TOP 5 INDOOR OXYGEN PLANTS FOR HOME

1. snake plant

Snake plant (Sansevieria)

An important factor in determining the suitability of a plant to your home and envisioning the care it will need, is to know the origin of the plant. Plants that are native to desert regions will require substantial amount of sunlight and loose, fast-draining soil. Plants from the floor of a rainforest will need some protection from strong sunlight and generous humidity.

Snake plants, also referred to as mother-in-law's tongue, are native to rocky, dry habitats in tropical Africa.The plants most in household cultivation are Sansieveria trifasciata and its cultivars and Sansvieria cylindrica, both of which are stiff, erect plants. Each of the leaves have a pointed tip that you should treat gently; if the tip is broken, the leaf-blade stops growing. Snake plant has a well deserved reputation as a very durable plant in varied conditions.

Light:

Snake plants prefer plentiful sunlight, but will put up with some light shade and continue to grow. They should be protected from the hottest, southern sun in summer. Though they can survive poor light conditions, they will not grow without moderate sunlight and will not flower without more generous sun exposure.

Water and Humidity:

Too much water is the most frequent cause of failure. Water moderately, making the potting mixture moist and checking back after 15 minutes to remove any water sitting in the plant's run-off dish.

When the plant is in active growth, allow the soil to just dry between waterings. While the plant is tolerant of extended dryness, succulents do have shallow roots and they will rot easily if over-watered, causing the plant to fall over. In the low-light conditions of winter (October through February), water only as often as is necessary to prevent the leaves from puckering, no more than every two weeks.

Average household humidity is adequate.

Temperature:

These are tropical plants and a warm household, between 65 and 80°F., is ideal. Do not keep below 55°F.

Re-potting:

Snake plants like to be root-bound and can stay in the same pot for several years, while replacing some surface soil annually. Repot once the plant is close to bursting its pot. The proper, quick-draining, soil, however, is essential. Potting soil with one third sand or perlite and up to one third peat added works well.

Nutrition:

A liquid fertilizer, fed at half strength, once per month, during the growing period only, is generally advised.

What to Watch for:

Do not move a snake plant from a shady position into the bright sunlight or it will scorch. Over-watering is the most frequent problem, especially during the winter, and results in rot, capsizing foliage and plant death. Cold winter drafts will also cause rot and sudden plant death.  Each of the leaves have a pointed tip that you should treat gently; if the tip is broken, the leaf-blade stops growing.

 2. spider plant

About Spider Plants

During the summer, spider plants may produce tiny white flowers on long stems, as well as baby spider plants (offsets) called “pups.” The pups look like tiny spiders, hence the plant’s name!

Spider plants were once highlighted by NASA for their reported air-purifying ability, though a large amount of plants would be required to reap any benefits in the home. Nonetheless, they are a classic and attractive plant to add to your space.

PLANTING

• Grow in a soil-based, well-draining potting mix. Spider plants like even moisture; they don’t like to be too dry or too wet.
• Keep plants in bright to moderate indirect sunlight. Spider plants do not appreciate direct, hot sunlight, which can burn their leaves, causing brown tips and spots.
• Spider plants grow fairly quickly and can easily become pot bound. Plan to repot a spider plant about every other year.
• Spider plants can be grown outdoors as annuals during the summer. They look especially good along the edge of a container or bed, as long as they are kept out of direct sunlight.

growing 

• During initial growth, water occasionally; once fully developed (within one year), water moderately. 
• In the spring and summer months, keep the soil moist to encourage growth. Do not let soil dry out too much.
• Maintain average room temperature and humidity. Spider plants prefer temperatures between 55 and 80°F (13–27°C), which makes them a great indoor houseplant.
• Fertilize up to twice a month in the spring and summer, however, avoid overfertilization.

3. peace lily 

• During the summer, water and mist frequently. They thrive with higher humidity. In water, reduce watering, but never allow the soil to dry out.
• They really prefer moist warmth; avoid cold drafts and temperatures below 12ºC if possible. Beware. Because temperatures below 7°C will kill it, so keep it indoors much of the year.
• These plants like a rich, loose potting soil containing plenty of organic material.Feed weekly in the summer, or use slow-release pellets at the beginning of the season.

Re-potting the Peace Lily : The Peace Lily should be repotted every year or two. The signs that a Peace Lily should be repotted include:

• Roots crowd the soil surface. Slide pot down partway to see if roots are packed together. If so, the plant is “root bound” and could use fresh soil and a little more room. Despite this, keep in mind that Peace Lilies bloom BETTER when somewhat root bound. Further, the root ball may react badly to too much room. Only repot if the leaves turn yellow and/or the plant seems to need watered more than once a week.
• The Peace Lily plant dries out twice a week or more and takes up new water quickly.
• Plant stalks crowd the pot.

Peace Lily Potting Mix:  Use a peat-based potting mix that contains perlite (or sand) and composted bark. Ingredients will be listed. Peace Lilies grow under a forest canopy and so are used to living in deteriorating bark. Make sure the mix has a springy texture, dark color and low odor.

Peace Lily Pots:  Clay, ceramic or plastic are equally useful. Choose a pot just two inches wider in diameter than original pot. The largest pot size a Peace Lily will ever need is 10 inches in diameter. To avoid root rot, make sure all pots have drainage holes, even if you have to drill them yourself.

Pruning the Peace Lily: he only time Peace Lilies need pruning are when leaves yellow and the flower fades. Cut both with a clean blade as close to the soil level as possible.

4. aloe vera.

1

Place the aloe in a sunny spot  A sunny kitchen window or another sunny place in your house is perfect for an aloe plant. Aloe also does fine in areas with indirect sunlight. Aloe in full shade will not thrive, so make sure there's a least a little sun in the room where you place the aloe.

• You can move the plant outdoors in the summer months as long as there is no chance of frost. Aloe plants are made up of 95 percent water, and even a slight frost will freeze them and turn them to mush.
• If you live in a warm growing zone and are planting your aloe outdoors, choose a place that gets indirect sun (six to eight hours per day).

2. water deeply but sparingly. Aloe plants are pretty low-maintenance, since they don't require much water. Wait until the soil is dry at least two inches below the surface, then water slowly and deeply until you see water coming through the drainage holes. Do not water the aloe again until the soil is dry at least two inches below the surface once more. In most environments during April through October, you will need to water regularly. This equates to watering once every week, and twice per month in the winter

• If you've just repotted your aloe, wait two or three days before watering. This gives the roots time to adjust to the new soil before taking in water.

• When in doubt, water less, not more. When aloe is overwatered, the roots begin to rot, and the plant eventually dies. It's better to wait a few extra days if you're not sure whether it's time to water.

• If you truly love your aloe plant, consider using rainwater. When it rains, the aloe gets watered, and when it doesn't the aloe goes without. This replicates the aloe's natural environment. However, this will not work during times of drought.

• Remember that overwatering may lead to root rot and fungus, so it is very important to avoid this.

3

Fertilize the aloe during the growing season. From April through September, the aloe will grow vigorously. You can help it along if you'd like by providing some fertilizer twice a month during these months. Dilute a 15-30-15 fertilizer by mixing it with water, one part fertilizer to five parts water. Deliver the fertilizer on the days when you water.

• Stop fertilizing during the winter, since the plant can't use fertilizer when it isn't actively growing.

4.Watch for insects. There are a few pests that are common fans of the aloe plant, such as mealy bugs. These bugs are flat and brown or tan and they like to suck on the sap from aloe plants. To prevent them, use a natural, non-toxic pesticide on your aloe plant.

5. english ivy

How to Grow

• Water when the top of the soil dries out. Ivy likes moist but not wet soil, so your goal should be to water deeply so that water comes out of the pot’s drainage holes.
• After a few hours, the soil should feel like a well-wrung-out sponge. Let the top inch dry out a bit before adding more water.
• Place your ivy in a spot where it will receive lots of indirect light, or weak direct light. A location near a north or east-facing window is perfect, though this is one houseplant that is happy to grow in the light of a fluorescent bulb too.

Growing Tips

• Water when the top inch of soil has dried out.
• Place in bright, indirect light.
• If your location has deep shade, provide fluorescent lighting.

Pruning and Maintenance

1. If you truly want your ivy to thrive, place it outdoors in the shade for as much of the spring and fall as possible. Your plant will look and be so much healthier than it might if kept indoors year-round.
2. Don’t go chucking it outside at the first sign of good weather. Wait until the last predicted frost date has passed, keep an eye on the weather forecast, and bring your ivy outdoors for an hour on the first day.
3. Add an hour per day for a week. After that, you can leave your plant outside full-time.

Cultivars to Select

• Be aware that if you select a variety of ivy with five-lobed leaves, it won’t stay that way.
• Most English ivy cultivars produce juvenile leaves with five lobes, but these leaves take on the familiar heart shape of their adult form as they age.
• Also, know that your houseplant won’t bloom or produce berries like ivy does when it’s planted outside.

From Seedlings/Transplanting

• The easiest method, and the best one to help ensure that your plant will survive indoors, is to buy a seedling or small plant at a nursery.
• While you can purchase ones that are meant for outdoor growing, you’ll have better luck if you buy one that is intended for use as a houseplant.
• Gently remove your new friend from its container and brush away the existing soil. You don’t need to brush away all of it, you just want to be able to gently tease out the roots so they aren’t bound together.
• Plant into a pot that is at least one size larger, seated at the same level that it was growing in its original home. Fill in around the root ball with fresh potting soil.