Many things have changed over the years. A dozen customs and traditions have been scrapped for new ones, innovation and crisis has led us to change the way we do things. But some things have weathered the test of time. From the Ancient Greeks to the middle ages, to the present day, we continue to give flowers out to those we love.
It’s also a tasteful way to express your feelings to someone, be that sympathy, pride, love, or joy. And so these blooms have become a staple in our modern-day lives. But more than just playing the role of ‘general token of appreciation’, they are also a favorite decorative piece for many households.
It’s important to have flowers in our home.
Design Psychologist and HGTV Personality Kelli Ellis believes that flowers are the last design element. Whenever she brings in clients at the end of an interior design project, she always gives them a fresh bouquet to decorate in their new homes. It has always resulted in big and happy smiles.
Ellis emphasizes how important it is to have flowers in our homes, not just for our house guests but specifically for ourselves and our well-being. Our spaces should be the happiest, calmest, and most-energizing rooms we’ve ever been in. And having houseplants make that possible.
We love having houseplants indoors. There is a myriad of benefits why you should bring the outdoors in. With lockdowns happening everywhere and staying-at-home becoming a more popular lifestyle choice, surrounding ourselves with greenery is a self-care move for our physical and mental health.
Adding elements of nature to our homes and interiors improves our well-being.
Erin Largo-Wight of the University of North Florida Department of Public Health articulates that, “there is a growing body of research that illustrates how environmental design positively impacts health.”
You may have already heard of the famous NASA study conducted regarding houseplants. And you may have an inkling idea of the benefits of houseplants in general. But what about the flower? Is it all about smelling good and looking pretty for these plants?
Benefits of Growing Flowering Houseplants
1. Flowers Reduce Stress
In 2018, Dr. Wight, quoted above, led her team to research on flowering plants and stress. Their study, entitled, The Impact of Flowers on Perceived Stress Among Women, infers that growing flowers indoors significantly and meaningfully reduce stress.
Their research revealed that 68 percent of people feel stressed out every week and 32 percent felt stress every day. For the study, 170 women were brought in to identify and measure the effects the flower has on one’s stress level. Some were given luxury candles, others nothing at all, and others were given a flower. The women that received a flower noted a significant reduction in their stress levels.
2. Flowers Improve Your Mood
From personal experience, receiving flowers always manages to put a smile on my face. That’s why we continue giving and receiving these flowering plants because it improves our mood. Scientifically speaking, this 2005 Rutgers study called An Environmental Approach to Positive Emotion: Flowers confirms that reaction. The study states that “flowers, upon presentation to women, always elicited the Duchenne or true smile. Women who received flowers reported more positive moods 3 days later.”
3. Flowers Increase Workplace Creativity
Another exciting benefit of having them surround you is that it increases creativity. If you handle a team that needs a little inspiration and you’re reading this, consider adding a flower bouquet to your workspace. Or, if you are working from home and are desperate to try anything to motivate and inspire you, take this recommendation from the researchers at Texas A&M University.
The study conducted for the Society of American Florist concludes that workers can generate better ideas, solve problems, and work creatively when they are in a nature-filled environment.
4. Flowers Help You Heal
Hospitals are not the most ideal of places for anyone to feel thriving. But when one study added ornamental indoor plants and flowering plants to a select 90 patients in recovery, the study yielded positive results. Patients recovering from surgery showed better physical improvement when compared with patients in similar rooms without.
The studies and the research are all very conclusive. Flowers are a positive and helpful addition to your home and life. But many plant-lovers and plant beginners back away from cultivating these blooms because of the belief that they are hard to care for. Why not just buy fresh cut flowers from the florist? That thought may have crossed your mind once or twice.
The Rutgers research we mentioned above concludes their study with a helpful suggestion. If you want a long-term, long-lasting improvement to your mood, grow your own flowering plant. Hobbyists who cultivate flowers fall into this emotional niche. When you keep them in your home, you provide care and attention that only humans can do. And when they are cared for, they reward their human with more beauty. This is the kind of nurturing process that creates positive human emotions.
Best Conditions for Flowering Houseplants
So, science tells us that growing flowers warrants a happier, healthier life. But when thinking of flowering plants, roses come to mind, and those are some of the most daunting blooms – indoors or outdoors! When we think of growing plants indoors, we typically set our thumbs on green vines and green leaves.
But believe it or not, there are easy-to-care-for flowers. And they aren’t as demanding as one would think. You do not need to spend too much time tending to them. Contrary to popular belief, flowering plants are self-sufficient and are friendly even to the newest of gardeners.
Of course, like all relationships, there are a few things to consider. Each flowering plant and even the green ones are different and will require different types of care. But there are a few general things to consider. Don’t worry, these simply involve the standard level of care for growing houseplants.
The Standard Level of Care:
First, assess what your indoor environment is like. Flowering houseplants need a lot of sunlight. A lot of light. Find a place in your home that gets up to six hours of sun. If you do not have ample light, consider investing in artificial fluorescent lighting. Get the kind that is specifically designed for growing.
Like all other plants, you will also have to pay close attention to their required conditions. Determine which plants need low or high humidity. Houseplants are more susceptible to diseases and insect infestation. This is something you need to keep a close eye on. Don’t fret though, there are organic pesticides that can ward off these harmful elements.
With consistent watering schedules and routine maintenance, you will be enjoying thriving and blooming plants in the comfort of your home. Not sure where to start? These are easy to grow houseplants.
Easy Flowers To Grow Indoors
Geranium
We start with a popular outdoor plant that’s surprisingly easy to grow indoors. Geraniums have beautiful blooms with color varieties. They give character to windowsills and gardens. But with the lovely fragrance that their leaves produce, they are a welcome addition to your home
For a sturdy and blooming geranium, place them in direct sunlight for at least 6 to 8 hours. For artificial lighting, give them 14 hours a day under grow lights. Geraniums like a light, well-draining potting soil. You need not water them consistently as they prefer to dry out between watering. The soil should be dry to the touch and not moist.
Also, geraniums don’t like to be planted in too large a pot. For more blooms, prune back the leggy canes and pinch back growing tips.
African Violet
Are you looking for a flowering houseplant that will bloom all year round? There are varying opinions about African violets. Some indoor gardeners shy away from growing these indoor flowering plants because there are a few quirks that some find intimidating.
On the other hand, intermediate gardeners find African violets as one of the easiest and most effortless plants to care for. They are small plants, and you can put them in corners and in any place that has access to bright indirect light. They bloom in varieties of purple flowers, white flowers, and red flowers.
What makes these plants a little challenging for some is the watering preference. The African violet is picky about water, so be mindful of what you water them with. So far, they respond best to lukewarm or tepid water that has been sitting for over 48 hours.
For the African violets to fully thrive, avoid overwatering. Be careful not to splash any drop on the foliage as this often causes spots and damage. Coldwater can scare them and will cause browning.
The best way to water the African violet, it seems, is wick watering. That is watering the plant from the bottom. Keep the soil evenly moist and not dried out. Turn the pot around on different days, so you don’t have an African violet that is weirdly shaped reaching for the sun.
Kalanchoe
Succulent houseplants that bloom? You are in luck! Succulents, together with cacti, are well-known low-maintenance plants. What makes the kalanchoe (Kal-un-KOH-ee) special is the gorgeous color of petals it blooms into. The deep green, scallop-shaped leaves are also quite attractive.
They like bright, natural light. However, you don’t want them to burn, so keep them away from windows and out of direct sunlight. Instead, they are perfect for your desk at home or a coffee table. As with all succulents, the kalanchoe grows best when the soil is dry. They have thick fleshy leaves for storing water, so instead, focus on proper drainage.
The kalanchoe, however, likes staying evenly moist especially, during spring through autumn. For best results, you can help your pretty kalanchoes to bloom by ensuring they get equal amounts of sunlight and complete darkness.
Jasmine
There’s a reason many perfume brands and misting oils carry the scent of Jasmine. No other flowering plant smells quite as good as this one. Imagine having your own fresh plant at home; your house will be filled with its sweet fragrance all year long!
For Jasmine to thrive indoors, you need to give it bright light like from a sunny window. For white blooms, this winter, give it good air circulation. The Jasmine plant can tolerate up to four hours of direct sunlight every day. This flowering houseplant is indeed low maintenance. It can handle a little bit of your forgetfulness if you miss watering schedules. With proper maintenance, Jasmines will reward you with their long lifespan.
Begonias
Indoor or outdoor, Begonias are proven to be easy to grow plants. Many varieties bloom all year round. Personally, begonias are my favorite. You don’t even need blooms to enjoy the exciting and interesting shapes of their leaves.
The angel wing begonia plant produces flower clusters that hang loosely from the attractive green leaves. The leaves of the angel wing are absolutely attractive as they come in speckled or streaked foliage on their glossy green leaves. Make sure the soil is evenly moist but not soggy and place in filtered, indirect light. Begonias also bloom best in high humidity.
Peace Lily
On a list of easy-to-grow, low-maintenance, easy-care, best indoor plants, the Peace Lily consistently makes it to the list. That’s because they really can withstand most kinds of conditions. For self-proclaimed brown thumbs and newbies, the peace lily can be your entry into the plant-parenting world.
The gorgeous foliage of this plant is enough reason to keep it indoors. In the right conditions, the peace lily will produce white spathes (that people commonly mistake as the flower). These are special white leaves that grow hooded over the flowers.
Peace lilies love medium to low light. For this houseplant, underwatering is better than overwatering. Touch the top of the soil if it feels dry to the touch. This is the best condition for watering.
Lipstick Plant
Step aside, Kylie Jenner, this lipstick is au natural. The Aeschynanthus radicans or Lipstick plant got its name for the shape of the red flowers. The vivid red emerging from a dark maroon bud really resembles the tube we swipe on our lips.
Of the flowering houseplants on our list, this one is best potted on hanging baskets. That’s because this is a vining plant, and with its bright red flowers, bring a pop of color to your home. Keep the plant away from bright light, and be sure not to soak the soil.
Christmas Cactus
Not only is this an easy-care plant, but it’s also easy to propagate. With colors in red, pink, orange, white and more, the Christmas cactus produces blooms even in the most neglected conditions. You can keep the Christmas cactus in low light or place it in an east-facing window. For watering, you simply give it enough water to keep the soil barely moist.
Cape Primrose
The Cape primrose has a striking pattern and shaped leaves. The velvet petals are eye-catching too. In the colder winter season, this might just be the best indoor houseplant for you. A treat for those winter blues moments.
The botanical name of the Cape Primrose is Streptocarpus. Like its close relative, the African violet, this isn’t a difficult houseplant to grow. Keep it in a cool spot under bright, indirect light. Only water the soil is dry to the touch and avoid wetting the leaves.
Clivia
This flowering houseplant blooms with stunning bright shades of yellow, orange, to red. It is undeniably attractive to the eyes. With a trumpet-like flower, it emits a most alluring fragrance.
Clivias retain their foliage all year round. Growing indoors, keep them at room temperature and away from direct sunlight. At night, keep it in total darkness to help it grow. With this flowering houseplant, well-draining soil is the key to achieve the best conditions.
Bromeliad
With the quirky and unusual appearance of this plant, it’s easy to think this is one of the high maintenance flowering houseplants. But far from it, bromeliads are easy to grow and reward you with blooms in bright colors of orange, yellow, red, and more.
Bromeliads are epiphytes, they are air plants that absorb moisture from their environment. They are not parasitic but grow in the atmosphere of their host. What that means for you are less watering and minimal soil requirements.
The bromeliad can tolerate dry soil conditions and you can keep them in bright indirect light. When you water them, allow the water to catch between the leaves so it can be absorbed well.
Lavender
For many years, the lavender fields of Europe have attracted hundreds of tourists. You may not be able to visit those fields often, but you can bring this dainty plant home.
The aroma of this plant is worth a little struggle. Unlike other flowering houseplants on this list, the lavender will need some time to acclimate to your home. Once you’ve gotten the hang of it, this plant will be so low-maintenance.
For a long-lasting thriving plant, pot in fast-draining soil so that water won’t cause root rot. Avoid too much watering as that makes the soil moist. This plant struggles to bounce back once it is waterlogged. The lavenders love bright light, the best placement would be a south-facing window.
Amaryllis
Very few bulbs can compete with how low maintenance this plant is. It’s remarkable that this plant grows indoors so easily and then rewards you with blooms so elegant and beautiful. They come in striking colors of white, red, pink flowers.
Place the pot in a location that receives bright, indirect light. Water sparingly until you see new growth, from then you can water regularly. Keep the plant evenly moist. Tall plants such as the Amaryllis tend to grow bent. Periodically turn the pot to encourage straight flower stalks. Once the plant blooms, keep out of direct sunlight.
Poinsettia
‘Tis the season! The poinsettia is perhaps one of the most popular plants during the holiday season, but don’t be fooled, it grows all year long!
For best growth, place it on a window with sunny light. Plant in well-draining soil and only water it when the soil feels dry.
Frequently-Asked-Questions:
What are the best indoor flower plants?
- Geranium
- African Violet
- Kalanchoe
- Jasmine
- Begonias
- Peace Lilies
- Lipstick Plant
- Christmas Cactus
- Cape Primrose
- Clivia
- Bromeliad
- Lavender
- Amaryllis
- Poinsettia
Which flowering plants grow best in bright indirect light?
- Kalanchoe
- Bromeliads
- Peace Lily
- Clivia
- Amaryllis
- Christmas Cactus
- Poinsettia
- African Violets
- Lipstick Plant
Which flowering houseplants grow best in bright light?
- Jasmine
- Geranium
- Cape Primrose
- Lavender