It’s Tove here, from Hygge in the Now. I am a life-long plant lover, but after sheltering-in-place at home for 10 months, I have become somewhat plant-obsessed. Our house has epic window sills, perfect for plants, so many plants. In March 2020, I had about ten beautiful plants in our living room. At last count, we have over 100 plants throughout the house. (Gosh, I hope my husband doesn’t read this article!) 

Let’s start this journey to help YOU find the best plants for your home. We all know the wonderful benefits of having live plants inside the house: cleaner air, cozy ambiance, beautiful home decor, stress-relief and best of all, plants never talk back at you.

Plants make perfect home decor accent pieces, especially when coupled with the right tray, planters and pots. My favorite plant decor is using items creatively and not necessarily as they were intended. Take for instance, these large candle holders from the Decocrated shop. I love using them as propagation stations for my Monstera plants, simply add a mason jar and a large plant clipping. Once we find the best plant for your home, we will pair it with a cute plant decor piece from the Decocrated Shop. First, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Entering into plant-ownership is like getting into a relationship. 

• How much are you willing to commit to when it comes to time, space and money? 
• Are you looking for a casual relationship that doesn’t require a lot of your time? 
• Are you willing to put in more time for a greater potential outcome? 

Plant relationships are not all that different from human relationships, except plants don’t roll their eyes at you, even when they become teenagers. 

Low-maintenance plant relationships: 

Done right, some plants can be as easy as a casual dating relationship. They require little in terms of time or expertise and they still provide you with the benefits of plant ownership. 

In no particular order, these are my favorite easy low-maintenance plants. Some of these may even thrive on a little neglect. 

Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera Deliciosa):

If you are going for the “instant-jungle” look, investing in a Monstera Deliciosa is definitely a good place to start. You can of course also get a young (smaller) Monstera, just be aware that the Hallmark split of the leaves doesn’t happen until the plant matures. 

The Monstera Deliciosa is relatively easy to care for, once you find the perfect spot in your house for it. 

NEEDS: Bright to medium indirect light. Direct harsh sunlight is not recommended. Water every 1-2 weeks, allowing the top soil to dry out between waterings. Well-draining soil and a pot with drainage holes is strongly recommended.

Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena Sanderiana): 

I have had the same large Lucky Bamboo plant for over ten years and I have successfully propagated it several times. This plant has gone through several periods of neglect and it always bounces back stronger than before. 

You can grow your bamboo in water (anchored by small rocks) or soil. I’ve kept all of my bamboo plants in water and I just love the look. Individual bamboo stalks would look amazing in these hanging glass vases. 

NEEDS: Moderate or indirect sunlight. Rooms with artificial light, such as indoor office space work great too. If grown in water, make sure there’s always water in the planter. Tap water is fine, as long as there’s not algae in the container. If grown in soil, keep it damp, but not soaking wet. 

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum):

This is one of the most forgiving plants you can find. They look amazing in a macrame hanging planter, especially as “baby spiders” start to hang down. Personally, the only way I was ever able to kill a Spider plant was by thoroughly over-watering it. Otherwise, they will tolerate various light conditions and even a sporadically lean watering schedule. 

Once your plant grows “baby spiders”, you can cut them off at the stem and stick them in another pot of well-draining soil. They are fun to propagate and will yield you countless new plants if treated well. 

NEEDS: Bright indirect light, but will periodically tolerate low light conditions. Allow the top soil to dry to the touch between waterings. Keep in a pot with a well-draining hole. 

Snake Plant (Sansevieria):

This tall stake-like plant has to be one of my favorite low-light plants. It’s the perfect house plant for the window-less areas of your house that could benefit from the color and textures only a plant brings to a home. 

This is another plant that is very easy and rewarding to propagate and it’s been proven by NASA that they clean the indoor air in your home. So this is truly one of those plant relationships you want in your life. 

The Soho Plant Stand adds extra height to an already tall plant, making this plant decor combination a great addition to an entryway bench or next to a small dresser. 

NEEDS: Low light needs, artificial indoor lighting will do. It’s rather drought tolerant, as the Snake Plant is in the succulent family. Make sure the plant doesn’t sit in soaking soil, so a pot with drainage holes is necessary. 

High-maintenance plants relationships: 

Feeling bold and adventurous? I have taken in several high-maintenance plants over the years. While at first, the plants keep me on my toes, guessing what they need, I have been rewarded by beautiful plants in the long run. 

 

Orchid (Orchidaceae): 

These beautiful blooming plants are often given as gifts and then they meet an untimely death when they fail to recreate their blooms in a timely fashion. (Pro-tip: you can often buy orchids at a discount from the grocery store when they are done blooming.) 

Enter into this relationship knowing you will only be rewarded with flowers a few times a year, if you are lucky. 

NEEDS: Orchids are fairly fickle. They need sunlight (but not too much), water (but just the right amount) and special soil and pots (only the right kind will do). 

Croton (Codiaeum): 

Their large waxy multi-colored leaves draw our attention, but then their temper tantrums make us wonder why we started the plant relationship in the first place. You will be wildly rewarded with a stunning plant if you can find JUST the right spot for it, but make sure not to make any sudden changes to its environment. 

NEEDS: The Croton likes regular watering, but doesn’t like to have wet feet (roots), so a pot with good drainage is crucial for a happy relationship. They like sunny locations, preferably east-facing or west-facing windows. They will tolerate medium light, but they will ultimately lose some of their bright vibrant colors. 

Fiddle-Leaf Fig (Ficus Lyrata): 

This stunning in-door tree is a must-have for anyone looking for a codependent plant relationship. It prefers indirect filtered light, so a spot NEAR a window is great, but not too close to the window and preferably not a south-facing window. Water this tall dark and handsome fellow once a week once the top soil is a little dry. He will start to droop his leaves when he’s really thirsty. Overwater him and the leaves will turn brown and yellow and may even fall off. 

NEEDS: Many. Take your time getting to know your plant’s particular wants and needs! It’s worth it! 

Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium Nidus): 

The long curly and wavy textured leaves on this fern make it a great candidate for a hanging basket or a floor plant stand, like this Modern Plant Stand. However, without the right amount of humidity in the air, this sensitive guy may start to throw brown edges on its leaves. As if you didn’t have enough to do already, add misting to your daily plant-care regiment in order to have a drama-free relationship. 

Personally, I find the shower windows a great place for this plant, as long as they aren’t south-facing. He likes light, just not too much. 

NEEDS: Humidity in the air. Frequent watering schedule, but careful not to over-water and keep in a well-draining pot to avoid root-rot. 

       

Zero-commitment plant relationships:

When all else fails, artificial plants used sparingly are great home decor accent pieces, especially in dark corners. 

Look no further than the 2020 Summer Box for an adorable succulent arrangement. The container and the “succulents” make this home decor piece perfect for an area otherwise not appropriate for plants. 

Also, I must admit that I use an artificial “String of Pearls” succulent to decorate the basket from the 2020 Fall Box and these White Wall Planters. I love the look of these draping artificial plants in these two particular containers. Besides, we all need a some zero-commitment relationships once in a while. 

I hope this guide helps you find the best plants for your home and your desired level of plant-relationship commitment. Remember to turn to Decocrated for your plant decor needs. Whether you pick one of their many planters, or style your plant collections on a tray, Decocrated is your one-stop plant decor shop.