TAKING THE FOREST INDOORS
Welcoming plants into living/work spaces can be a rather daunting proposition. Most of us have already claimed the lives of at least a few plants but that's alright — plants forgive.
Here, we have put together a list of 15 plants that are not only relatively-easy to keep indoors but are also guaranteed to refresh the space they reside in. We promise, they're pretty cool too.
SWISS CHEESE PLANT (MONSTERA ANDANSONII)
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DID YOU KNOW?
The Monstera Andansonii gets its common name, the Swiss Cheese Plant, from its large leaves with holes that resemble Swiss cheese. Like its Monstera relatives, it is a climbing plant and can, with adequate support, grow up to 20 metres in height. With its distinctive one-of-a-kind look, the Swiss Cheese Plant is definitely a recognisable head-turner amongst your plants.
WATERING SCHEDULE
Twice a week
SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS
Bright, Medium, Low // Direct, Indirect, Minimal
IDEAL SOIL MIX
Peat moss + Perlite + Organic matter (worm castings)
LASAGNA FERN (ASPLENIUM LASAGNA)
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DID YOU KNOW?
It is no great mystery how the Lasagna Fern got its name. The medium-large fern thrives in humid tropical conditions – shady and moist – and has been closely studied by NASA for its ability to purify air. As long as it has frequent access to water, the Lasagna Fern is a great plant to keep indoors.
WATERING SCHEDULE
Twice a week
SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS
Bright, Medium, Low // Direct, Indirect, Minimal
IDEAL SOIL MIX
Peat moss + Perlite + Organic matter (worm castings)
CHINESE MONEY PLANT (PILEA PEPEROMIOIDES)
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DID YOU KNOW?
Native to Yunnan and Sichuan provinces in Southern China, the Chinese Money Plant has recently gained popularity amongst plant enthusiasts around the world. Back in Asia, the Chinese Money Plant is believed to attract money and good fortune into the household. Despite its rarity, the Pilea Peperomioides (also known as the Pancake plant or the UFO plant) is surprisingly easy to propagate and thrives in an indoor setting.
WATERING SCHEDULE
Fortnightly
SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS
Bright, Medium, Low // Direct, Indirect, Minimal
IDEAL SOIL MIX
Peat moss + Perlite + Organic matter (worm castings)
MONSTERA DELICIOSA (VARIEGATED)
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DID YOU KNOW?
The lack of green pigment chlorophyll in the plant cells of the Variegated Monstera Deliciosa give this plant its unusual color variation. While this sort of aesthetic variegation does not usually occur naturally, these plants have gained widespread popularity among houseplant enthusiasts around the world. In particular, the ‘Thai Constellation' Variegated Monstera displays a soothing off-white variegation with much smaller splotches on its leaves.
WATERING SCHEDULE
Twice a week
SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS
Bright, Medium, Low // Direct, Indirect, Minimal
IDEAL SOIL MIX
Peat moss + Perlite + Organic matter (worm castings)
BLACK MIRACLE HYBRID PITCHER PLANT (NEPENTHES 'BLACK MIRACLE' HYBRID)
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DID YOU KNOW?
The Black Miracle Hybrid Pitcher Plant is a carnivorous plant which uses nectar to it attract its prey. This species grows in lowland locations where the soil is too acidic for most plants to survive. As such, they are rampant in Southeast Asian countries such as Peninsula Malaysia, Borneo, Singapore, Sumatra and Thailand.
WATERING SCHEDULE
Daily
SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS
Bright, Medium, Low // Direct, Indirect, Minimal
IDEAL SOIL MIX
Peat moss + bark + vermiculite
FIDDLE-LEAF FIG PLANT (FICUS LYRATA)
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DID YOU KNOW?
Native to the lowland rainforests of Western Africa, the Ficus Lyrata has, somehow, unassumingly found its way into the interiors of modern domestic/work spaces. Named “the ‘It’ plant of the design world” – by The New York Times – the humble and delicate Fiddle-leaf Fig Plant is said to be the houseplant of this decade.
WATERING SCHEDULE
Fortnightly
SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS
Bright, Medium, Low // Direct, Indirect, Minimal
IDEAL SOIL MIX
Peat moss + Perlite + Organic matter (worm castings)
MONSTERA DELICIOSA
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DID YOU KNOW?
Regarded as one of the most recognizable indoor plants, the Monstera Deliciosa is a tropical plant that is native to the forests of Southern Mexico. Its name, which literally means “Delicious Monstrosity”, describes how large this plant can potentially grow – in some cases, over 9 meters in height – as well as the fact that its fruits are edible. Indoors, however, the Monstera Deliciosa rarely bares fruit.
WATERING SCHEDULE
Twice a week
SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS
Bright, Medium, Low // Direct, Indirect, Minimal
IDEAL SOIL MIX
Peat moss + Perlite + Organic matter (worm castings)
SPANISH MOSS (TILLANDSIA USNEOIDES)
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DID YOU KNOW?
The Spanish Moss is not a moss at all and is in fact from the same family as succulents and pineapples. No, the plant is not from Spain either. It was originally named by French explorers and is native to Mexico, Caribbean, Central and South America. Spanish Moss thrives in humidity and is incredibly easy to care for.
WATERING SCHEDULE
Occasional
SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS
Bright, Medium, Low // Direct, Indirect, Minimal
IDEAL SOIL MIX
None
POLKA DOT PLANT (HYPOESTES PHYLLOSTACHYA)
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DID YOU KNOW?
Also known as the "Freckled-Face plant", the Hypoestes Phyllostachya is native to Madagascar. Under low-light conditions, the plant tends to get leggy as it searches for light. Interestingly, these are the very conditions that encourage the plant to develop its strongest colours.
WATERING SCHEDULE
Twice a week
SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS
Bright, Medium, Low // Direct, Indirect, Minimal
IDEAL SOIL MIX
Peat moss + Perlite + Organic matter (worm castings)
TRUMPET PITCHER PLANT (SARRACENIA)
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DID YOU KNOW?
The Sarracenia, commonly known as the Trumpet Pitcher Plant, is a flowering pitcher plant typically native to North America. However, bred locally, these pitcher plants have grown accustomed to the tropical humidity and heat.
WATERING SCHEDULE
Daily
SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS
Bright, Medium, Low // Direct, Indirect, Minimal
IDEAL SOIL MIX
Sphagnum Moss + peat moss
BIRD'S NEST FERN (ASPLENIUM AUSTRALASICUM)
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DID YOU KNOW?
While the Bird’s Nest Fern has become an inconspicuous sight in Southeast Asian landscaping, this large fern somehow makes for the perfect statement plant in any indoor setting. Since it does not require direct sunlight and it has the unique ability to retain water, the Bird’s Nest Fern is considered to be relatively low-maintenance.
WATERING SCHEDULE
Twice a week
SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS
Bright, Medium, Low // Direct, Indirect, Minimal
IDEAL SOIL MIX
Peat moss + Perlite + Organic matter (worm castings)
ZZ PLANT (ZAMIOCULCAS ZAMIFOLIA)
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DID YOU KNOW?
The ZZ Plant is considered to be one of the most resilient indoor plants. Not only can they survive under extremely low light conditions but they also make good air purifiers. Despite being a poisonous houseplant, its thick and textured leaves are often said to bring good fortune and luck into the household.
WATERING SCHEDULE
Fortnightly
SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS
Bright, Medium, Low // Direct, Indirect, Minimal
IDEAL SOIL MIX
Peat moss + Perlite + Organic matter (worm castings)
B52 VENUS FLY TRAP (DIONAEA MUSCIPULA)
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DID YOU KNOW?
Probably the most iconic of carnivorous plants is the Venus Fly Trap. In particular, the Dionaea Muscipula is a plant that loves the sun. With an ample water source, they can bask under direct sun for an entire day. Venus Fly Traps are not on a strict insect-diet since they can still photosynthesize the same way regular plants do.
WATERING SCHEDULE
Daily
SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS
Bright, Medium, Low // Direct, Indirect, Minimal
IDEAL SOIL MIX
Sphagnum Moss + peat moss
SKY PLANT (TILLANDSIA IONANTHA)
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DID YOU KNOW?
The Tillandsia Ionantha is a fuss-free plant that does not have a typical roots/stem system, making it one of the easiest plants to keep. Whether you hang them on wires or fences, place them indoors or outdoors, the Sky Plant will certainly be a discreet yet bold addition to your plant collection.
WATERING SCHEDULE
Occasional
SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS
Bright, Medium, Low // Direct, Indirect, Minimal
IDEAL SOIL MIX
None
JANET CRAIG (DRACAENA FRAGRANS JANET CRAIG)
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DID YOU KNOW?
The Janet Craig Plant, is a useful plant to keep indoors. Don’t take our word for it though; even NASA lists it as an excellent clean-air plant that helps eliminate harmful toxins from the environment. The Janet Craig Plant thrives on neglect and does not require that much watering.
WATERING SCHEDULE
Fortnightly
SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS
Bright, Medium, Low // Direct, Indirect, Minimal
IDEAL SOIL MIX
Peat moss + Perlite + Organic matter (worm castings)
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