There are lots of reasons to bring some greenery into your apartment, especially if you live in the city and don’t have any public parks in the immediate vicinity.
Aside from the aesthetic lift plants and flowers can bring to your space, they also increase the oxygen levels in your home and help clean the air you are breathing. This is not only good for your health, but it can actually help you work better too!
So if you’re looking for some tips to bring a splash of green into your home (without the luxury of a garden), look no further than the list below.
House Plants
Sick of spending money on houseplants, just to have them die on you a few weeks later? Some plants do better in apartment spaces than others, last longer, and do a better job of improving air purity.
One great species is the Snake Plant. Snake plants are great for novice plant-parents as they require very little maintenance, thrive in environments with little water and low-light and do a fantastic job purify the air by removing toxins like formaldehyde and benzene.
Spider Plants also do well without a great deal of light and are quick to propagate – meaning they quickly multiply – so really provide returns on your investment.
A Boston Fern is similarly easy to look after and not only purifies the air by removing toxins but also helps to regulate humidity! So it’s a great option if you’re in a stuffy apartment that overheat in the summer.
Herbs
Love to cook? Fan of fresh ingredients? Why not incorporate some fresh herbs into your indoor garden for a splash of greenery that you can use to punch up your cooking.
There are a number of potted herbs you can grow at home all year round which works great in a variety of dishes. Basil, Bay, Chives, Oregano, Parsley, Thyme, Tarragon, and Sage can all thrive on window sills with some love and attention.
As a general rule, indoor herbs are gonna need about six hours of sunlight a day to stay alive, so you want to find them a south-facing window where they can make the most of the light. Their pots will need good drainage, as if the soil gets waterlogged, they will die.
You can also give them an extra boost with some fertilizer, or even better – with some artificial light.
Grow Light
If your home doesn’t get a great deal of light in the day, or if your windows are on the wrong side, you can give indoor plants an extra bit of help with a grow light bulb.
A grow light bulb will allow you to regulate the amount of quality light your plants are getting every day, as well as the proximity of light to the leaves. They will have a significantly positive effect on the health of all your plants (and on the actual flavor of your herbs) and help protect them against decline.
If you are lucky enough to have a garden, an indoor grow light is a great way to give your baby plants the light and warmth they need to get started, before taking them outside to face the harsher climate.
Fresh Flowers
Another great way to bring the garden indoors – as well as a splash of color and a summery fragrance – is with fresh flowers.
A study at the University of Florida has found that having fresh flowers in your home can help boost your mood, reduce stress, help sleep and even improve your memory.
So get acquainted with your local florist, and look out for lilies, sunflowers, tulips, roses, peonies, or any other variety that takes your fancy, for some fresh, health-boosting home decoration.
And there we have it! Use these tips to brighten your day and make for a greener inner-city apartment.
