Living room plants are a necessity when trying to spruce up your home. They also help with purifying the air of the living room and getting rid of toxins.
Most ornamental plant species also make great plants for the living room. But here are some specific types that you can grow with ease.
Fiddle-Leaf Fig Plant
- Botanical Name: Ficus Lyrata
- Light Requirement: Partial shade to full sun
- Soil Requirement: Well-draining Potting media
- Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.0
The Fiddle-leaf fig or ficus lyrata is a popular houseplant that can be found in most homes. It gained popularity due to its unique foliage. It features a deep green leaf that is stunning. These leaves are carried by thick stems that act as small trunks.
It is one of the best plants for the living room as it can survive some form of neglect. Lighting should be bright but indirect. They can also survive full sunlight exposure. Watering should be done often but be careful as they can suffer from overwatering.
Kentia Palm
- Botanical Name: Howea forsteriana
- Light Requirement: Bright but filtered Sunlight
- Soil Requirement: Well-draining loamy or sandy soil
- Soil pH: 5.5 – 6.5
Kentia palm is a great option when trying to fill your living room with plants. It is a good species from the Howea genus and it belongs to the Arecaceae family. It features palm fronds of light green to dark green. These fronds are carried by small trunks with rings or scars on them.
You can place the Kentia palm in a large living room. They do occupy space but are great when used as a focal point when decorating. Grow them in bright but filtered sunlight. They can survive some dappled sunlight. Watering should be done once a week.
Medallion Calathea
- Botanical Name: Calathea roseopicta ‘Medallion’
- Light Requirement: Bright but filtered Sunlight
- Soil Requirement: Well-draining potting soil
- Soil pH: 6.0 – 6.5
The Calathea Medallion or prayer plant has unique and attractive foliage. This is the major reason why they are good plants for the living room. They feature a colorful or variegated leaf that is often heart-shaped with short stems.
Add the calathea variety to your living room. They can be placed on a large coffee table to bring some color into the room. Grow them in pots with well-draining potting soil. Lighting should be bright but indirect.
Fishtail Palm
- Botanical Name: Caryota ‘Fishtail Palm’
- Light Requirement: Bright but filtered Sunlight
- Soil Requirement: Well-draining potting soil
- Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.5
Caryota is a prominent genus with peculiar plant species under it. The fishtail palm gets its name from its features. Its leaves are shaped like the tail of a fish. They have ragged edges and are green and are known to grow large heights.
They make great accent plants for the living room due to their large height. They can survive almost every lighting. And can survive some neglect when it comes to watering. They should be pruned often to keep them under control.
Silver Evergreen Plant
- Botanical Name: Aglaonema
- Light Requirement: Bright but filtered Sunlight
- Soil Requirement: Well-draining potting soil
- Soil pH: 5.5 – 6.5
Aglaonemas or Silver evergreen plants are air-purifying plants. They feature large leaves that are silverish green in color, this is due to their variegation. They are also known as the Chinese evergreen plant.
You can pack your living room full of plants like the Silver Evergreen plant. They are gorgeous and grow well in filtered but bright sunlight. They are also drought tolerant so should not water them often.
Snake Plant
- Botanical Name: Dracaena trifasciata
- Light Requirement: From low to direct sunlight
- Soil Requirement: Well-draining potting soil mix
- Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.0
Snake plants are another great option when it comes to modern plant decor for the living room. They are very sturdy and can grow in almost all temperature conditions you subject them to. They have unique foliage with markings on them.
Grow snake plants in pots with enough potting soil mix. It should be large enough to accommodate its roots. They can survive long periods of neglect but should be watered once a week or 2 weeks.
Dragon Tree
- Botanical Name: Dracaena Draco
- Light Requirement: Bright but indirect sunlight
- Soil Requirement: Well-draining loamy soil
- Soil pH: 6.0 – 6.5
Dragon trees can be grown indoors, but more as bonsai trees. They work best as living room plants when placed next to a TV. They are known for their scaly trunks which are large and have scattered leaves or fronds.
The tree is also known as an air purifier, which can get rid of harmful toxins in the air. They are sturdy so you don’t have to be too bothered by diseases or pests. Grow them in almost every lighting and watering should be kept at a minimal level.
Bird of Paradise Plant
- Botanical Name: Strelitzia
- Light Requirement: Ranges from indirect sunlight to direct sunlight
- Soil Requirement: Well-draining potting soil
- Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.5
Bird of Paradise or strelitzia is another wonderful living room plant species. They are easy plants to grow and maintain. It features long oblong-shaped leaves that are carried by thin leaf stalks. These leaves have a leathery feel to them.
They offer an elegant feel to the living room. You can grow them in areas with bright but indirect or filtered sunlight. Watering should be done once a week. And this should be done after the top part of the soil has dried up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course, some have different purposes. Some are great as air purifiers.
Dragon tree is an incredible plant that also acts as mood boosters, making people happy.
The monstera and the snake plant are two of the easiest plants to grow indoors.
The snake plant is a fast-growing plant. It is also suitable as a living room plant.
It is possible, but to be more effective you would need 2 to 3 plants.
