5 indoor plants guaranteed to boost your wellbeing

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From Devil’s Ivy to Fiddle Leaf Figs, it’s no secret leaf love is where it’s at right now.

But the appeal of indoor plants goes far beyond their ability to make a space look Pinterest Perfect. While some varieties can help clean the air of harmful toxins, recent studies show they also have a significant impact on our mental wellbeing, too.

According to a recent survey commissioned by Yates, six in 10 adults believe indoor plants have calming abilities. Four in 10 credit greenery with making them happy and 55 per cent believe it’s an essential part of making a house feel like a home.

“Indoor plants have so many benefits and it’s encouraging to see Aussies recognising the power of greenery inside their homes,” Angie Thomas, Horticulture Consultant to Yates said of the findings.

“Often gardening is only associated with large outdoor spaces, but you can get many of the same holistic health benefits from gardening indoors as you do outside.”

With that in mind, we hit up Angie for her top five plant picks and some foolproof tips on caring for them too.

1. Fiddle Leaf Fig

With its bold and glossy appearance that instantly adds king sized greenery into indoor spaces, it’s no wonder that the Fiddle Leaf Fig is one of the most popular plants used in homes and offices.

* ficus family * plant cousins from left to right: Audrey, Lyrata, & Alii . . . . #houseplantclub #houseplants #ficus #ficusfriday #trees #indoortree #ficusaudrey #ficuslyrata #ficusalii #fiddleleaffig #flffriday #fiddleleaffriday #livingwithplants #plantstyling #plantsofinstagram #loveplants #plantgang #plantfamily #indoorforest

Pro tip: Fiddle leaf figs thrive in a brightly lit room, protected from direct sunlight and cold draughts. Strategically place your fig so you can admire its impressive size.

2. Rattlesnake Plant

Going for a colourful tropical vibe? No worries! Rattlesnake (or peacock) plants grow to around 60cm tall and have vibrant or patterned foliage. Loving humidity, they’re perfect for growing in a brightly lit bathroom.

the rattlesnake plant, awake + asleep -> scroll for the nighttime pic...so weird how they open every day and close every night! indirect light helps preserve their leaf patterns. #rattlesnakeplant #calathea #houseplantsclub #houseplants

Pro tip: Keep the potting mix moist, especially during the warmer months, and feed regularly with Yates Thrive to promote lots of lush and colourful foliage.

3. Aloe Vera

If you’re after a low maintenance plant for your desk, try this drought resistant succulent. It’s known for its health and beauty benefits too - so there’s more to aloe vera than looking pretty!

Aloe vera is a plant I often get asked for so here it is - stocked in @the.foodstory.project It is well known for its health benefits particularly for soothing burns to the skin including sunburn. It also purifies the air, absorbing benzenes. And it produces pups so you can share this super plant with your friend. It is a succulent so water when the soil is dry and cut back on watering in winter but be aware that it prefers a bright spot out of direct sunlight unlike some other succulents. It is toxic to pets if ingested. #aloeveraplant #houseplantsforsale #superplant

Pro tip: Aloe vera should be grown in a very brightly lit spot but out of direct sunlight. Let the potting mix dry out in between waterings.

4. Mother-in-Law’s Tongue

How about going with something bold and fierce? Mother-in-Law’s Tongue has distinctive upright sword like patterned leaves and these plants are very effective at improving air quality.

"help me find a home" 😊

Pro tip: These plants are wonderfully tolerant of neglect and will handle dimly lit rooms and lack of water. Choose a pot with good drainage holes and use a quality potting mix.

5. Swiss Cheese Plant

Originating in tropical forests, the Swiss Cheese plant (also called Monstera), is sure to bring a jungle-like feeling indoors with lots of lush holey leaves and climbing stems. They can grow into sizeable plants and are great for filling a brightly lit corner of a room with greenery.

Got to work early to pot this baby up! Starting the day doing something that brings me joy feels 💃🏻 . . . . #monstera #swisscheeseplant #houseplantclub #houseplants #indoorplant #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantladyco #livingwithplants #echopark

Pro tip: Swiss Cheese plants will benefit from a monthly feed of liquid fertiliser, to encourage lots of leafy growth.

This article originally appeared on Women's Health.

Lucy Bode

Lucy Bode is a writer, social media guru and resident woo. A long black lover and foodie at heart, she considers peanut butter an hourly staple and believes chardonnay is the superior drop. When she's not at the beach, barre or yoga studio you'll find her coming up with new and improved ways to kill her unkillable houseplants.