Plants. Love ’em, hate ’em, or don’t even pay mind to ’em? I personally love them! Well, to be honest, I more or less have a bittersweet relationship with them. But I do love them. From just plain looking at them, to the excitement I feel when I made something grow or sprout. But even though I know not everyone is a proud ‘plant parent’, I do know that’s there’s science-backed evidence to the benefits of them.

From the dietary benefits, to productivity improvement, and even to the quality of air, plants are something you should definitely ponder on. And even if you have more of a black thumb instead of a green thumb, plants are still something you can benefit from! And without feeling guilty for just not having a knack for ‘gardening’. If you love plants but don’t necessarily understand them. If you hate plants but maybe want to reconsider. And if you are someone who hasn’t even begun to think about plants in general.

Do It For You

The science is there. Not only do indoor plants help reduce stress levels, they help sharpen attention. Not only can indoor plants be therapeutic, but they can help you recover from illness faster. I already mentioned productivity and air quality, but indoor plants can also help improve people’s overall outlooks too. So there really is no downside to having plants in your home!

And if you want to see further, in-depth information on the multiple studies that back this information up, check out Healthline’s article on the benefits of indoor plants here. Plus, as you may have noticed, I keep referring to indoor plants. Meaning, I’m not going into depth on the entirety of gardening in general. So if you’re a black thumb, an absolute beginner, or anywhere else on that spectrum, you can still enjoy the benefits of plants too! Starting with indoor plants.

Low Maintenance

There’s no need to counteract the stress-reducing benefits of plants by having to stress on keeping your plants alive. So if you’re someone who sometimes forgets if you forgot to do something you knew you were supposed to do, this is your plant category!

• Aloe Vera – Likes bright, indirect light and water on a monthly basis
• ZZ Plant – Likes low light and water on a monthly basis
• Snake Plant – Likes low or medium light and water on a monthly basis
• Spider Plant – Likes bright, indirect light and water on a weekly basis with an occasional mist
• Cast-Iron Plant – Likes low light and water on a weekly basis
• Pothos Plant – Likes bright, indirect light and low light and water on a weekly or biweekly basis
• Philodendron Plant – Likes bright, indirect light and water on a weekly basis
• Swiss-Cheese Plant – Likes bright, indirect light and low light and water on a weekly basis with an occasional mist

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Quite a few of these plants are actually toxic to animals, like aloe, the ZZ, snake, pothos, philodendron, and swiss-cheese. So if you’re a pet-friendly home, perhaps go with the spider or cast-iron plant, which are both nontoxic and thrive in almost any condition. (Or check below at the next section!) The cast-iron routine is basically nothing, so if you want a plant but don’t want to care to it that much, it’s perfect! Plus check out Healthline’s article on low-maintenance plants here for a more in-depth dive.

Non-Toxic

Again, there’s no need to counteract the stress-reducing benefits of plants by having to stress about the safety of your loved ones around them. So if you’re someone who has Littles around, or other babies covered in fur, this is the plant category for you!

• Ponytail Palm – Likes bright, indirect light and water on a biweekly basis
• Date Palm – Likes bright, indirect light and water on a weekly basis
• Banana Tree – Likes bright light to full sun and water on a weekly basis with an occasional mist
• Venus Flytrap – Likes bright, indirect light and water on a weekly basis
• Areca Palm – Likes bright, indirect light and water on a weekly or biweekly basis
• Boston Fern – Likes bright, indirect light and water on a weekly basis
• Peperomia – Likes medium to bright, indirect light and water on a weekly or biweekly basis
• Friendship Plant – Likes moderate to bright, indirect light and water on a weekly basis

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Not only is this entire selection non-toxic, but a lot of them are low-maintenance as well! Palms especially hold their water well and always add a personalized touch no matter where in the home they’re placed. Plus, a lot of these options are sturdy enough that they’ll also withstand a little play (whether hand or paw!) Some are even great air-purifiers. You can check out AD’s article here or The Spruce’s article here for more information and lots more options!

Plants At Work

Plants have more than just psychological and physical benefits to us, they also do amazing things for the planet! The relationship that humans have with plants and the planet is very much intertwined, and we need them as much as they need us. So if you’re someone who wants their plants to have multiple benefits in their home, this is your plant category!

• Fiddle Leaf Fig – Likes filtered, bright light to direct sun and water on a weekly basis
• Rubber Tree Plant – Likes medium to bright, indirect light and water on a weekly or biweekly basis
• Broad Lady Palm – Likes medium to bright, indirect light and water on a weekly basis
• Kentia Palm – Likes bright, indirect light to dappled sun and water on a weekly basis
• Chinese Evergreen – Likes low to medium, indirect light and water on a weekly basis
• Dracaena – Likes bright, indirect light and water on a weekly or biweekly basis
• Flamingo Lily – Likes medium to bright, indirect light and water on a semi-daily to weekly basis
• Air Plant – Likes medium to bright, indirect light and water on a weekly basis

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Some of the selections in this category require a little more time, patience, and T.L.C. The fiddle leaf fig, for example, is nicknamed the ‘fickle leaf fig’ because of how touchy it can be. But rest assured, the work you put into them will return back to you in the form of reduced chemicals in your home and better air quality! Air plants are easy, a fun way to spruce up basically anywhere in the home, and you can get creative with terrarium style decor! Check out The Spruce’s article here or Country Living’s article here for more options and to see how plant selection ties into Feng Shui!

Related: How To Bring Life Into Your Eco-Friendly Lifestyle

No Maintenance

Of course, you can always opt for no-maintenance plants! What are those? Artificial plants, bouquets, legos! Whether you’re into faux plants to keep your home looking spruced up while remaining hassle-free, sourcing plants from the garden or local vendor to spruce up your home and take advantages of the benefits temporarily, or being extra creative and long-lasting by building Lego plants.

I personally do all 3 of these on top of the plants that I have in my home! So whether you’re wanting the least amount of work possible or your dream is to become a plant parent, here’s your chance to start! And start small! There’s no reason to overwhelm yourself and wind back up at square one. Don’t overdo it, don’t overwhelm yourself, and don’t forget to have fun and enjoy the benefits!

And as always, thank you so very much for being a part of ETM’s community! I encourage you to join discussions, interact with Mommas and others alike, and be unapologetically yourself! Until next time, I hope I’m able to help make your life as simple as could be. (:

With all my love, Brandolyn – Earth To Momma