How to select low maintenance house plants (and not murder them)

I’ve got that summertime sadness, happens every year for me at this time. Ah summer….toes in sand, warm sun on skin, brown legs, cape cod, family fun, sundresses, straw hats, outdoor showers, smell of BBQ, summer ale, sparkling rose, biking, sandy streets, sisters, flip flops, floating on water, laughter, lobster rolls, ice cream, sandy feet, sounds of waves. We look forward to it all year, patiently waiting through a gloomy winter and a sometimes cold rainy spring that quickly turns into summer. And then summer is here and it goes by quicker than a New York minute.

This summer was particularly amazing. I’ve had summers where I worked far too much and it just flew by without warning and without any great memories. This year was different, I took the entire month of August off and happily left my hot, dirty lover (nyc), and took off to the beautiful Azorian Islands of Portugal. If your into walking and hiking in nature with the most incredible views you’ve ever seen, I highly recommend going. It’s amazing what spending time in nature will do to your mindset. The trees, flowers, plants, ocean, all the many different species and natural elements have a profound effect on your happiness and general well being. For us folks living in urban environments, getting back to nature is so important.

So now the mornings are getting crisp here in the Northeast, winter is coming my friends. This is why I have been doing some research lately on house plants and how we can incorporate easy to care for plants in our homes. I need more green, makes me happy, I think it will make you happy too. Set yourself up now to have your green friends a plenty in your home, we will be spending more time indoors soon and you will benefit greatly.

This blog post will help you (and me), select the easiest to maintain houseplants for your home. The plants I have researched are pretty low maintenance (which is good for busy people which is basically all of us), they are great air purifiers and will last you through the winter and many years to come.

And let me just end this by saying, I love Autumn in New York, it’s a beautiful time of year. I don’t mean to be so doom and gloom about the coming winter months. Get the hell over it right? I am officially welcoming the Autumn and living in appreciation of the season that is before me. As I once saw written on a San Francisco sidewalk (of course), and not sure who the hell originally said this:
“Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present.”
Live in the present moment my love’s and appreciate all the joy and beauty mother earth gives us. We all need to treat her with kindness and respect.

1. Pothos Plant

Native to Caribbean and Mexico, this pretty little trailing plant with heart shaped leaves can tolerate most any light condition. It’s the perfect plant for busy people!

• low maintenance

• top air purifier (filters out formaldehyde)

• thrives in low to medium indirect light levels

• lives indoors easily in colder climates

• can withstand neglect

• ideal trailing plant, looks great on mantel or rest on shelf

• water every 2 weeks
  Fun Fact: Also called The Devil’s Ivy because it is nearly impossible to kill

Pothos

(Epipremnum Aureum)

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2. Snake Plant

This evergreen herbaceous perennial is native to tropical West Africa. The snake plant posses medicinal uses such as treating headaches, eye irritation and respiratory problems.

• Converts Co2 into Oxygen at night (great bedroom air purifier)

• thrives in medium to bright indirect light

• can tolerate low light

• looks great as a table plant or larger floor plant

• water every 2 weeks, but can go even longer without watering)
  Fun Fact: The fibers of the plant were once used to make strings for bows and arrows.

Snake Plant

(Sansevieria Trifasciata)

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3. ZZ Plant

This beauty, native to Africa, has brilliant green waxy leaves that reflect the sunlight and brightens up any room.

• thrives in low to medium indirect light (not suited for intense direct light)

• low maintenance, can go weeks without watering

• happy in low light

• water every 2 weeks but doesn’t mind being under watered

• removes toxins from air

• great as a table plant or larger floor plant

ZZ Plant

(Zamioculcas Zamiifolia)

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4. Aloe Vera

This evergreen perennial is from N. Africa and the Middle East. In Ayurvedic medicine it is called Kathalai

• improves overall quality of air

• keep in bright or indirect light (window sill)

• this succulent has been commonly used in herbal medicine

• the sugar-alcohol glycerol from Aloe is used in many beauty products

• water every 2-4 weeks

Aloe Vera

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5. Monster Deliciosa

This special plant from Southern and Central America, grows wild with a delicious fruit (hence the name), that tastes like a combo of banana, mango & pineapple. yum.

• tolerate medium to bright indirect light

• beautiful broad glossy leaves with natural leaf holes

• great as a large floor plant

• water every 1-2 weeks
  Fun Fact: Also called the swiss cheese plant because of it’s natural holes.

Monster Deliciosa

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6. Money Tree

This evergreen tropical plant with it’s unique braided trunk is native to the Neotropics and Tropical Americas.

• thrives in bright indirect light

• great as a table or larger floor plant

• ability to rebound if neglected

• water every 1-2 weeks

• thrives under fluorescent light, ideal for offices

• likes humidity, set pot on a tray of wet pebbles

• pet friendly
  Fun Fact: According to Feng Shui, this plant will bring good luck and fortune ; )

Money Tree

(Pachira Aquatica)

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7. Heart-Leaf Philodendron

This sexy little baby is a evergreen perennial native to Tropical America.

• thrives on bright indirect light, but tolerates low light

• filters gaseous toxins from the air

• great for hanging planters, trailing across mantels, or perch on a stool

• fast growing, starts small but grows up to 10 feet!

• water weekly

• spritz leaves with water to clean off dust
  Fun fact: The name comes from Greek, a combination of Love (Philo) & Tree (Dendron).

Heart-Leaf Philodendron

(Philodendron Hederaceum)