HOUSEPLANTS TO BRIGHTEN YOUR MOOD ON SHORT WINTER DAYS
We turned the corner, toward longer days, on solstice a few weeks ago. The days are still pretty short, and this is a tough time of year for many people. The weather isn’t great, everyone’s tired from the holidays, and it can feel like winter will never end.
Having houseplants around through the darkest days of winter can not only lift our spirits, but they can also help clean the air in our homes and even help us focus and concentrate better. We’ve picked out a few houseplants that can help you survive through the next few weeks of winter blues: some that brighten your home with colorful blooms, some that are hardy and don’t mind these low-light days, and some that will help clean the air in your home.
ZZ plant is one of those tough-as-nails plants that doesn’t seem to care if the days are dark, gray, or dreary.
HOUSEPLANTS WITH BRIGHT AND COLORFUL BLOOMS
African violets are classic, unfussy, and unpretentious house plants that bloom in winter. Give them bright filtered light, well-draining soil in a terracotta pot, and regular African Violet fertilizer, and they’ll bloom for months.
Anthurium is a tall winter-blooming plant. Anthurium flowers are not just colorful, available in shades of pink, white, and red, they’re also unique looking. The colored spathes around the flower stalk are shiny, vibrantly saturated, and are a gorgeous heart shape. Anthurium brings a luxurious tropical resort vibe into your home.
PLANTS THAT WON’T THROW A TANTRUM ON LOW-LIGHT DAYS
ZZ plant is one of those tough-as-nails plants that doesn’t seem to care if the days are dark, gray, or dreary. They just keep on doing their job of reflecting whatever light is available back into the room from their lush and shiny green leaves.
Calathea is another family of plants that don’t seem to mind the darker days of winter. We could have included them in the bright and colorful section because some species have stunning leaf markings. Rattlesnake Calathea has a striking pattern of dark spots on its tall narrow leaves. Calathea Beauty Star and Calathea Dottie both feature beautiful contrasting pink stripes on their leaves.
Pothos is another reliable old standby to ward off the winter blues. They don’t care about low-light days, and there are so many gorgeous varieties available. Their heart-shaped leaves get large and beautiful. From the classic deep green Jade Pothos to the variegated Marble Queen Pothos, they’ll all add a calm, quiet tropical vibe to whatever room they’re in.
PLANTS TO CREATE FRESH AIR IN YOUR HOME
Boston ferns have beautiful fringed foliage, and they’re excellent at removing toxins from your indoor air and replacing it with clean air for you to breathe. They’re also relatively low-light tolerant and will last for years to come. However, these ferns strongly prefer high humidity—keeping a humidifier in the room will do wonders for this plant!
Spider plants might seem a bit overrated, but they’re really not: they’re fantastic air-cleaners. They’re another tough plant that doesn’t mind the short days of winter and does an excellent job of pulling toxins out of the air and putting out fresh, clean air for you to breathe. There are also many beautiful varieties available now, from striped versions to the ever-popular curly version.
We’re just a few weeks away from a noticeable difference in longer days and hopefully better weather in the Indy metro area. Take solace in your houseplant jungle to get through the winter blues with some of these fantastic additions. Don’t forget to have a look at the February Indoor Gardening checklist to help set your houseplants up for a strong start to the growing season.
We’re just a few weeks away from a noticeable difference in longer days and hopefully better weather in the Indy metro area. Take solace in your houseplant jungle to get through the winter blues with some of these fantastic additions. Don’t forget to have a look at the February Indoor Gardening checklist to help set your houseplants up for a strong start to the growing season.