The Comprehensive Guide to Indoor Plants: History, Selection, and Care

Bringing nature inside has been a human desire for millennia.
Today, the cultivation of indoor plants is more than just a trend; it is a lifestyle that promotes well-being, purifies our air, and transforms sterile spaces into living sanctuaries. Whether you are a novice looking for your first pot or a seasoned collector hunting for rare variegated species, understanding the background and specific needs of these botanical companions is essential.

Below is a comprehensive guide presented in a question-and-answer format, covering the history, the best choices for your home, year-round bloomers, and the weirdly wonderful world of exotic flora.

Q: What is the history of indoor plants?

A: The history of keeping indoor plants is a fascinating journey that mirrors the development of human civilization itself.
While we often think of the “houseplant craze” as a modern phenomenon fueled by social media, the practice dates back thousands of years.

Ancient Beginnings: The earliest known evidence of potted plants comes from ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans.

  • Ancient Egypt (c. 3000 BC): Wealthy Egyptians were likely the first to bring plants indoors. Illustrations in temples show potted frankincense trees and palms. For them, plants had functional and spiritual roles; they were used for decoration but also for religious ceremonies and practical resources.
  • The Hanging Gardens of Babylon (c. 600 BC): While their existence is debated by historians, this Wonder of the Ancient World represents the ultimate ancient ideal of “indoor” or structural gardening. King Nebuchadnezzar II reportedly built them to comfort his wife, who missed the green hills of her homeland.
  • Greco-Roman Era: The Romans were true pioneers of the indoor garden. Their homes often featured an atrium, an open-roofed central courtyard where they cultivated herbs, roses, and violets. As the Roman Empire expanded, they brought their gardening techniques to cooler climates, utilizing mica sheets (a precursor to glass) to protect plants during winter—the earliest form of a greenhouse.

The Dark Ages to the Renaissance: After the fall of Rome, gardening in Europe largely retreated to monasteries, focusing on medicinal herbs and food.
However, the Renaissance (14th–17th century) sparked a renewed interest in botany and aesthetics. Orangeries—large glass-sided buildings heated by stoves—were built by royalty to keep citrus trees alive during European winters.

The Victorian Era: The Golden Age of Houseplants: The true explosion of indoor plants occurred in the Victorian era (19th century).
Several factors collided to create this boom:

  1. The Wardian Case: Invented by Dr. Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward in 1829, this was an early terrarium. It allowed delicate tropical plants to survive long sea voyages from the colonies to Europe, protecting them from salt spray and temperature fluctuations.
  2. Industrialization: As cities became smoggy and grey, the middle class desired nature inside their homes.
  3. Pteridomania (Fern Fever): The Victorians became obsessed with ferns. Collecting and displaying ferns in ornate glass cases became a status symbol. The robust Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior) also rose to fame during this time because it could survive the dim, coal-smoke-filled air of a London flat.

The Modern Era: Post-World War II architecture, with its large glass windows and open floor plans, welcomed the “jungle” look of the 1970s. Macramé hangers and large Monsteras became iconic. Today, we are in the midst of a new Renaissance, driven by urbanization and a desire for connection to nature, where rare and exotic indoor plants are traded globally like art.

Q: What is the best plant to keep indoors?

A: Identifying the single “best plant to keep indoors” is subjective because it depends entirely on your environment (lighting, humidity) and your lifestyle (how often you remember to water). However, if we define “best” as the perfect balance between beauty, durability, and air-purifying qualities, there are a few clear winners that stand above the rest.

1. The Indestructible Champion: Snake Plant (Sansevieria or Dracaena trifasciata)

If you are asking what is the best plant to keep indoors for a beginner or someone with a busy schedule, the Snake Plant is the answer.

  • Why it’s the best: It is virtually unkillable. It thrives on neglect, tolerates extremely low light (even windowless bathrooms with fluorescent light), and requires very little water.
  • Benefits: It is one of the few plants that performs Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM), meaning it releases oxygen at night rather than during the day. This makes it the absolute “best” plant for a bedroom to improve sleep quality.

2. The Best Trailing Plant: Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

For those who want immediate visual impact with cascading vines, the Pothos is king.

  • Why it’s the best: It grows rapidly and communicates clearly; when it droops, it needs water. Once watered, it perks up within hours. It tolerates a wide range of lighting conditions.
  • Benefits: It is excellent at removing toxins like formaldehyde from the air. Its ability to propagate easily in water makes it a fun plant to share with friends.

3. The Best Structural Statement: Monstera Deliciosa

For those asking what is the best plant to keep indoors to make a room look like a design magazine, the Monstera is the top choice.

  • Why it’s the best: Its large, fenestrated (split) leaves are iconic.It grows large and fills corners effectively, turning a boring living room into a tropical retreat.
  • Care: It prefers bright, indirect light and a chunky soil mix. While it needs more attention than a Snake Plant, the visual payoff is immense.

4. The Best Air Purifier: Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

If your criteria for “best” is health-related, the Spider Plant is a powerhouse.

  • Why it’s the best: NASA’s Clean Air Study famously cited the Spider Plant for its ability to remove up to 95% of chemicals like xylene and toluene from the air in 24 hours.
  • Bonus: It produces “pups” (baby plants) that hang down like spiders, which can be snipped off and planted to create an endless supply of free plants.

Verdict: If you can only choose one, the Snake Plant takes the crown for its sheer resilience and night-time oxygen production. It is the plant that asks for nothing and gives everything.

Q: Which plant gives 12 months flowers indoors?

A: Finding a plant that blooms year-round is the “holy grail” of indoor gardening. Most plants have distinct blooming cycles triggered by seasons. However, there is one superstar answer to the question: Which plant gives 12 months flowers indoors?

The Winner: African Violet (Saintpaulia)

The African Violet is widely accepted as the premier choice for continuous indoor blooms.

  • The 12-Month Capability: Unlike many other flowering plants that require a dormancy period (like Christmas Cactus or Amaryllis), African Violets can bloom almost continuously if their basic needs are met.It is not uncommon for a healthy African Violet to have flowers for 10 to 12 months of the year.
  • How to achieve it: The secret is consistent light. They need bright, indirect light. If you place them under a grow light for 12-14 hours a day, they will reward you with non-stop color.
  • Care Tip: Water them from the bottom to avoid getting their fuzzy leaves wet, which can cause rotting. Keep them root-bound in small pots to encourage flowering rather than foliage growth.

The Runner Up: Anthurium (Flamingo Flower)

Another strong contender for the title of which plant gives 12 months flowers indoors is the Anthurium.

  • The “Flower”: What we see as the flower is actually a modified leaf called a spathe. Because it is a leaf, it lasts incredibly long—often two to three months per bloom.
  • Continuous Cycle: A healthy Anthurium will produce a new spathe just as the old one is fading. With enough warmth and humidity, this cycle can overlap, ensuring that the plant always has a splash of red, pink, or white on it throughout the year.

The Reliable Orchid: Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid)

While technically they may have a resting period, the Phalaenopsis orchid is famous for the longevity of its blooms.

  • Duration: A single flower spike can hold its blooms for 3 to 6 months. Once the flowers drop, if you cut the spike back to a node (the “bump” on the stem), it will often branch out and bloom again immediately.
  • Strategy: By keeping two or three Moth Orchids and staggering their growth cycles, you can easily ensure your home has exotic orchid blooms every single month of the year.

The Begonia (Rieger or Elatior)

Rieger Begonias are photoperiodic plants that are often treated as temporary bouquets, but with skill, they can bloom year-round.

  • Winter Blooms: These are particularly valuable because they bloom heavily in the winter when other plants are dormant. They require short days to trigger blooms, making them perfect for natural indoor lighting cycles during the darker months.

Summary: To truthfully answer which plant gives 12 months flowers indoors, the African Violet is your best bet for true, biological continuous flowering. The Anthurium is your best bet for a plant that looks like it is always in bloom due to the longevity of its colorful spathes.

Q: What are some Exotic Indoor Plants?

A: Once you have mastered the basics of Pothos and Snake Plants, you may crave something more unusual. The world of exotic indoor plants is vast, filled with specimens that look like they belong on an alien planet. These plants often require more specific care, particularly regarding humidity and water quality, but they serve as stunning conversation pieces.

1. Monstera Albo (Monstera deliciosa ‘Albo-Variegata’)

Currently the most coveted plant on social media, this is the “It Girl” of exotic indoor plants.

  • The Look: It features the classic split leaves of a Monstera, but they are splashed with pure white variegation. Some leaves are half-moon (half white, half green), while others are marbled.
  • Why it’s Exotic: The white parts of the leaf contain no chlorophyll, meaning they cannot photosynthesize. The plant has to work twice as hard with the green parts to survive. This biological handicap, combined with its slow growth and instability (it can revert to all green or go all white and die), makes it rare and expensive.
  • Care: High light is non-negotiable to support the white variegation.

2. The Bat Flower (Tacca chantrieri)

If you want something truly goth and bizarre, the Bat Flower is unmatched.

  • The Look: This plant produces massive, black flowers (up to 12 inches across) that look remarkably like a bat in flight. It even has long “whiskers” (filaments) that hang down up to 28 inches from the flower.
  • Why it’s Exotic: Black flowers are incredibly rare in nature. The ominous, alien appearance of the bloom makes it a showstopper.
  • Care: This is a drama queen. It needs high humidity (over 60%), warm temperatures, and excellent airflow. It is not for beginners.

3. Lithops (Living Stones)

For those who love succulents but want something strange, Lithops are the answer.

  • The Look: These tiny South African succulents have evolved to look exactly like small rocks or pebbles to avoid being eaten by grazing animals. They have a split down the middle where a flower will occasionally emerge.
  • Why it’s Exotic: Their camouflage is so effective it is uncanny. They come in colors ranging from grey and brown to pink and purple.
  • Care: You must almost never water them. They have a specific growth cycle where the new leaves absorb the moisture from the old leaves. Watering them at the wrong time (like winter) will turn them to mush instantly.

4. Carnivorous Plants: The Nepenthes (Tropical Pitcher Plant)

While Venus Flytraps are common, the Nepenthes is a true tropical exotic.

  • The Look: These vines produce hanging “pitchers”—cups filled with digestive enzymes. The pitchers can range from the size of a thimble to large enough to catch a rat (in the wild).
  • Why it’s Exotic: Having a predator in your living room is undeniably cool. They are complex and beautiful, with pitchers often sporting stripes, speckles, and vibrant red “lips” (peristomes).
  • Care: They require distilled water or rain water only (minerals in tap water will kill them) and high humidity.

5. Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pudica)

This plant offers an interactive experience.

  • The Look: It looks like a fern with delicate compound leaves and pink puffball flowers.
  • Why it’s Exotic: It moves! When you touch the leaves, they instantly fold up and the stem droops. This is a defense mechanism called seismonasty. Seeing a plant react to your touch in real-time never gets old.
  • Care: It loves bright light and consistent moisture. It can be tricky to keep lush long-term indoors, often treated as an annual novelty.

6. Alocasia ‘Jacklyn’ (Alocasia tandurusa)

A relatively new discovery in the houseplant trade, hailing from Indonesia.

  • The Look: The leaves are deeply lobed, resembling stag horns, and possess a vibrant neon green color with contrasting dark veins. The texture is hairy or velvety, which is unusual for Alocasias.
  • Why it’s Exotic: Its prehistoric, almost dinosaur-like texture and shape make it stand out against the common smooth, glossy leaves of other houseplants.

Q: What are the golden rules for keeping indoor plants alive?

A: Even if you buy the best plant to keep indoors, it will perish without the basics. Here are the three golden rules to ensure success:

  1. Light is Food: Many people think water is food. No, light is food; water is hydration. If you place a plant in a dark corner, it is starving.
    • Low light does not mean no light. It means a north-facing window or a few feet back from a bright window.
    • Bright indirect light (the standard for most plants) means the plant can “see” the sky but the sun is not beaming directly onto its leaves (which causes sunburn).
  2. The Finger Test: Overwatering is the #1 killer of indoor plants.
    • Never water on a schedule (e.g., “every Monday”). Plants drink differently depending on the temperature and growth cycle.
    • Stick your finger about two inches into the soil. If it is damp, do not water.If it is dry, water thoroughly until it drains out the bottom.
  3. Drainage is Non-Negotiable:
    • Always use a pot with holes in the bottom.
      If you want to use a decorative pot without holes, keep the plant in its cheap plastic nursery pot and set that inside the decorative one. When you water, take the nursery pot out, water it at the sink, let it drain, and put it back. Roots sitting in stagnant water will rot, and the plant will die.

Conclusion

The world of indoor plants is vast and rewarding. From the humble beginnings of potted herbs in ancient Egypt to the modern obsession with variegated exotic indoor plants, there is a botanical companion for every person.

If you are just starting, grab a Snake Plant or Pothos—these are undeniably the best plant to keep indoors for beginners.
If you crave color, the African Violet is the answer to which plant gives 12 months flowers indoors. And if you want to turn your home into a living museum, explore the weird world of Lithops or Monstera Albo.

Regardless of what you choose, remember that indoor gardening is a practice of patience and observation. Watch your plants, learn their language, and they will transform your house into a home.