Friday, November 15, 2019

By Barbara Pronin No matter the size of your home, there’s nothing like a mix of well-chosen houseplants to add style to your living space and brighten your mood, especially in the dark days of winter.

Positioned on a windowsill, perched on top of a bookcase, or purposefully placed on a counter or in a corner, a healthy plant adds visual interest and pop to any room. Better yet, many houseplants—even flowering plants—are easy to maintain with very little time and effort. Some moisture, a bit of potting soil and plant food, and just a little light is all it takes to keep them happy.

Gardening experts suggest a few varieties that tend to do well in most environments:
- Pothos, heartleaf philodendron, snake plant and dieffenbachia do well in low-light conditions. 

- Jade plants, most species of cactus and the variegated leaf croton will thrive with a few hours of direct sunlight on a daily basis.

- If you’re looking for color, choose begonia, bromeliads, African violet, poinsettia or peace lily, all of which produce brightly colored blooms in all but the darkest environments.

- Plants that likely won’t die on you despite minimal care include English ivy, ficus trees, philodendron and peperomia.

Choose pots in various colors and shapes to complement the look of your home, and pay attention to the potting and care instructions that accompany most houseplants. The less time you have to nurture your plants, the more important it is to choose varieties well suited to light and water limitations. In fact, most houseplants require watering only once every one to three weeks.

Finally, gardening experts remind us, houseplants are good for your health. Studies have shown that indoor plants reduce stress and improve concentration and productivity by as much as 15 percent—making them perfect for not just your home, but also your workspace. 

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