Healing Horticulture in the House

Your indoor plants can be more than just pretty to look at. Get a few that will make your home a little bit better with their healing properties and air filtration. Here are some examples of indoor plants that can help you out in a few different ways:

Kava – partial sun, temps 60 degrees and up, grows 2-3’, tropical plant, relaxing, anti-anxiety, kava root can be made into a calming drink

Kava

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Kava is a tropical plant that requires partial sun, temperatures between 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit. It can grows 2-3’ and take a few years to mature. Once it does, harvest its roots to make relaxing, anti-anxiety drinks.

Aloe

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We’re all familiar with aloe gel after a bad sunburn. Keeping this succulent in the house is always a good idea as the gel can be used as a topical ointment for burns, cuts, rashes, and dry skin. Eating the aloe latex can help with constipation. Keep it well-drained, in sandy potting soil, and in partial sun.

Lavender

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Lavender loves to be a little on the dry side, only water when soil is completely dry. Keep it well-drained in sandy or gravelly soil. It also thrives in full sun with good air circulation. Lavender oil helps with anxiety and sleep disturbances, and the flowers can be used in culinary dishes, teas, and baked goods.

Snake Plant

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Don’t be scared of the snake plant, it won’t bite! Allow soil to dry between waterings, keeping the leaves dry. It prefers indirect light and to be fertilized with all-purpose plant food. The snake plant is a good indoor roommate as it cleans the air of carbon monoxide, emits oxygen, and filters toxins from air.

Peace Lily

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This lovely lily prefers the shade and only needs to be watered once a week. It emits oxygen and filters toxins from air as discovered by the NASA Clean Air Study.

Happy planting!

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