How Houseplants Can Improve Our Mental Health

bright green monstera and various plants in a window with sunlight

The first plants I ever had were in a little one-pot succulent garden I planted when I lived in El Paso with my then fiancé, now husband. He was still in the Army, and I had just graduated college the year before and we had a small but sweet, one bedroom apartment on the East side of the city. I remember that pot of green made the place feel like home.

small blue pot with assorted succulent plants — **My very first plants from our apartment in summer 2015.**

3 large plants sitting on a wooden tray against a marble background — **The same plants, seven years later in March 2022.**

Seven years later and the succulents from our first apartment are still alive and thriving, and I’ve acquired a few more plants along the way. The current count now stands at 94! I can’t imagine my home without the patches of green that light up my day.

Plants add beauty to our home, help filter the air and also support better mental health. One study completed during COVID found that students exposed to more greenery in and around the home had less symptoms of anxiety and depression (Dzhambov et al., 2021). This is because greenery makes us feel like we are away even while at home, meaning we gain the benefits of rest and rejuvenation without ever having to actually leave.

macrame wall hanging with various hanging plants

I’ve had many people ask me how I keep so many plants alive, and I don’t really have any special tips or tricks. In fact, I find that keeping it simple when it comes to houseplants is really the best way to go- being blessed with a green thumb doesn’t hurt either but I promise it isn’t necessary!

I’ll tell you my top 5 tips I use to keep all of my greenery happy and healthy. And stay reading until the end to see my recommendations for the easiest plants to take care of. By the time you’re done, I promise those with even the blackest of thumbs will be able to keep a plant alive and enjoy the benefits of bringing nature into your home.

My Top 5 Tips for Houseplant Care

1. NEVER overwater your plants.

The main reason many plants die is from something called “root rot” which happens when it’s watered too much and too often. To avoid this, allow your plants to dry out between waterings. In the New Mexico desert, I water every 10-14 days in the winter and about every 7 days in the summer.

However not every plant will need to be watered on the same schedule but don’t worry, I have a secret weapon. A water meter.

All you have to do is stick the metal end of this gadget in the soil and the reading will tell you whether it is dry, moist or wet. In general, I don’t water unless the gauge reads “dry”. Sometimes that means plants go a few weeks without water but I’ve found they really do prefer it that way. Resist the urge to water!

variegated spider plant with water meter reading dry — **This spider plant’s soil is dry according to the water meter. I wait until this point to water my plants.**

2. Use ceramic or plastic planters.

Last year I made the terrible mistake of transferring many of my plants to terra cotta pots. While the look is beautiful, the climate is too dry where I live for these to be sustainable. The terracotta sucks the moisture out of the soil which became crumbly and then wouldn’t hold any water at all. Maybe people in more humid climates have better luck with these types of planters but my experience was not good.

I had to switch all of mine back out but luckily, they now make plastic planters in a terracotta shade (along with many other colors!). If terracotta works for you, great! I personally just recommend against it. Ceramic planters are beautiful as well, but I really do prefer plastic– it’s lighter, cheaper, and shatter resistant.

3. Fertilize at least once a year.

My favorite types of plants are the ones that trail- meaning they grow long vines from the main plant. These look beautiful hanging in a window or on a shelf. In order to get the trails to grow long, strong and healthy I fertilize at least once or twice a year. I just buy these little spikes from Amazon or Lowe’s and stick 2-4 in the soil depending on the size of the plant.

I find that fertilizing plants in the spring yields the best results although you really can’t go wrong at any time of year.

Two of my longest trailing plants, (L) baby bunny bellies, (R) neon pothos

4. Dust leaves off every few weeks.

This is something that many people may not think of doing but it’s very important! Cleaning the leaves allows the plants to absorb the sunlight they need. When the leaves are dusty, the sunlight can’t penetrate, and the plant may not grow and may even die.

I simply wipe each leaf with a damp paper towel to clean them. I have heard of others who use neem oil to clean their leaves, but I don’t think it’s necessary. Since living in the desert means there is always an abundance of dirt, I try to dust off my plants at least once every 3 months.

5. Repot at least once per year.

If you follow the tips above, that should mean that your plants are growing and thriving. This is exactly what we want but we have to make sure the roots don’t become strangled in the pot. An easy way to tell if a plant needs to be repotted is to run a finger along the inside of the planter. If you have a hard time getting through all the roots, it’s time to repot.

I use plain old Miracle-Gro soil for all of my plants and I’ve never had an issue with it. Gently run a spade around the inside of the planter, loosening the dirt. Make sure to break up the roots with your hand before planting in a new pot. Don't be too rough but I have found that plants are much tougher than they seem!

Houseplants no one can kill

I have many different species of plants in my house including monsteras, lipstick plants, prayer plants and more. These more “exotic” species can be finicky, and I secretly favor the next three plants which are nearly impossible to kill and very easy to multiply. You can pick any of these up at a local nursery or Lowe’s.

Spider Plants

large spider plant in a blue pot on antique stool

Spider plants are one of the easiest plants to take care of and they also have one of the biggest payoffs. All of the little “babies” they grow can be snipped off and turned into a new plant. Most of the spider plants in my house are from one mother plant and I have given away so many of her cuttings to family and friends.

ZZ Plants

These are probably the toughest plants I own. They only need to be watered about once per month and they can grow to massive proportions! I have one that is up to my shoulder in height now.

They are also very easy to multiply. Cut a couple of stems off at the base, place them in water and wait for roots to grow, about 2-3 weeks. Then plant in soil and enjoy your new plant!

Pothos

Pothos are probably the species of plant I own the most of. I have a few different types including golden pothos, queen marble, and jade and pearl. The color of the leaves on these plants is stunning and they add texture and interest to any room they are in.

As long as you follow my 5 tips– and above all keep it simple!- you’ll have an indoor jungle oasis of your own in no time.

1.NEVER overwater your plants.