First of all, Happy World Wildlife day! Today is the day where we celebrate the diversity of wildlife on earth and also to spread awareness on wildlife conservation. With the lockdowns and Covid restrictions taking place, it can be hard to travel out to different places to explore wildlife. Hence, including them indoors with us, we can feel some connection to the outside world while staying inside.
Bringing a little bit of outside indoors.
Beards and daisies is a company that sends beautiful indoor plants to your home. There are so many different plants for different purposes to choose from their site. It is astonishing to see the variety of indoor plants available and how little I know about plants. So I talked to Jo Lambell, founder of Beards and Daisies about the types of indoor plants and how to properly care for them.
What should one consider when choosing an indoor house plant?
There’s a real joy about unboxing a plant and introducing it to your home – however there are a few factors to first think about. For one, how much commitment can you offer your new green friend? Whilst there are some hardy and low maintenance types (Snake Plant, Kentia Palm and Cast Iron to name a few) that will almost thrive off neglect and little water, others need regular care. If you’re prone to forgetfulness or like to travel often, opt for an easy care plant first whilst your green fingers develop. You’ll also want to think about the room you’re homing your plant in, as the lighting and temperature carry huge weight in whether a plant thrives or struggles.
What are the benefits of keeping indoor house plants?
Plants aren’t just one trick ponies. Of course, they look pretty, but their benefits are plentiful, including boosting your mood, productivity, and creativity. They are also said to reduce stress levels and many find it therapeutic and rewarding to have something to care for. Some plants can also improve the quality of air within your home by absorbing toxins. Impressive, huh?
Best plants for improving air quality?
The Snake Plant is consistently praised for its ability to purify the air. Even NASA agrees, proclaiming it as one of the best plants for improving removing toxins such as formaldehyde, ammonia and carbon monoxide from the air. Also, the Peace Lily is another great air-purifier and looks gorgeous, too. For a hanging plant, a Golden Pothos is a good option, and if you want something tall that cleanses the air, try a Dracaena Fragrans Warneckei.
What is the most exotic house plant from Beards and Daisies?
We pride ourselves on having the most expansive range of houseplants in the UK so you’re sure to find firm favourites, alongside some rarer offerings in our collection. Our more exotic varieties of plant include the Watermelon Peperomia – it gets its distinctive name from the cute watermelon-like stripes on its leaves. The Polka Dot Begonia is another show-stopper – looks-wise, there’s no other plant quite like it! If you’re a cacti fan, you’ll love the Bunny Ear Cactus, which as the name suggests, is a reference to the shape of its pads and its hair-like spines which resemble fur. It really is a unique plant!
What is one indoor house plant that is underrated?
Rubber Plants deserve more press – they epitomise minimal effort for maximum reward. If you’re wanting to create a jungle vibe within your home, choose one of these plants. They are fast-growing, known to reach over 30m in their native home of southeast Asia (they’re likely to get to three metres when inside) – yet despite this, they’re so laid back with their care needs. All they require is a wipe down when their leaves get dusty. The Tineke is a beautiful variant of the Rubber Plant which has cream and green leaves that look almost as if they’ve been painted on thanks so their marble-like appearance.
What is your advice for beginners in caring for indoor house plants?
Light and water will always be two factors which greatly affect your plant’s health. If your greenery shows signs of distress, it’ll be down to either of those reasons. Overwatering is very common – you can kill with kindness! Enjoy your plants and learn more about them – the best way to care for plants is simply to give it a go.
Love and care is the key
There you have it! I hope this helps you when you are choosing your indoor plants. I learnt so much about the benefits of having indoor plants and also that there are so many different types to choose from, especially those that are underrated and exotic. After all, we are bringing another living thing to our home and the best thing we can do is to treat them with love and care.
Be curious and learn about what we have is what I think is important in the spirit of World Wildlife Day. This has opened my eye about the world of wildlife and I hope it did for you too. Beards and Daisies also are active in sharing everything we need to know about indoor plants on their website and social media, be sure to check that out!
Kai Lin Tan
Kai Lin is a fashion and food content creator from the sunny island, Singapore. She is enthusiastic about creating digital spaces that can make a difference in the voice of sustainability.