6 Houseplants for a Healthier New Year

If you want to create a healthier, happier New Year, look to houseplants to get you on the right road to improved mental and physical health. By their presence, houseplants brighten up our home and office, lighten our mood and help clean the air we breathe. Here are six of our favorites: Aglaonema, Dieffenbachia, Pothos, Sansevieria, Spathiphyllum, Zamioculcas zamiifolia. Even if you've not had much luck with houseplants before, we'd encourage you to try again, with one or more of these varieties. 

Aglaonema or Chinese Evergreen plant is a very adaptable plant. This easy-to-grow tropical plant tolerates low light and low humidity, making it a great choice if you're just getting started with houseplants.

 Looking for a showy plant that will do well in low light as well as bright, indirect light, consider Dieffenbachia. Dieffenbachia is a low maintenance houseplant that will add a tropical touch to any room. Keep the humidity up around Dieffenbachia by misting regularly or place the plant on a pebble tray. 

A super easy plant, you can grow Pothos in a pot on the counter and Pothos also make great hanging plants. Pothos will do well in low light as well as bright indirect light. Pothos like to be kept moist, so don't let the soil dry out. 

Sansevieria, commonly known as Mother-in-Law's Tongue or Snake Plant is another easy starter plant. Sansevieria do best in bright, indirect light. They will grow in low light situations, but very slowly. The biggest issue with Sansevieria is to avoid over watering them. Otherwise, it's a perfect complement to most any room. 

The Peace Lily or Spathiphyllum has dark green leaves and white flowers. They make excellent houseplants for your home or office, because they’ll do well in medium to low light conditions. Water Spathiphyllum when the top inch of soil is dry.

Looking for a very unusual plant for your home or office that wouldn't mind a little neglect?  Zamioculcas zamiifolia or ZZ plant will handle low to medium light and likes to be kept on the dry side. This easy-going plant rarely needs fertilizer and will forgive you if you forget to water it once in a while. Buying these plants and taking them home or to school or your office is a great way to get the new year started right; healthy and green.   

  

Houseplants with Holiday Flair

Houseplants are a great way to celebrate the holidays. With their blooms and colorful foliage, they add a special touch to your home or office. Moreover, houseplants help clean the air we breathe and elevate our moods. Here are a just a few of our favorites. 

Aglaonema are one of the easiest houseplants to grow. Also known as Chinese Evergreen, you can grow this plant in low, medium or bright light situations and still enjoy its colorful foliage. Just avoid direct sun. Aglaonema will tolerate dry soil, but does best with regular watering. 

With its red flowers and dark green foliage, Anthurium delivers some of the best of holiday colors. Anthurium thrives when placed near a bright window. It will do okay in low light situations, but don't expect it to flower as well.  Allow the soil to dry slightly between each watering. 

Kalanchoes are succulents with thick green leaves and bright, cheerful flowers. These plants prefer bright, indirect light in order to flower well. As with all succulents, it's best to avoid over-watering. Let the plant dry, then water thoroughly. 

Peperomia plants make great additions to your desk or table. Easy to grow, Peperomia will do well in low to medium light. Water this plant thoroughly, then let it dry out slightly before you water it again.  

Spathiphyllum, also known as Peace Lilies grow naturally in the shade so they are a good choice for an area that doesn't get a lot of natural light. Water enough to keep the soil moist. Avoid letting the soil dry out completely. Peace Lilies are among the easiest plants to grow in your home or office. They are also one of the best plants for improving air quality indoors. As a general rule, all of these houseplants will do well when kept at normal room temperatures. 

You'll want to keep your houseplants healthy and growing by feeding them every two weeks with houseplant fertilizer such as ferti-lome's 20-20-20 or Schultz’s 10-15-10. On the weeks you don’t fertilize, water with Super Thrive, a vitamin solution that includes Kelp. This supplement will help your plants thrive.  Houseplants make easy, beautiful gifts for teachers, co-workers and hostesses. They're a gift that will last long after the holidays are over.