Do you search for the most beautiful houseplant to place in your home? Is it one that fits into the empty corner of the room or is the perfect shade of green to match your walls? What if we told you that your houseplant can do more for you than match your curtains, but also cause more harm than be the wrong shade of green.
Houseplants can do a lot more than be the ‘poster boy or girl’ in the corner of your room. Many have fascinating qualities that they hide deep down. Let’s start recruiting the right houseplants into your home so that everyone can benefit from their impressive abilities.
Beneficial houseplant
We’ve selected a few houseplant heroes to highlight in our blog. While we give great insight into what these plants can do for you, we’ve only scratched the surface. You can discover houseplants that will benefit your physical and mental health as well as protect your water usage.
Note: If you’re in any doubt about the suggestions in this blog, please seek medical advice.
Skin conditions – Aloe Vera
60% of people in the UK have suffered from or experience some type of skin condition. Although Aloe Vera cannot help all skin conditions, it is especially beneficial to those who suffer from eczema or psoriasis.
Better yet, it’s really easy to use the plant to help your skin. Snap off a leaf and rub the liquid inside directly onto your skin. If you want to find out more about Aloe Vera and eczema applications, check out this article from Healthline.
This plant loves to live in in a moist atmosphere so you can perch it on your bathroom or kitchen windowsill, sitting pretty, and ready for you to use whenever you need it. It is especially hand in the kitchen if you happen to burn yourself while cooking – just smooth some Aloe on the burn!

Mental health – Lavender
We find lavender in a lot of our beauty products, air fresheners, lotions, diffusers, and perfumes. Most people agree that lavender is a great smell, but there is more to this plant than we realise.
The aroma of lavender can improve a person’s mental health, something which negatively affects 1 in 4 of us throughout our lifetime. It reduces anxiety levels, restlessness, nervousness, and insomnia, making it the perfect addition to your bedroom.
If you struggle when it comes to your mental health, try one of the Lavender products from Scottish Lavender Oils, a sustainable and environmentally friendly way to add lavender into your routine.

Breathing difficulties – English Ivy
This plant has been known to be used when making alternative medicine, but its most common use is to help those with breathing difficulties. If you suffer from asthma or lung conditions, including swelling of the airways, then this plant could be the breath of fresh air you were waiting for. Discover a complete list of conditions that English Ivy can help with here.
English Ivy also helps to remove mould from the home as well as benzene, formaldehyde, xylene and toluene from their air. We suggest hanging this plant in your home instead of leaving it in a pot so that it can tumble downwards rather than crawling up the walls.

Water usage friendly – Ponytail Palm
Owning houseplants can be beneficial for many reasons, but too many, and it could impact your water usage. As we are continuously trying to minimise our water usage, we are often searching for plants that need as little liquid care as possible.
This stunning plant is not only beautiful in appearance, but it is also incredibly independent and resourceful. Recruiting this plant for your home is a no brainer. This houseplants stores water in its stems, and slowly drinks what is needed, meaning you only need to water it once a month or so.

‘Think twice’ houseplants
Some houseplants can be harmful in your home. To make sure you recruit the right plant, we’ve continued our list with some plants you might need to stay away from.
Lilies – Cats
These beautiful flowers are a ‘go-to’ for the budding romantic, but sadly they can cause tremendous harm to your feline friends. Most cats are inquisitive, which is what can draw them to these brightly coloured plants. However, the entire lily plant is toxic to cats and in some cases can cause death.
If ingested your cat may only have 24 hours before it becomes seriously ill think twice if you own a cat. For more information on lily poisoning in cats, be sure to read this article from Vets4Pets.

Sago Palm – Dogs
This easy to care for houseplant is very dangerous for an inquisitive doggo. Any houseplant enthusiast might select this plant as an easy-to-look-after option, but from the leaves to the seeds and the stems, this plant can have awful effects on your four-legged bestie. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea and even liver failure.
Spruce Pets have created a comprehensive list of all the side effects to look out for if you suspect your dog of being poisoned by this plant, as well as some home remedies. However, we recommend contacting your vet in the first instance.

Oleander – little ones
This common houseplant is a beauty, but for little ones who are discovering their surroundings and putting everything in their mouths, it can have severe effects.
If this plant is ingested by a human, the least of your worries is a skin rash and some nausea, but this can lead to seizures and heart problems. If you do have little ones about, make sure it is far out of reach or think twice before you buy.
It can be difficult for children, especially when plants are brightly coloured and interesting. For a comprehensive list of harmful plants to children, read this insightful article from Hello Motherhood.

High water usage required – Begonias
Green always means good, right? Well, not always, especially when it comes to houseplants. Sometimes having too many houseplants can negatively impact your water usage, especially when the collection is filled with begonias.
This plant, although stunningly beautiful in all its various colours, is a known culprit for needing excessive water. In high heats, you could end up watering this plant every day. As one of the most common houseplants, we know this beauty will be in most homes but if you’re starting your collection perhaps consider whether this one is benefiting your home the way you’d intended it to.

We hope that with a little careful consideration you’ll make the addition to your home that really works for you and your family. Who would ever have thought a simple houseplant can hold so many abilities?
If you have any questions about the houseplants in your home, message us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Better yet, if you have any other beneficial or detrimental plants to mention, let us know so we can spread the word!