v b6Indoor plants are something of a must-have for any modern-day interior. In addition to adding warmth and life to your home, indoor plants help to cleanse the air around you and improve breathability.

If you're looking to choose your first indoor plant or maybe looking to add another to an already extensive collection, these are the best options. From hardy unkillables to beautifully stylish picks, these are the plants that will help turn your home into an urban oasis.

 

 

Olive tree

Image: Pinterest

Something of a burgeoning trend at the moment, olive trees will add a little Tuscan touch to your home. Olive trees are typically outdoor plants and need a lot of sun to flourish. But the beautiful grey-green foliage makes them such lovely adornments to an interior space. Just know that these will have a limited lifespan indoors, about 10 years or so. And put them in the sunniest spot you can. Water according to sun exposure: lots of sun, lots of water but little sun means little water.

 

Peace lily

Image: Instagram

Peace lilies are a quintessential indoor plant, they're happy in low light and low water conditions. They're also excellent at telling you what they need. Brown tips mean too much sun and drooping means it needs more water. These should be happy being watered once a week and kept in a pot with well-draining soil.

 

Rubber tree

Image: Bobby Berk

These plants have thick, waxy leaves that vary in colour from green to a dark purply colour. They're great for those who love plants with a darker colour. Just remember to balance water and sun, that is water it according to how much light it gets. These plants do hate direct sun, and much prefer filtered light like through a curtain.

 

Zanzibar gem

Image: Instagram

Zanzibar gems are hardy. They can handle underwatering and overwatering and still maintain rich, glossy green leaves. An attractive addition to your interiors, they've been deemed unkillable. Perfect for travellers or anyone that can't stick to a rigid watering schedule.

 

 

Adanson's Monstera

Image: Sophie Kaplan

These plants are a vibrant and whimsical option, the mini version of the monstera deliciosa. They're climbers and will happily wrap themselves around a small stake or even a pot stand. Just know they can stick to walls and leave marks if you have them growing against one - nothing that can't be undone by a magic eraser though. Best watered once a week, don't let the soil dry out entirely

 

Candelabra cactus

Image: Bobby Berk

Cacti indoors? Yes, it works. As long as you don't over water them, there are many types of cacti that are happy indoors. Candelabra's work very well because don't need supports, and don't have the prickly spines that you'll find on other types of cactus. Make sure you pot these in special cactus soil designed to drain very well. And water sparingly, and even less in winter.

 

Indoor palms

Image: Carmen Hamilton

There are many different types from bamboo palms to fan palms and all of them are relatively low maintenance. They grow happily in pots for years and attract very few pests. These make lovely desk plants and the larger varieties are perfect if you want a large indoor feature plant. Just don't let plant sit in tray of water for a long time, it can get root rot.

 

Fiddle leaf fig

Image: Bobby Berk

These beautiful plants are still as trendy as ever. No sign of dimming in popularity any time soon. They are a little fickle though. They hate both underwatering and overwatering, they hate being moved and they're not a fan of breezy air, like that coming from an air-conditioner. Make sure the soil is damp but water is never pooling in the drip tray. And if the plant is looking a little sad, move it outside, undercover every so often so it gets a little more sun. Just don't wobble it too much, as mentioned, they don't like being moved around.

 

Devil's Ivy

Image: Sophie Kaplan

With marbled, heart-shaped leaves, devil's ivy is a beautiful plant to keep in an elevated pot stand or hanging pot - allowing the leafy tendrils to drape down the sides. But the truly fun thing about devil's ivy is that it is so easily propagated. Snip off a vine and place in the cut end in water, it will eventually grow roots and can be planted. Voila a whole other plant. These are relatively hardy, but water at least once a week or you may see brown tips develop on leaves.