Houseplants: what are your favorites?
Frugal living doesn't have to be bare and ugly. There are plenty of ways to beautify without spending a lot, and houseplants are one way that I always come back to. My plants may not always thrive the way I want them to, but they are lovely while they last - and when they suffer from my waning attention, I nearly always manage to save a bit for the next try.
Live houseplants can add a lot to the frugal life:
- Free or cheap decor - A splash of green adds a vibrant yet peaceful feeling to any room, and many blooming plants will thrive indoors as well, especially if placed near a window. With a little creativity, you might be able to get started for free. With a little patience, you can pay just a little for one or more very young plants and watch them grow into large, lush things of beauty.
- Cleaner air - We have all heard of this benefit. Some plants are more helpful than others, so check out the image below for recommendations.
- Food - Try growing herbs or salad greens in your window sills.
- Gifts - Many houseplants propagate easily, making them perfect as a source of gifts for friends and family.
I currently have aloe vera, mother-in-law tongue, and pothos. All 3 are supposed to be very easy to keep, and I've had them for several years. Last year, we raised pineapple tops all summer on the deck, only to lose them in the first cold snap. They were so easy! My next goal: to raise a few herbs in the windowsill, and don't let the kids bring in any cute baby caterpillars to strip them bare while we sleep. Who knew a cute little green caterpillar could grow into a massive hornworm overnight and strip an entire pot of cilantro?
What about you? Do you keep houseplants? Do you have a proverbial green thumb, or do your friends refer to the row of plants in your windowsill as Death Row? What are your favorite varieties, and why? What do you think about artificial plants?
One Response to “Houseplants: what are your favorites?”
June 23rd, 2012 at 6:49 am
The thing I worry about is if they are poisonous? We have a cat that chews on plants .
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