Cool houseplants offer a stunning aesthetic to any living space they are introduced to. Some of these plants are fitted with glossy leaves or have beautiful fenestrations.
Here are some of our personal picks that we recommend you grow indoors. They are easy to maintain and can be grown anywhere indoors.
Calathea Pinstripe
- Botanical Name: Calathea Ornata
- Light Requirements: Bright but filtered sunlight
- Soil Type: Well-draining but rich soil
- Soil pH: 6.5 to 7.0
The Pinstripe Calathea is a member of the popular Calathea genus. Like most calatheas, it features a striking leaf or foliage that is deep green. This unique foliage is riddled with white pin-stripes which is where it gets its name.
Calathea ornata are some of the coolest plants to grow indoors. They are easy to care for as they do well in well-draining soil. The soil should have a decent amount of organic compost. The plant should also receive decent exposure to bright but indirect sunlight.
Snake Plant
- Botanical Name: Sansevieria trifasciata
- Light Requirements: All lighting conditions are fine
- Soil Type: Well-draining soil mix
- Soil pH: 5.5 to 7.0
Snake plants are a popular variety of cool houseplants with unique foliage. They are also sturdy as they can grow in almost every climate. You can spot a snake plant by its long growing leaves that resemble swords from the ground. These leaves are stiff and have a unique variegation.
They are some of the easiest indoor plants to grow. As they can survive in low light areas as well as areas of full or direct sunlight. Watering should be kept at average levels, and the soil should be well-draining.
Nerve Plant
- Botanical Name: Fittonia albivenis
- Light Requirements: Filtered sunlight to direct sunlight
- Soil Type: Well-draining potting soil mix
- Soil pH: 6.5 to 7.0.
Fittonias are interesting houseplants with unique foliage. They are called the nerve plant because of their unique foliage which contains veins. These veins are well-patterned and nerve-like. It also spots bright colors ranging from yellow to deep red or purple.
Growing these plants is easy indoors. They need average watering and they can survive both filtered and direct sunlight. You should be careful with the amount of sunlight you give them as they can suffer burns.
Rose Grape
- Botanical Name: Medinilla magnifica
- Light Requirements: bright direct sunlight
- Soil Type: Well-draining potting soil mix
- Soil pH: 6.0 to 6.5.
Medinilla magnifica is a flowering plant species. It is home to the Philippines and is a member of the Melastomataceae family. It features deep green foliage that carries pink-colored flowers. These flowers form clusters and have a dropping growth pattern.
They are cool plants for indoor spaces but would need lots of pruning to control their growth. Watering should be kept at an average level. They can grow under direct sunlight but protect themselves from the scorching sun. The soil used should be a well-draining mix.
Moon Cactus
- Botanical Name: Gymnocalycium mihanovichii
- Light Requirements: bright but filtered sunlight
- Soil Type: Well-draining cactus soil mix
- Soil pH: 5.5 to 7.0.
The moon cactus has to be one of the most fun plants to grow indoors. It is marked by its weird or unique foliage. It carries the regular green rootstock of the cactus but has a bright-colored top or ribbed ball. This ribbed ball comes in a variety of colors from yellow to orange to pink.
As a succulent cactus, the moon cactus does not need much watering. They grow best when exposed to direct sunlight but can also grow well indoors. You would need a good window spot for the potted cacti variety.
Shameplant
- Botanical Name: Mimosa Pudica
- Light Requirements: Bright direct sunlight
- Soil Type: Well-draining loamy soil
- Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0
Shameplants or sensitive plants are some of the finest plants to grow. They have normal-looking foliage that is light green in color. It also produces purple blooms that are stunning. What makes them cool is that they are sensitive to touch. They fold up when exposed to external touch.
Watering these should be done once a week. They do need direct sunlight but not for prolonged periods. And the proper soil type for them would be a well-draining loamy soil that is well-aerated.
Pebble Plants
- Botanical Name: Lithops Livingstone
- Light Requirements: Full or direct sunlight
- Soil Type: Well-draining sandy soil
- Soil pH: 6.5 to 7.5
Pebble plants are also called living stones. They come from the Aizoaceae family and are found growing in South Africa. They are succulents that look like pebbles and take a wide range of colors. These colors are from green to brown.
Growing these houseplants can be easy. They need sandy soil that is both well-draining and rich in organic matter. Watering should be kept at a minimal level. And the lighting conditions should be bright and sunny.
Polka-dot Cactus
- Botanical Name: Opuntia microdasys
- Light Requirements: Full or direct sunlight
- Soil Type: Well-draining cactus soil mix
- Soil pH: 5.5 to 6.5
Polka-dot cactus is also called the bunny ear cactus. It is a variety of cacti that is shaped like bunny ears. It features a weird shape like bunny ears that is riddled with white short spines. These spines give the plant its polka-dot look
These unique indoor plants are easy to grow. Being succulents, they do not need much watering. Instead, water them when the soil feels dry. The cactus soil mix should be enough and always provide direct sunlight for them to grow in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moon cactuses don’t grow tall. At full height, they measure 12 inches.
Getting the bunny ear cactus is easy. They can be found in most plant shops or can be found in online stores like Etsy.
No, shame plants are safe to touch. Eating them raw might not be wise as they can lead to stomach aches.
They can propagate on their own when grown in the same pot. You can also propagate them through division.
Rose grapes are excellent plants to grow outdoors. They would do well when grown under direct sunlight.
