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When winter settles in, the days get shorter, the temperatures drop, and the outdoors can feel a bit bleak. However, the right indoor plants can help infuse your home with life, color, and a sense of warmth. Indoor plants not only brighten up your space, but they can also improve air quality, boost your mood, and create a peaceful, nature-inspired environment that helps you weather the winter months. Here’s a list of some of the best indoor plants to green up your home during the colder months.
Pothos
Why It’s Great For Winter: Pothos is an evergreen plant that thrives in low light, making it perfect for winter months when natural sunlight can be scarce. Known for its heart-shaped leaves and trailing vines, this low-maintenance plant can add a lush, green touch to shelves, countertops, or hanging baskets.
Care Tips
- Light: Tolerates low to moderate light.
- Water: Allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
- Temperature: Prefers warmer temperatures (65°F – 85°F)
- Fun Fact: Pothos is an air-purifying plant that can remove harmful toxins like formaldehyde and benzene.
Snake Plant
Why It’s Great For Winter: Also known as the mother-in-law’s tongue, the snake plant is nearly indestructible, making it an excellent choice for those who are new to plant care. Its tall, upright leaves add a modern touch to any space, and it can thrive in low-light conditions, making it perfect for winter interiors.
Care Tips
- Light: Tolerates low light, but grows best in indirect light.
- Water: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings.
- Temperature: Prefers temperatures between 60°F – 85°F
- Fun Fact: Snake plants are great for improving air quality, particularly by removing toxins like formaldehyde and xylene.
Spider Plant
Why It’s Great For Winter: With its arching green and white striped leaves, the spider plant adds a burst of greenery and a playful aesthetic to your home. It’s a very adaptable plant, and it thrives in a variety of indoor conditions.
Care Tips
- Light: Prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate lower light levels.
- Water: Keep the soil lightly moist, but avoid overwatering.
- Temperature: Prefers moderate temperatures (60°F – 70°F)
- Fun Fact: Spider plants are perfectly safe for pets!
ZZ Plant (Zanzibar Gem)
Why It’s Great For Winter: The ZZ plant is a stylish and hardy plant with glossy, dark green leaves. It’s perfect for brightening up dim spaces as it tolerates low light very well. This plant’s striking appearance makes it an ideal focal point in any room.
Care Tips
- Light: Thrives in low to bright indirect light.
- Water: Let the soil dry out completely before watering.
- Temperature: Prefers temperatures between 60°F – 75°F
- Fun Fact: ZZ plants are incredibly drought-resistant, so they can survive in homes where the humidity levels drop in winter.
Christmas Cactus
Why It’s Great For Winter: As its name suggests, the Christmas cactus is a holiday favorite. With its vibrant, colorful blooms (usually pink, red, or white), it adds a festive touch to your winter decor. Unlike other cacti, the Christmas cactus does well in indoor environments, making it ideal for the winter season.
Care Tips
- Light: Prefers bright, indirect light.
- Water: Water when the soil feels dry to touch, but avoid letting it sit in water.
- Temperature: Needs cooler temperatures (50°F – 55°F)
- Fun Fact: The Christmas cactus blooms in response to shorter days and cooler temperatures, making it a perfect plant to celebrate the winter season.
Peace Lily
Why It’s Great For Winter: The peace lily is known for its elegant white flowers and lush green foliage, and it thrives in low light – perfect for winter months when the sunlight is in short supply. Not only does it brighten up a space, but the peace lily is also an excellent air purifier, removing toxins from the air.
Care Tips
- Light: Prefers low to moderate indirect light.
- Water: Keep the soil moist, but not soggy. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry.
- Temperature: Prefers temperatures between 65°F – 80°F
- Fun Fact: Peace lilies, like all members of the Lily family, are toxic to cats and are not recommended for homes with feline friends. The entire plant, flowers, stems, leaves, and plant water, are harmful.
Aloe Vera
Why It’s Great For Winter: Aloe Vera is not only a useful plant with healing properties, but its thick, fleshy leaves also make it a striking addition to any room. It’s a low-maintenance succulent that thrives in dry conditions, making it well-suited for the indoor heating typical of winter.
Care Tips
- Light: Prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate direct sunlight.
- Water: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out completely.
- Temperature: Prefers temperatures between 59°F – 77°F
- Fun Fact: Aloe vera gel is famous for its soothing properties, especially for burns and skin irritation.
English Ivy
Why It’s Great For Winter: English ivy is a versatile plant that can be grown in hanging baskets or trained along trellises or windowsills. Its vibrant green leaves and trailing vines add a touch of greenery and it thrives in lower light conditions, fantastic for dreary winter days.
Care Tips
- Light: Prefers bright, indirect light, but can adapt to lower light.
- Water: Keep the soil moderately moist, but not soggy.
- Temperature: Prefers cooler temperatures (50°F – 65°F)
- Fun Fact: Another excellent air purifier, English Ivy is known to reduce airborne mold and mildew.
Amaryllis
Why It’s Great For Winter: Amaryllis is a seasonal favorite that brings a burst of color to your home during the winter. Known for its large, trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of red, white, or pink, it can turn any room into a festive winter haven.
Care Tips
- Light: Prefers bright, indirect light.
- Water: Water when the soil feels dry to the touch.
- Temperature: Amaryllis prefers warmer temperatures (65°F – 75°F)
- Fun Fact: The Amaryllis bulb can be forced to bloom indoors, making it a perfect winter bloom for your home.
Bromeliads
Why It’s Great For Winter: Bromeliads are tropical plants that offer striking, colorful flowers and dramatic foliage. These plants thrive in the indoor conditions typically found in the winter, such as warmer temperatures and humidity, making them ideal for brightening up your space during the colder months.
Care Tips
- Light: Prefers bright, indirect light
- Water: Water the central ‘tank’ of the plant, keeping it moist. Be sure to empty any water that accumulates at the base.
- Temperature: Prefers warm temperatures (65°F – 75°F)
- Fun Fact: Bromeliads can live for months with their vibrant flowers, making them a long-lasting burst of color for your home.
Final Thoughts
Adding indoor plants to your winter home decor not only enhances the beauty of your space, but also has numerous health benefits, from purifying the air to reducing stress. Whether you prefer the vibrant blooms of a Christmas cactus or the easy-going charm of a snake plant, there’s a perfect plant for every home, no matter the size or light conditions. So, this winter, don’t let the chill outside get you down – bring the warmth and cheer of nature indoors with a few well-chosen houseplants.
Are you looking to enter the real estate market this winter? One of the experienced agents at Zoocasa will be more than happy to help you through the exciting home-buying process!
