Spruce up your home - The Essex Guide to House Plants

Indoor gardening is great. Not only does it make our homes/offices look great, but houseplants also have a variety of health benefits from improving the air we breathe to helping lift our moods during the darker nights of winter.

Easy houseplants to get started with

Let’s start with the easiest, Succulent plants. You can purchase them from most gardening shops and they only need the occasional water.

Air plants these plants don't even need soil to survive. All you have to do to water them is dunk them in water for two or three hours every 10 days.

Geraniums can cope with being forgotten and unwatered. Put one on your windowsill and watch it brighten up your room.

In your Study Space

We’ve compiled a collection of study plants that will not only make your study look cool, but will cleanse the air, helping you to relax. Keeping plants in your study can also help improve concentration and memory. The Bamboo Palm is one of the best natural air purifiers. It helps to filter out damaging chemicals including formaldehyde fumes that often come out of new furniture.

The Peace Lily is highly regarded for its ability to purify the air as it neutralises natural gases.

The Boston Fern can balance the air moisture levels in your home, which is great for those with dry skin. It also is effective in removing harmful pollutants from the air.

In the Kitchen

Fresh herbs help to make every meal so much tastier! You could make yourself a herbox outside or grow your herbs inside. Keep them somewhere sunny, water them regularly, but don’t let them sit soaking in water.

Below are some herbs to get you started:

• Basil is an easy to grow, fragrant herb that tastes great as a pizza topping or in pasta dishes.
• Mint has a clean, fresh smell and makes a lovely addition to Middle Eastern dishes like tabouleh, and lemonade.
• Rosemary is a great smelling herb that can be used in a variety of ways.

Our top tip is to preserve your herbs by drying them on a baking sheet in the oven on a low heat or mix them with butter or olive oil and freeze them in an ice cube tray.