Here at RY we're an office of plant loving ladies... We care for plants both in our workspace and home. We often get caught up discussing our plants, how to best feed them, pot them, whether to keep them in the sun... but as much as we love to throw around advice to each other, we're no experts!
However, our friends Dunc and Dom, Founders of Plant Runner, certainly are! So we asked these to two self confessed plant nerds for advice on the best house plants, and how to care for them...
1. SNAKE PLANT (SANSEVIERIA SPP.)
Stylish, long-living, hardy, low maintenance and a heap of variety - there's alot to like about these guys. They are one of the few plants that convert carbon dioxide (CO2) to oxygen AT NIGHT (so great for the bedroom!). Snake Plants can tolerate a decent amount of direct sunlight as well as suffering through low light placement with no complaints. Ideally, they'd like a bright room with plenty of indirect sunlight but part of their charm is that they can still tolerate both ends of the light spectrum.
Water every 2-3 weeks and even less over winter.
2. RUBBER PLANT (FICUS ELASTICA)
If you needed another reason to love these guys - you found it. The Rubber Plant is #1 against formaldehyde, as well as removing xylene, benzene, and trichloroethylene from the air. Need me to hype them more? With a variety of colours (ruby, burgundy, deep green to speckled yellow) and glossy foliage that nearly always looks good, the Rubber Plant is the tolerant, classy cousin to the fussy Fiddle Leaf Fig. Rubber Plants are happy in bright, filtered light.
Water when the top few centimetres of the potting mix is dry. Feed monthly with a quality liquid fertiliser and wipe down the leaves with neem oil on a monthly basis to keep them dust free.
3. FLAMINGO LILY (ANTHURIUM ANDRAEANUM)
Grown for their gorgeous pink bracts (a modified leaf that acts as a sheath around the spadix), the Flamingo Lily is an incredible indoor plant to add to your home if you're also looking for a pop of colour. They are most effective at removing chemicals like ammonia and formaldehyde. Anthuriums like bright indirect light, humid conditions and to be kept in slight moist potting media
Water 1-2 times a week.
4. BAMBOO PALM (CHAMAEDOREA SEIFRIZII)
When your focus is on air purification, it's all about leaf surface area. The more leaf there is the more purifying the plant can be. So it should be no surprise that the Bamboo Palm is an absolute purifying machine. They grow up to 3.5m, are pet friendly and can handle a bit of direct sunlight (although bright filtered light is preferred). They're definitely a statement plant! The Bamboo Palm filters formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and benzene.
They like well draining potting mix and benefit from occasional pruning of brown leaves.
5. SPIDER PLANT (CHLOROPHYTUM COMOSUM)
One for the plant killers! These plants are great hanging or trailing plants as they send out shoot with baby 'spiders' that spill out over the edge of planters looking for somewhere to plant their roots and get growing. Tough as nails, they can survive in full sun, part shade and very cold temperatures. Win!
Likes to be watered regularly and fed monthly over Spring and Summer.
6. PEACE LILY (SPATHIPHYLLUM SPP.)
These low maintenance houseplants will filter benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene from the room. They're great low light plants and an awesome choice for indoor plant newcomers. Peace Lillies will perform best in bright spaces out of the way of any direct sunlight.
They don't like dry air so try to keep humid or group with other plants to keep the humidity levels raised.They will benefit greatly from regular feeding too.
7. DEVIL'S IVY (EPIPREMNUM AUREUM)
That's right, Devil's Ivy has made yet another list. Cascading tendrils, tough as nails, almost impossible to kill. Low light, bright light...whatever you throw at it (bar direct sunlight), the Devil's Ivy will take it in its stride. Ideally, Epipremnum plants prefer nice bright space without any direct sunlight.
Water when the top few centimetres of potting mix is dry to the touch and feed monthly while the plant is actively growing.
8. DRACAENA (DRACAENA SPP.)
Often a polarising plant, their architectural habit is definitely not for everyone, although we're huge fans of the gnarly, woody stems. They thrive in medium to bright light, and should be watered whenever the surface of the potting mix gets dry.
They can be susceptible to root rot though so reduce watering over winter.
9. ALOE VERA (ALOE SPP.)
Aloe Aloe! (Can't let a good pun go by!) Aloe filters formaldehyde and also has some wonderful inflammatory properties. If you're vulnerable to a little sunburn, they're great to have on hand.
Keep in bright light (direct sunlight is fine) and water only when the potting medium has dried out.
10. LADY PALM (RAPHIS EXCELSA)
These slow growing palms are a great plant to have in cooler rooms as they prefer temperatures around 15-20 degrees. They filter formaldehyde, ammonia and xylene and look incredible. Raphis Palms prefer indirect light and being kept slightly moist when possible.
Because of their slow growth rate, they are susceptible to over fertilising and should be fed at half strength and only in Summer.
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