Top 6 Houseplants for the Home & Office

Air Plants (Tillandsia spp.) come in all different shapes and sizes, and they are true air purifiers. Absorbing moisture and nutrients from the air, these epiphytes don’t require soil to survive and thrive. Grow them anywhere there is bright, indirect light, and keep them happy with a light spray misting 2-3 times each week. They are often used as living décor pieces and to adorn picture frames, hair ornaments, and jewelry.

The larger, more colorful cousin to Air Plants, Bromeliads provide an exotic allure with very little effort. They prefer the same bright, indirect light as Air Plants. However, they do require a weekly watering through their central “cistern” of leaves. Best practices for watering these beauties includes emptying and re-filling the water in the “cistern” every seven days.

Many Ferns make excellent healthy plant choices, being they are natural humidifiers and air purifiers. Look for the stately Staghorn Fern, frequently mounted to a piece of reclaimed wood, the easy-care Bird’s Nest Fern, and the unique Rabbit’s Foot Fern. They are best enjoyed out of the direct sun with regular, even watering or misting.

With their large fronds, Palms make excellent air cleaners. Choose from the pet safe Areca or Bamboo Palms for bright, sunny areas in your home, and the Neanthe Bella Palm for those low-light spaces and office cubicles. They have average watering needs but do let them go slightly dry between watering, and give the leaves a sponge bath quarterly. You’ll be amazed at the amount of dust they remove from the air! For drier, hotter, sunnier indoor environments, and for those of us that forget to water, the Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvate) is a wonderfully forgiving plant that has great longevity and cool character.

Indoor succulents such as the blue and purple rosette varieties of Echeveria and spiky Zebra Haworthia are compact, attractive, and used to neglect. Watering once a month during winter months is adequate! For more information on succulent care, check out our video with Noelle!

Orchids have a lot of decorative appeal, they greatly improve air quality, and they are actually easier to grow than most people think. We enjoy Phalaenopsis Orchids because they are easy for beginners. If it’s time to graduate into another orchid family, try the Pansy flower Miltonia, or the golden spray Oncidium. Both are generous bloomers that need some direct morning sun, spray misting, and watering once each week.