Which houseplants to choose?

"I'd love to have plants in my home but I don't have a green thumb", "my interior isn't bright enough", "I always forget to water my plants", "I have a cat who loves to claw on my ficus": in short, you think it's impossible to bring a touch of greenery to your home?

Prejudices be damned! There are multitudes of plants that require almost no maintenance, light or even a lot of water. All you need to do is choose them according to the constraints of your home (and your habits).

Discover all our tips for choosing the right houseplants without too much effort in this article.

Why have plants in your home in the first place?

Because they make interiors lively, warm and welcoming

Indoor plants add a warm, welcoming touch to any room. They bring a little life into your home! From a simple green plant to a blooming plant, they're always a wonderful touch of color.

There are many abundantly flowering plants, and they can also be climbers if you fancy a plant wall. Even some cacti can flower. And flowers also have their scents!

Of course, houseplants add greenery and freshness to your decor. These are essential elements for a natural style or Scandinavian style, two inspirations very dear to Nordlys.

Pots are also decorative objects in their own right. Large or small, clay, glazed, wicker basket style, there are as many as there are decorating styles! 

Because the benefits of plants purify indoor air

Plants are a simple, effective and environmentally-friendly way of purifying our indoor air. In addition to greening the air, decorating our rooms and adding a natural touch, they can limit or even eliminate indoor pollution. So we're thinking as much of our health as of the environment, thanks to depolluting plants that improve air quality.

Note that only certain houseplants have the ability to depollute. These include :

• Indoor palms
• Philodendrons
• Indoor ferns
• Chlorophytums

And if you don't have a green thumb: here are the basics of houseplant care

Now that you've convinced yourself to put plenty of plants in your home, it's time to choose the right ones. Several factors come into play: exposure, humidity, size of space and, of course, your personal taste.

Let's start with a few basic tips for looking after your plants.

Watering your plants

Water at least once a week in winter and twice in summer. Obviously, watering is a balancing act between too much and too little! A word of advice: if your plant lacks water, the surface substrate is dry to the touch. Of course, adapt your watering frequency to extreme temperature changes.

Positioning your plants

Find the right room and location for your plant. Depending on the space, your plants will need more or less light and humidity. Each species has its own characteristics, so you need to choose them according to where they will live out their happy days. To find out, always read the instructions for the variety you have.

Observing your plants

Be attentive to their behavior and adapt your habits if they show weaknesses.

Pay careful attention to the container you choose. The pot should always be adapted to the growth of your plant. Start with clay balls in the bottom of the pot to facilitate water drainage, pour in potting soil and then cover with soil. Don't forget to water a little! 

Choose houseplants that don't need much water

Do you tend to forget to water? Fortunately, some plants are more resistant than others.

While shade plants are generally easy to care for, there are some houseplants that require special attention, as they are often thirsty.

On the other hand, many plants need to be watered sparingly at home, otherwise they may wilt.

These varieties do not need much water:

• Succulents
• The cactus
• Aloe vera
• Ceropegia
• The zamioculcas or plant
• Mother-in-law's tongue
• The ficus
• Chlorophytum

Opt for houseplants that don't need much sunlight

Your room doesn't get much light? If your house or apartment is rather dark, or you want a plant to brighten up a corner that doesn't get direct light, you can turn to varieties that don't need much sun to grow and survive indoors. 

They include : 

• Ficus elastica
• Chlorophytum
• Caladium
• The moon flower
• Aglaonema
• Sansevière or mother-in-law's tongue
• The dwarf yuka
• The dracanea
• The mountain palm
• The pothos
• Ivy
• Syngonium

Choose the hardy plant for the most exposed dry spots, such as near windows, doors or radiators. 

Which plants for which room?

Let's start with plant size! XXL, small cacti, climbing plants - depending on the space you have available, the possibilities are not the same. So how do you choose the ideal plant for each room in your home?

Plants in the entrance to the house or apartment

These are transit areas that often lack light. Exposure is often poor, so it's advisable to favor plants that can withstand the special conditions and lack of light. 

Beware also of draughts, which can dry out your plants. We therefore advise you to opt for fairly resistant plants in this room of the house. Opt for large plants next to an attractive coat rack or small cacti on a hall cupboard.

Plants in the living room

Generally speaking, these are bright rooms. This is typically the kind of space where a touch of green is welcome! As these are often the most spacious rooms in a home, large plants can add a touch of natural decoration.

A monstera with its large, beautiful leaves, or an indoor palm such as phoenix or kentia, create a warm, exotic atmosphere. Place them, for example, next to a comfortable rocking chairto create a small "relaxation" corner. And thanks to large plants, you can define spaces!

Think of green walls with climbing plants or hanging plants. These are magnificent ornaments for decorating a wall or part of a room. On top of a shelfOn top of a shelf, this is a great way to hide objects you love but don't think are "very pretty".

Don't forget dried flower bouquets! On a dresserthese bouquets bring color and nature to your living space (with virtually no upkeep).

Plants in the kitchen

In the kitchen, plants often have enough light and ambient humidity to flourish. However, the proximity of the oven, fridge, freezer and hotplates can cause sudden variations in temperature. We recommend airing your kitchen to renew the ambient air. 

Many plants will look good in your kitchen: choose flowers from forced spring bulbs such as hyacinths and crocuses, or plants with decorative fruit such as cayenne pepper or crab apple. 

Plants in the bedroom

For the bedroom, avoid plants that give off too strong a scent, as this can disturb sleep. Choose green plants with decorative foliage, such as dracaena, schefflera and areca.

Be careful, however, not to saturate your bedroom with plants. It's important to sleep in an uncluttered space.

Plants in the office and library

Green is said to have soothing properties, and plants can help you concentrate! Yet another reason to have plants in your office.

Think small shelves and ventilation in your library with small potted or hanging plants. But be careful not to overload the space, or your attention will be distracted. Stay focused!

Conclusion

Adding houseplants is not as arduous a task as you might imagine. The first step is to choose the right species for your home. Depending on the humidity, light and space available, the plants will not be the same, and neither will their maintenance.

But it's worth it: beautiful plants add a warm, natural touch to your home, and help to purify the air! So, are you ready to take the plunge?