk
Description
Punky, with spiky foliage, this sansevieria is happy to be placed in the sun. But, this
Pros
- Tolerant and versatile
- Good in the sun and some shade
Cons
- Slow growth
Best Retro Indoor Plant
Price:
£39.99
www.waitrosegarden.com
Description
Believe it or not, Devil's Ivy is having a resurgence. With its variegated glossy leaves, it looks
Pros
- Filters and purifies the air
- It's resilient and looks great in a hanging pot, on a shelf, or even trained up a wall.
Cons
- Needs extra maintenance – like washing off the leaves in the shower
Best Easy-To-Grow Indoor Plant (Editor's Pick)
Price:
£14.99
www.etsy.com
Description
The Monstera monkey palm is just as easy to grow as its cousin – the favourite Swiss cheese plant.
Pros
- Easy to grow
- It has a unique leaf design that adds an interesting aesthetic to your space
Cons
- None
Best Indoor Plant Easy Care
Price:
£26.99
www.crocus.co.uk
Description
The Round Leaf Peperomia (also known as the Turtle Shell Plant) may look delicate, but it's a
Pros
- Easy to grow
- Low maintenance
Cons
- Recommended to take hanging plants down to the water in the sink or on a saucer
Best Unusual Indoor Houseplant
Price:
£4.95+
www.etsy.com
Description
Though this Senecio rowleyanus is known as the String of Pearls, this plant looks more like a
Pros
- Not very demanding
- It has a unique string of green pearl-like leaves
Cons
- Needs different care depending on placement
Best Indoor Plant for Winter
Price:
£7+
www.etsy.com
Description
Ceropegia woodii (String of Hearts) is a perfect house plant: it prefers average room
Pros
- Very pretty
- Easy to manage
Cons
- Remember to take this plant down to water - and to let it drain before popping it back up
Best Indoor Plant For Beginners
Price:
£28
www.marksandspencer.com
Description
With its bold leaves, this large, patterned calathea would make a great addition to your home.
Pros
- Easy to care for
- Pretty foliage
Cons
- Grows large, not great for a desk
Marc Rosenburg says: "Overwatering, inadequate light and failure to re-pot are three of the most common causes of house plants keeling over. It's possible, however, that the rot set in before the plant left the store." So, here's a checklist of the warning signs to look for when scouting for a new houseplant. • Leaves – are a hiding place for sap-sucking insects. So, check the underside for this. Plus, leaf yellowing can be caused by pests or nutrient deficiency. • Flowers – are beautiful, yes, but take heed. Avoid the temptation to buy flowering plants where all blooms are at their pretty primes. To clarify, a healthy supply of buds is more valuable. • Roots – growing out of a pot's drainage holes in excess indicate that it's pot-bound. • Compost – is something else to take a look at. Why? Gaps between the growing medium and the inside of the pot can tell us that the rootball has dried out. More of your questions have been answered below. But, first…FAQs
How do I buy healthy houseplants?
©Getty
Miracle-Gro's survey also reported that almost half of adults had killed an average of five indoor plants. So, we've got a plan of action for those who want to keep their indoor plants through autumn, thanks to Marc. Think of your indoor houseplants as furniture. They all need good dusting from time to time. Unfortunately, dust can affect your plant's photosynthetic properties when light levels are low. So, Marc's advice to help is to wipe the leaves "with a damp cloth or a moist ball of cotton wool." We all know how much our plants love the sunshine. But, believe it or not, houseplants are different. Though it varies from houseplant to houseplant, they will generally like a bright placement out of direct sunlight. Marc adds: "Healthy plants thrive in even temperatures, [so] avoid extremes." Have you got a fancy pot perfect for an indoor houseplant? You should Leave re-potting until spring unless your indoor plant shows signs of distress from being pot-bound. If you're worried, Marc advises a bigger pot and loam-based compost to "ensure the root ball is moist before re-potting." There's no doubt we've all been acquainted with pests. Outbreaks of insects, such as aphids, spider mites and mealybugs, are common in the colder months. So, you need to take action to avoid any lasting damage to your indoor plants. For this, you can put some soap in your spray bottle (or mister) or use Ecofective Houseplant Bug Control, which Marc has recommended. You shouldn't be overwatering your houseplants. In fact, letting them dry out a little is the best advice. For example, a pot of moth orchids (phalaenopsis) should only be watered every 10 days. Isn't that interesting? So – your indoor houseplant will thank you for keeping them dry. However, this isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. Make sure to read up on your new houseplant before you water it. When homes are heated centrally, low humidity is common. Unfortunately, this can result in the leaves turning brown and falling – which is not what you want. To combat this, Marc suggests creating a "humid microclimate" by misting foliage regularly. It really works. During the summer, your houseplants may have happily sat on a sunny windowsill. However, as the nights grow colder, things could get tough for your plants. As temperatures drop during frosty winter nights, your plant will begin to dry out. Plus, curtains are closed, and radiators may be on. So, all of this may create a dry atmosphere for the plant. Marc suggests moving your plants for the autumn. Did you know that larger foliage plants – such as the peace lily – can become caked in dust? As we mentioned before, your plants may need a little cleaning from time to time. However, getting larger houseplants clean can be an issue. So, Marc suggests giving them a gentle rinse with a shower head – and setting the water to a low temperature. From Easter until September, most indoor plants should have some liquid fed fortnightly when growing. This fertiliser should be balanced indoor plant food. For those plants that flower, use high-potassium feed, also. Marc says to "ease off feeding now unless a plant is in full flower". As wonderful as they are, cacti are a little different from regular houseplants. So they need extra special care. Cacti love to be in a hot environment – like a conservatory or porch. However, Marc suggests bringing them indoors before temperatures lower. Plus, another top tip is to use a soft paintbrush to safely remove dirt, cobwebs and debris embedded in the spiky crevices. According to Marc Rosenburg, "All plants can suffer from two types of discomfort," these are: Abiotic stress – is caused by environmental issues, such as water, temperature and humidity. Biotic stress – stems from other factors like pests, disease and competition from other plants. By growing your houseplants in a great space where abiotic stress is at an all-time low, they will be "more resilient to biotic stress," which comes from pests and infestation, says Marc. 8 of the best indoor plant books Best plants for your bedroom to improve wellbeing Best plant misters and water sprays for indoor plantsHow do I keep my indoor plants happy?
Foliage
Light
Re-potting
Pests
Water
Humidity
Windowsills
Washing
Feeding
Are cacti different to other houseplants?
What is plant stress?
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Description
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Piper Huxley is a Homes, Garden and Wellness Product Writer for Modern Gardens Magazine, an all-rounder. When she's not writing about houseplants, she's tending to her own growing collection…
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