These Beautiful House Plants Can Also Help Boost Your Mood
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If you’ve ever inhaled the scent of a bouquet of roses or marveled at the beauty of a camellia, you know the power of nature to boost your spirits. In fact, plenty of research has shown that being around plants and nature really is good for us. Studies have found greenery can help support mental health, reduce stress, and even improve sleep (which, of course, always makes us happier and less cranky!).
Our connection to the natural world is so strong that it doesn’t take too much to make us feel happier: One recent review found that just 20 minutes of being around flowers or foliage plants was sufficient to boost good feelings and reduce bad ones. Other research has found that rooms with plants are perceived by people as more comfortable and peaceful than rooms without plants. Some research has found that plants with purple, red, or pink may be especially helpful for boosting mood.
While being outdoors in your garden is always great for lifting your spirits, you can make your indoor space feel more warm and welcoming with the addition of house plants in any room. Because many of us spend an astonishing 90 percent of our time indoors, bringing real plants into our homes (sorry, the fake ones aren't as powerful!) is a simple way to make any space feel instantly cozier.
Even if you’re not the most experienced plant parent, there are many low-maintenance houseplants that don’t require a ton of care but add that feel-good vibe you’re seeking. Read on to learn the best mood-boosting plants for any home.
Aglaonema
With colorful splashes of pink, red, and white on a green background, it doesn’t get any cheerier than aglaonema.
This plant can tolerate low light levels and only needs to be watered every 10 days or so. It’s a great beginner’s plant because it’s quite forgiving if you forget to water.
Heart Leaf Philodendron
This is the perfect plant for beginners because it's so easy to grow. Heart leaf philodendron has delicate, heart-shaped leaves and an attractive vining form. Grow it up a moss pole if you want a vertical accent.
Heart leaf philodendron likes moderate to bright indirect light, but it will do okay in low light. Water when the top few inches of soil feel dry.
Snake Plant
The upright, architectural form of snake plant makes it a striking addition to any room.
It prefers bright to medium indirect light but will tolerate low light levels quite well. Because it’s a succulent, you only need to water every few weeks when the soil feels mostly dry.
Moonlight Philodendron
Philodendrons are some of the easiest plants to grow, and the size of this variety can become quite impressive as a floor plant.
Moonlight is a fast grower with pale green foliage that lights up any room. Give it moderate to bright indirect light, and water when the top few inches of soil feel dry.
String of Pearls
Pearls never go out of style, and neither does this charming plant that resembles one of your favorite pieces of jewelry.
This succulent needs bright, indirect light. It doesn’t like to stay wet, so water when it’s mostly dry.
ZZ Plant
Zamioculcas zamiifolia, or ZZ plant for short, has glossy green foliage and an upright form. This low-maintenance plant tolerates low light levels and only needs to be watered every few weeks.
Look for new varieties such as 'Raven', which has nearly black foliage, or 'Chameleon', which has golden foliage that matures to green.
Crocodile Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia has always been a reliable performer. This new variety has handsome spotted foliage with a prominent crested mid-rib, reminiscent of a crocodile’s ridges, running down the back of each leaf.
Give it moderate to bright, indirect light, and water when the top two inches of soil feels dry.
SHOP CROCODILE DIEFFENBACHIA PLANTS
Golden Pothos
If you’ve never grown a thing, pothos is the perfect starter plant. With heart-shaped leaves and a pretty vining form, this plant is as low-maintenance as it gets.
Golden pothos needs bright, indirect light for fast growth, but it will do okay in low light levels, too. Water when the top few inches of soil feel dry.
Prayer Plant
This colorful plant has bold, striped markings with prominent red veins. Interestingly, the foliage will fold up, like hands in prayer, at night.
Give it bright, indirect light, though it will adapt to low light levels, too. Water when the top inch or two of soil feels dry.
Golden Crocodile Philodendron
With huge golden-green leaves—some reaching up to two feet long—this easy-to-grow philodendron is a cheerful addition to any room.
Give it bright, indirect light, and water when the top few inches of soil feels dry.
SHOP GOLDEN CROCODILE PHILODENDRON
Baltic Blue Pothos
Just as easy to grow as golden pothos, this vining plant has blue-green leaves with fenestrations (or cuts) as the plant matures.
Give it a moss pole to climb, or pinch it back to keep it looking full. Baltic blue pothos prefers bright, indirect light. Water when the top few inches feel dry.
Tortum Philodendron
Also called fernleaf philodendron, the crazy foliage of this new variety will make you smile! New growth unfurls with a curly form and coppery color.
Tortum likes to climb, so give it a moss pole so it can take off. Give it bright indirect light, and water when the top few inches of soil feel dry.
Fiddle Leaf Fig
A darling of social media, the handsome fiddle leaf fig plant needs a little TLC to thrive. It will do well in a very bright room with direct sunlight, or you can use an LED grow light. Water when the top few inches of soil feel dry.
Lavender
While there’s actually ample research about lavender oil’s ability to boost mood, it’s finicky and difficult to grow indoors because it prefers lots of direct sunlight and poor, rocky soils.
However, if you spot a potted lavender, enjoy it for as long as it lasts, much as you would a bouquet of cut flowers. And you can certainly plant lavender in your garden, where it will thrive in the right conditions.
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