The Real Estate Avenue: Great House Plants For The Novice..

Like many of you I have done my share of laying to rest a vast number of house plants. You buy a bunch of seeds or potted plants with the best of intentions and within a month or two that vibrant green color has been replaced with yellow & brown. The problem may not be that your green thumb challenged you might need to start small.

I know what your thinking "Why should I care about learning to take care of plants when I can buy artificial ones that don't wilt?" Plants not only add beauty to a room they also provide clean air, boost your mood, improve sleep & lower the risk of illness. All of these are great reasons to invest in a few house plants.

The Peace Lily-(Spathyphyllium) native to tropical regions of the Americas and southeastern Asia does not need a lot of water or sunlight to survive. Your are able to water this plant once a week. You don't need to over water the soil dampening it should be adequate. The best sunlight for this plant is indirect sunlight. You may also need to re-pot the Peace Lily every 1-2 years.

   The Spider plant (Chlorophytum Comosum) also called Airplane plants are native to Tropical Southern Africa. They thrive in bright indirect light & a good amount of water. Avoid making the plant to soggy. The spider plant can begin sprouting flowers in spring. This may not always be the case depending on the care of your plant. Watch for sticky & yellow leaves as this can be a sign your plant may be unhealthy.

Aloe Vera Plant grows wild in tropical climates & is used for medicinal & agricultural purposes. It requires well drained soil & bright and sunny conditions. However to much sun can burn the plant. Unlike the Peace Lily which is beautiful to look at but can cause a nauseous feeling & difficulty swallowing if ingested the aloe plant is hailed for its therapeutic uses by many.

A few other honorable mentions for great indoor plants are Golden Pothos, Snake Plant, Rubber Tree, English Ivy & Philodendron. As always do your research before buying any of these plants to make sure there safe for you & your family.