For anyone wishing to make a lasting purchase or gift that will be appreciated every day, house plants make an excellent choice. Indoor plants not only bring the beauty of nature indoors, they actually can help remove pollutants from the air while adding oxygen to the indoor environment.

Cultivating house plants came into vogue during the Victorian era, and their popularity has flourished ever since. Indoor heating has improved since Victoria’s reign, and the choices for house plants has changed accordingly. Homes today are warmer and dryer. Modern horticulturists recommend taking into account the natural origins of plants before considering them for indoor use. Humidity-loving plants like orchids and ferns will do well in east- or north-facing windowsills. Flowering and fruiting plants require abundant light, as well as humidity.

For darker, dryer areas, consider plants in the Asparagales order of plants, which includes several genera forming trees such as Dracaena, Agave and Cordyline. Featuring sword-like leaves, the plants grow slowly over time, providing striking architectural interest to decor without overwhelming the space. From the same order of plants is Sansevieria, commonly known as the Snake Plant or Mother-In-Law’s Tongue, a species that has been a popular indoor plant for decades. The Sansevieria’s leaves are hard, variegated, and stand in vertical rows, making them a hardy choice for compact areas.

For a softer look, the Schefflera, or Umbrella Tree, is a good choice. Scheffleras have glossy leaves in groups of seven, standing on a multi-trunked tree. For larger areas, consider Ficus benjamina. Under excellent growth conditions, the Ficus will produce robust growth, but will grow just as elegantly with low light and humidity, albeit more slowly and sparingly.

Serenata is happy to offer house plants that instill an element of nature into indoor life, reducing stress and soothing the senses.