The interior plant trend is not recent, but it seems it is here to stay. There are more and more people living in cities, with less available space or very little contact with nature. These appear to be the main reasons that make indoor plants more present in many homes or even in offices.
The truth is that interior plants are highly resistant, make your space more pleasant and enjoyable, improve air quality and, to many, observing their growth and caring for them weekly is therapeutic.
I’ve selected 5 plants to have at home or at the office, they are very beautiful, most of them require very little care and they are also quite famous, for which I’m certain they will be available in any garden store nearby.

Ceriman or Monstera deliciosa

A plant with very defined edge foliage, a shape that make it aesthetically quite pleasing. The Monstera has gained a lot of popularity over the past few years. It looks great in any indoor space. It prefers mild sunlight or shade, and requires frequent watering.

Snake plant or Sansevieria trifasciata

If you’re looking for a plant that requires very little attention or something you can keep even if you don’t spend a lot of time at home, then the Snake plant is just what you need. Needs very little care, adapts to just about any kind of lighting and can go months without watering, however, it should, ideally, be watered twice a week, for instance.

Zamioculcas zamiifolia

Another plant whose foliage and stems do not go by unnoticed. It’s very bright foliage can tolerate shade and drought, since it has a very succulent rhizome. It’s a slow growth plant and is very resistant.

Spathiphyllum wallisii

Commonly known as Peace lily, supporting flowers that last more than six weeks and resemble the calla lily, this is a truly elegant plant. It enjoys indirect sunlight, and is a very resistant plant that can be kept at home or at the office.

Philodendron (Taumatophyllum) xanadu

A plant that has recently changed its name, now being botanically called Taumatophyllum Xanadu, supports quite a stunning foliage in very pretty bunches, which makes it a great plant to use as décor in a house or office. A quick growth plant that enjoys the sunlight, but also gets along in mild shade, and requires water with some regularity.

These are just 5 possibilities, but there is a vast world of interior plants to be explored. Beware that you are dealing with living beings that have their own needs and care, as well as preferences. The success and beauty of these plants will depend of how fitting the place they’re in, proper light exposure and moisture, of being watered and also fertilized with a specie-specific fertilizer.

If you have any questions you can require information from a specialist, who might even decorate your space with plants (plant styling), and you can also find a lot of information online, particularly about plant care. What matters is that you choose the right plants and pay attention to their signs through time.
Lastly, pick a pretty vase or cachepot, there are several beautiful options available on the market, such as baskets or ceramic pots. Watch your new household companions grow, you’ll see that the spaces in which you spend the most time will become much more pleasant through this simple change.

Amália Souto de Miranda
Landscape Architect