Pilea Peperomioides

• Botanical Name: Pilea peperomioides
• Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect sunlight
• Soil Type: Well-drained
• Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0

These fun, circular-leaved plants look great scattered all around your home. Also known as a Chinese money plant or missionary plant, these do well in rooms that are light and bright, but it’s best to leave it out of that sunspot on the window your cat likes as its leaves can burn

Olive Tree

• Botanical Name: Olea europaea
• Sun Exposure: Direct sunlight
• Soil Type: Non-stratified and fine-textured soils
• Soil pH: 5.5 to 8.5

Yes, a taste of the Mediterranean in your home is completely possible thanks to olive trees, which can thrive indoors for quite some time. This being said, if you aren’t ready for a six-foot-tall tree, it might be best to search for a dwarf version. But similarly to you, they like the Med, and its placement should be chosen almost entirely on where you get the brightest sunlight.

English Ivy

• Botanical Name: Hedera helix
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to full shade
• Soil Type: Does well with a wide range of soils
• Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.8

Clara Leung, a feng shui plant expert, owner of Clara’s Green House, and seller of more than 3,000 house plants on Facebook Marketplace had a few suggestions for houseplants—one of which was ivy—that not only look chic but help energetically.

“Ivy removes formaldehyde from the air and its pointed leaves are known to protect against negativity,” she explains. This is another pretty trailing plant that looks great crawling along window sills or hanging from a basket.

Bird’s Nest Fern

• Botanical Name: Asplenium nidus
• Sun Exposure: Medium to bright indirect sunlight
• Soil Type: Loamy, moist, and well-draining soil
• Soil pH: 5.0 to 5.5

Celebrity houseplant stylist Reagan Kastner offered a handful of suggestions, and the unique, wavy-leaved bird’s nest fern made the list.

“While most ferns can be rather fussy, this fern has slightly thicker leaves making it more tolerant to new plant parents,” she says.

Bird’s nest ferns shouldn’t be kept close to vents. “This plant can get crispy with lack of humidity or soil that gets completely dry,” says Kastner.

That being said, keep in mind that the soil shouldn’t completely dry out by the time you water it next. Kastner also adds that these plants appreciate bottom watering.

Asparagus Fern

• Botanical Name: Asparagus aethiopicus
• Sun Exposure: Shade or low, indirect lighting
• Soil Type: Rich, well-drained soil
• Soil pH: 6.5 to 6.8

If you’re limited when it comes to bright sunlight, an asparagus fern is a fabulous option. These plants prefer to be away from direct rays and appreciate staying moist. While they’re popularly seen as lovely tabletop decor, they’re also wonderful for hanging baskets. Not to mention, they have the ability to purify the air, too.1

False Shamrock Plant

• Botanical Name: Oxalis triangularis
• Sun Exposure: Direct sunlight
• Soil Type: Well-draining sandy and loamy soils
• Soil pH: 7.6 to 7.8

Coming in a few different varieties, the false shamrock is one plant that shouldn’t be overlooked. Houseplant expert, Ren Lenhof, who runs a lifestyle blog House Fur, says her favorite for a real boost of color is the dark purple variation.

“I love that the leaves themselves look like flowers and then it grows little white flowers as a bonus!”

She adds that these do best in spaces that get plenty of bright sunlight, so that an office window or sunroom may be just the spot.

Philodendron Hope

• Botanical Name: Philodendron selloum
• Sun Exposure: Medium to bright indirect sunlight
• Soil Type: Rich, well-draining soil
• Soil pH: 5.6 to 6.0

Savannah Toal, owner of Plant Savvy—Nashville’s interior plant designer and consultant—says that philodendron hope should be a must on your plant list.

“This beautiful and bushy plant will bring out any drab-looking corner in your home,” she says. “They offer the jungle vibes everyone wants without breaking the bank or your time.” The wavy edges of their fronds make them more special than usual.

Greenery Unlimited Philodendron Hope $65.00

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Orchid

• Botanical Name: Orchidaceae
• Sun Exposure: Indirect light
• Soil Type: Orchid mix
• Soil pH: 5.5 to 6.5

If some kind of blossoming plant is more up your alley, Jason Kamimoto, the Senior VP of Rocket Farms, says you should consider purchasing an orchid. He mentions that they’re often called “the queen of flowers” and are “surprisingly affordable based on recent growing innovations and easy to care for.” Because they come from a rainforest climate, humidity is key to really helping yours thrive.

Polka Dot Begonia

• Botanical Name: Begonia maculata
• Sun Exposure: Medium to bright, indirect
• Soil Type: Well-draining soil
• Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0

Justin Hancock, Costa Farms’ horticulturist says that this variegated plant has a lot of things going for it. Aside from its different colors, the pattern on its leaves is doubly fascinating.

“The tops of the leaves are variegated with silvery polka dots of varying sizes,” he says. “With good care, this begonia can grow to more than five feet tall, becoming a showpiece in the home. It’s easy to prune and keep smaller if you don’t want it to eventually get tall.”

Neon Pothos

• Botanical Name: Epipremnum aureum
• Sun Exposure: Shady to bright indirect light
• Soil Type: Loamy
• Soil pH: 6.1 to 6.5

For a major zing of color, you won’t need to look much further than the neon pothos. Its heart-shaped leaves are a vivid green, and because it’s a trailing plant, it’ll instantly spruce up any empty corners or blank white walls. A neon pothos is a great choice for beginner plant parents as they’re hardy and can deal with a variety of conditions.

Schefflera

• Botanical Name: Schefflera arboricola
• Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light
• Soil Type: Well-drained sandy loam soil
• Soil pH: 6.0 to 6.5

The clusters of leaves that scheffleras produce are quite unique, and they make for a fun substitute if you’re not feeling the ever-popular fiddle leaf fig or rubber tree. There are a few varieties, but the most popular is the dwarf version, which can comfortably fit on a tabletop or grow large enough to occupy a corner. Aside from indirect light, these plants do like humidity, so a bathroom location can be sufficient, or just having a spray bottle on hand will do.

Bonsai Trees

• Botanical Name: varies
• Sun Exposure: Usually bright sunlight (though dependent on variety)
• Soil Type: Well-drained, well-aerating soil
• Soil pH: 6.5 to 7.5

The art of bonsai can be applied to endless kinds of plants and trees. If you adore the look of miniature plants and have the time and know-how, it’s worth exploring your options. But do be mindful that as charming and beautiful as these small works of art can be, they require a lot of love and attention. The care details will vary on the type of plant you choose.

Yew Pine

• Botanical Name: Podocarpus macrophyllus
• Sun Exposure: Bright light
• Soil Type: Rich, well-drained potting mix
• Soil pH: 4.5 to 7.5

With the right conditions, yew pines are another tree that can do well indoors. Their bushy foliage adds visual interest to any space, and they’re rather hardy plants, even when subject to being indoors. Just be sure you are willing to learn how to prune or have the ceilings to cater to its growth.

Jade Plant

• Botanical Name: Crassula ovata
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Soil Type: Sandy soil
• Soil pH: 6.5 to 7.0

Leung of Clara’s Green House, also recommends bringing a jade plant into your home.

“Known as the money tree in feng shui because round leaves symbolize good fortune, jade can bring fortune in the form of money, health, or fame,” she says.

While they’re not too difficult to care for, they can be picky about watering. Be adamant about striking the perfect balance between not letting it completely dry out and not overwatering.

Monstera Deliciosa

• Botanical Name: Monstera deliciosa
• Sun Exposure: Low to bright light
• Soil Type: A well-draining combination soil mix
• Soil pH: 5.5 to 6.5

Kastner also recommends working a monstera somewhere in your home. These popular plants give an instant jungle-like boost to any room.

“This is a very rewarding plant to own because it can grow as big as you want it to,” she says. “And has unique leaves that have ‘splits’ in them.”

Ficus Audrey

• Botanical Name: Ficus benghalensis
• Sun Exposure: Bright direct or indirect light
• Soil Type: Well-draining soil
• Soil pH: 6.1 to 7.4

“This plant comes from the same family as the fiddle leaf fig, but it’s 10 times easier to take care of and I think it looks more modern and trendy,” says Toal of Plant Savvy.

If you’re all about ficuses, this less well-known version is certainly worth sourcing. They need quite a bit of light and don’t appreciate being overwatered, but even still, they aren’t as fussy as their relatives.

Staghorn Fern

• Botanical Name: Platycerium bifurcatum
• Sun Exposure: Indirect light
• Soil Type: Well-draining potting soil
• Soil pH: N/a

This ultra-cool plant nearly looks like seaweed out of water. While it can be in baskets or hanging setups, staghorn ferns are often pinned to wooden boards or slabs with a bit of moss for a fresh display. They appreciate humidity and while they like being watered, allowing it to dry out is also important.

Monstera Adansonii

• Botanical Name: Monstera adansonii
• Sun Exposure: Tolerates low light but does best with medium to bright
• Soil Type: Well-draining soil
• Soil pH: 5.5 to 7.0

Another cool plant that should definitely be part of your growing greenhouse? The swiss cheese plant, which is oftentimes confused for a similar plant you may be familiar with.

“This plant has the beautiful holes (fenestration) that the monstera deliciosa has, but the swiss cheese plant has a different look and not everyone has them in their homes,” says Toal. “Give them room to climb and they will take over any room giving trendy jungle vibes.”

Aloe Vera

• Botanical Name: Aloe vera
• Sun Exposure: Bright indirect sunlight
• Soil Type: Sandy or a succulent potting mix
• Soil pH: 7.0 to 8.5

Aloe vera are popular plants for many reasons. Their gel is ideal to have on hand in the kitchen and their spiny leaves make a lovely design statement. Leung also says that they’re also “known for cleaning the air and reducing toxic chemicals.” They’re not too hard to take care of, but this succulent likes when their soil dries between waterings.

Cacti