If you’re new to plant care, relax, we’ve got you covered. Below are some of the best indoor plants to improve your mental and physical health and liven up your home. These plants are all good indoors, easy to care for, and best at purifying the air around them. 

• English Ivy (Hedera helix) is often seen outdoors, but makes for a great, albeit picky house plant, but watch out if you have young children or pets, as it is poisonous if ingested. The plant thrives under fluorescent light but not direct sun, so it’s the perfect houseplant for darker than normal bedrooms with artificial light. They are known for absorbing harmful pollutants in the air, including VOCs like benzene, xylene, and toluene from the air, can purify up to 90% of airborne mold that can trigger allergies, and can help people with asthma breathe better at night. Use a container with good drainage, and water these plants thoroughly, allowing the soil on top to dry out before watering again.
  
  
• Gerbera Daisies or Transvaal daisies (Gerbera jamesonii) are actually related to the sunflower native to South Africa. Gerbera daisies like full sunlight, but they don’t like too much heat. Recently NASA called Gerbera daisies the best plant for removing benzene from indoor air and producing oxygen at night, which can help people suffering from insomnia and sleep apnea. They need to be watered each week, but make sure you only water them when their soil is completely dried up.
  
  
• Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum), or Devil’s ivy is native to the Society Islands of French Polynesia and can reach 40-60 feet in the forest, in your house however, you can expect a maximum length of 5-10 feet. Known for its heart shaped leaves, and its abilities as a natural air purifier, capable of removing chemicals like trichloromethyl and VOCs from the air, as well as lowering indoor ozone levels. Extra hardy, the golden pothos is great for first time plant owners. They like bright and indirect sunlight, but they can tolerate a range of conditions. Water every 1-2 weeks, so the soil can dry between waterings. Keep in mind that the golden pothos contains oxalate, which can be harmful to pets and humans if ingested.
  
  
• Jasmine refers to a genus of shrubs and vines in the olive family (Oleaceae) that has a great effect on our mental health due to a chemical that relieves anxiety, stabilizes mood, improves sleep, and, in larger quantities, can raise immunity and increase libido. Easy to maintain, plant jasmine in a pot of well-draining soil, in the partly sun spot. Make sure to water your jasmine multiple times a week, adjusting to make sure the soil dries between waterings – be careful not to overwater.
  
  
• Lavender (Lavandula) includes 47 known species of flowering plants in the mint family, renown for its gentle, pleasant aroma. Lavender – as a plant, cuttings, or scent – is best known for its mental benefits, including soothing restlessness, nervousness, insomnia, anxiety and depression. It’s often found in spa products like bath salts, skincare creams, soaps and candles. You can place a lavender plant anywhere in your home, but putting it in your bedroom is a great choice for its natural ability to soothe and calm down the mind. If you have a garden outside, it’s best to plant your lavender there, but it also grows well indoors in containers. For indoor growing, lavender should receive as much light as possible. Water thoroughly and allow the soil to become slightly dry between waterings. Prune occasionally to promote new growth.
  
  
• Peace Lilies (Spathiphyllum) are beautiful evergreen plants native to the tropical regions of Southeast Asia. Known for their beautiful white flowers and acceptance of dark places such as offices and bedrooms, hence their other name: “closet plants”. Peace lilies have a reputation for being easy to grow, and can thrive in both low and bright light, but do best in shaded areas. They are known for absorbing harmful air pollutants, including ammonia, benzene, xylene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene, CO2 and the VOC formaldehyde. Plant them in soil that is great at maintaining moisture and dries out slowly; keep the soil moist but do not overwater them. Since this is a flowering houseplant, it will produce some pollen and a floral scent – which isn’t always suitable for people with plant and pollen-related allergies – so keep them out of the reach of children and pets.
  
  
• Philodendron (Philodendreae) is a perennial flowering plant renown for its typically large, green, and glossy leaves. Philodendrons are also well-known for filtering out toxic chemicals like xylene and formaldehyde from the air. Low-maintenance, and generally easy to grow, try to make sure they don’t get too much light, as this can make their leaves become yellow. Let the soil dry out on top between watering, being careful not to overwater. Be careful as philodendron are toxic to pets and people if consumed.
  
  
• Rubber Plants (Ficus elastica) are an evergreen tree native to the tropical regions of Southeast Asia that can grow up to 50 feet tall outside under the right conditions. It has large leaves that should be wiped clean of dust. Easy to maintain, rubber plants like bright light, but can also grow in shade. They are known for absorbing harmful pollutants in the air, including VOCs. Tolerant to drought, water them a minimum of once weekly and make sure the soil is able to drain well, but be careful of overwatering, as the leaves can turn yellow and even fall off.
  
  
• Spider Plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are a perennial plant known for their long, narrow leaves, resembling spiders. Low-maintenance, hardy, and easy to grow, spider plants prefer bright to moderate indirect light, and are known for absorbing harmful pollutants in the air, including formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and other toxic air impurities. If you don’t have much of a green thumb, a spider plant could be perfect for you, as it doesn’t require much care – just keep the soil moist and re-pot every other year. They also do well in hanging baskets.
  
  
• Snake Plants (Sansevieria trifasciatai) or “mother-in-law’s tongue”, is a succulent plant known for its tall, green leaves resembling swords. Low-maintenance, extremely hardy and easy to grow, snake plants prefer indirect sunlight, and are known for absorbing harmful pollutants in the air – including trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, toluene, benzene, and xylene – and for converting carbon dioxide into oxygen as you sleep. To optimize the air purifying process, you’ll want more than one plant. Often considered to be one of the easiest plants to care for – just let the soil dry between waterings and the snake plant will thrive.

Once you’ve chosen a few plants, make sure to take note of any instructions about light and drainage requirements. If you’re looking for more advice, talk to the people at your local plant store or nursery, they may have some great suggestions on other plants well suited to you.