The debate over indoor and outdoor house plants rages on. There are those who believe that house plants only provide aesthetics, without any real environmental benefits. Others swear by the positive effects that growing herbs, perennials, and seasonal flowers have on the overall atmosphere. Plants can be great additions to your home, but they can also help you breathe and achieve calmness.
So, which of these is right? That depends on what you want to get from your plants. Indoor plants do provide some benefits: they’re easy to care for, provide year-round greenery, and typically don’t need to be watered very often. They also usually offer lower maintenance than some outdoor plants, such as trees, ferns, and shrubs. On the other hand, there are some real environmental benefits to choosing plants with leaves that fall off regularly or plants that grow taller than their foliage. Take some time to consider how the greenery around your house can benefit from regular maintenance and careful attention to the health of your indoor plants and you might come to a better place for your choices.
Many gardeners swear by the fresh air and beauty offered by an annual aloe plant, but it has strong winds that may be harmful to indoor plants (if you live in an area that gets a lot of winds). A ficus tree or bonsai tree, for example, should be protected from strong winds by a screen. If you’re growing an indoor plant, it’s especially important to pay close attention to the type of leaf that falls off, and be sure to choose plant types that will resist changing temperatures, high humidity levels, and constant handling.