A Quick Guide To Creating An Urban Jungle

House plants are a great way to add life and color into your living space. They come in so many forms and sizes, it is easy to find yourself with an apartment full of too many plants to count. If you are new to indoor plant care, you may not know where to begin. What plants are the easiest to care for? How much light do I need? What plants are safe to buy if I have pets? Luckily, there are many resources online that can help you decide which plant fits your lifestyle. We are not experts, but would like to share our favorite plants we’ve collected and cared for over the years. 

Easy To Care For 

• Philodendron: This is known for its trailing vine. You’ve probably seen it many times and already know how to recognize it. It is a fast grower, some people even let it trail all the way around their window frame!  This plant likes bright indirect light and watering every 1-2 weeks.
• Snake Plant: The snake plant is known for being one of the top plants for air purification. They can grow very large in the correct pot and thrive with minimal care. It’s leaves are patterned and grow straight up mimicking a snake. They like bright indirect to low light and watering every 2-3 weeks. 

• Monstera Deliciosa & Monstera Adansonii: These houseplants are probably the most talked about. They are also referred to as “swiss cheese” plants because of the holes in the leaves that form as the plant ages. Monsteras have aerial roots for climbing, so be prepared to change their setup as they grow. They like bright indirect to medium light and watering every 1-2 weeks. 

• Aloe: The aloe plant is a common plant to have in your house as it can be used topically for sun burns. They are also great for air purification. Aloe plants can grow very large quickly if given the space, yet are easy to care for. They like bright indirect to direct sun and watering every 1-2 weeks. 
• Bird of Paradise: These plants love light, and with the right setup can take over a corner of your living room. They are named after the flower they produce; the bright colors look like tropical birds. They do well in bright indirect to direct light.

• Air Plant: These are fun plants to decorate your coffee table or bathroom with. Air plants are usually between 2-5 inches. They thrive off of bright indirect light. Although they do not need soil they must be soaked in water weekly. They are also pet-friendly! 

Pet-Friendly 

• Majesty Palm: These hardy plants are slow growers but can reach up to 10 feet tall. They adapt easily to new locations and are safe to be around your furry friends. They like bright indirect to direct light and watering every 1-2 weeks.

• Peperomia: Also known as baby rubber plants, has very thick leaves. It is a very low maintenance plant, yet may bloom small white flowers once a year. It likes bright indirect to low light and watering every 1-2 weeks. 

• Birds Nest Ferns: Ferns are a tricky plant to care for indoors…but not the Birds Nest. They stand out with wavy fronds and bright green color. This plant likes bright indirect to low light and watering every 1-2 weeks. 

Unusual

• Staghorn Fern: Staghorn ferns are a personal favorite, they are strange and fascinating. Staghorn ferns can be mounted on the wall, left in the pot, or wrapped in a moss ball called Kokedama. They require bright indirect sun and must be soaked in water every 1-2 weeks. 
• Ric Rac Cactus: This plant will surely catch the eye of anyone walking past it. It has fishbone-shaped trailing stems and is easy to care for. The Ric Rac Cactus likes bright indirect light and watering every 1-2 weeks. 

Now this may seem like a lot of information. We recommend looking at what plants fit your lifestyle according to the categories above. There is a lot of information online and at your local nursery for further advice. Buying new plants can also be a little pricey which is why we recommend looking on secondhand market pages online or even asking a friend for a plant cutting you can start growing in a jar of water. Different plants need specific amounts of light, which means your home will have plants in many corners and on varying platforms. We hope you use this as a chance to get creative with your space and introduce living elements in your home.