Collection: Ficus Plants

The best indoor plants for Irish homes are plants that are easy to care for, suit indoor light conditions, and thrive year round. The most popular indoor plants fall into three groups: easy care indoor plants, large indoor plants, and air purifying plants.

Easy care indoor plants

For low maintenance indoor plants, these are some of the best options:

• The Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata) is one of the easiest indoor plants to look after and suits low light homes.
  
• Spider plants are very popular indoor plants in Ireland and grow well in most rooms.
  
• Yucca plants are hardy indoor plants that need minimal watering and prefer bright light.
  

These are ideal plants for beginners and busy households.

Large indoor plants

If you want statement plants for your home:

• The Monstera, also known as the Swiss cheese plant, is one of the most popular large indoor plants in Ireland.
  
• The Ficus lyrata (fiddle leaf fig) works well as a tall indoor plant in bright rooms.
  

Large indoor plants are ideal for living rooms, hallways, and open plan spaces.

Air purifying indoor plants

Many houseplants are also known for improving indoor air quality:

• Snake plants and spider plants are both well known air purifying indoor plants.
  
• Palms can help increase humidity levels indoors.
  

These plants are popular choices for bedrooms and home offices.

When choosing indoor plants, consider light levels, available space, and how much care you want to give. Easy care plants suit busy homes, large indoor plants add impact, and air purifying plants help improve indoor comfort.

Low maintenance indoor plants generally share the same qualities: slow growth, low water needs, and the ability to adapt to indoor environments. Many, such as snake plants and succulents, prefer being left alone rather than overwatered.

Best low maintenance indoor house plants

Some indoor plants consistently rank as the easiest to care for. These plants are ideal for busy households, beginners, or anyone who wants indoor greenery without regular upkeep.

• The Snake Plant is one of the most low maintenance house plants available. It tolerates low light, needs very little water, and thrives indoors with minimal attention.
  
• Succulents, including cactus plants and aloe vera, are extremely easy to care for. They store water in their leaves, prefer bright light, and only need occasional watering. These are ideal for sunny windowsills and desks.
  
• ZZ plants are highly drought tolerant and cope well with low light, making them perfect for shaded rooms and offices.
  
• Pothos plants aka Devil's Ivy are very forgiving and grow well in low to medium light. They are popular trailing indoor plants that need little maintenance.
  
• Rubber plants are easy care large indoor plants that tolerate indoor conditions well and do not need frequent watering.

The best place to put indoor plants depends on the plant type, light levels in your home, and the size of the plant. In Irish homes, most indoor houseplants grow best in bright rooms with indirect light, stable temperatures, and good airflow.

Living rooms and open plan spaces

Living rooms and open plan areas are some of the best places for indoor plants, as they usually offer the most natural light and space. Plants that prefer bright, indirect light do particularly well here. Popular indoor plants suited to these spaces include Monstera, Rubber fig, Fiddle Leaf Fig, and indoor palms.

Other common houseplants that also grow well in living rooms include peace lilies, philodendrons, ZZ plants, and calatheas. These plants benefit from natural daylight but should not be placed in direct sunlight, especially near south or west facing windows.

Near windows but out of direct sun

Most indoor plants should be placed near windows rather than directly on the windowsill. Bright, filtered light is ideal for the majority of houseplants. Direct sunlight can scorch leaves, particularly for plants like Monstera, fiddle leaf figs, and calatheas. Positioning plants slightly back from the window helps them grow evenly and stay healthy.

Low light areas

Low light areas such as hallways, bedrooms, and home offices are suitable for plants that tolerate reduced light. Snake plants, spider plants, ZZ plants, and pothos are among the best low light indoor plants for Irish homes. These are also excellent easy care indoor plants.

Placement for large indoor plants

Large indoor plants should be placed on the floor where they have enough space to grow. Corners of rooms, beside sofas, or near windows with indirect light are ideal locations. Large plants such as Monstera, Rubber plants, and palms benefit from consistent light and airflow.

Bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens

Bedrooms are well suited to air purifying indoor plants such as snake plants, spider plants, and peace lilies. Bathrooms with natural light are ideal for plants that enjoy humidity, including palms and calatheas. Kitchens suit hardy indoor plants that can handle temperature changes, provided they are not placed near ovens or radiators.

What to avoid

Avoid placing indoor plants beside radiators, fireplaces, or draughty doors. Sudden heat, cold air, and temperature fluctuations can stress indoor plants and cause leaf damage.

If you have cats, it is important to choose cat safe house plants that are non toxic and safe for pets. Many popular indoor plants are harmful to cats, so selecting pet friendly indoor plants helps protect your cat while still enjoying plants at home. At Plant Store Ireland, we have marked all plants that are pet safe for you on their product pages so you can rest assured when shopping our range of indoor plants.

Best cat safe indoor plants

The following plants are widely recognised as non toxic house plants for cats and are popular choices in Irish homes:

• Spider plants are one of the most popular cat safe indoor plants. They are non toxic, easy to care for, and grow well in bright or moderate light.
  
• Calatheas are fully pet friendly house plants with decorative leaves. They prefer bright, indirect light and consistent watering.
  
• Areca palms are safe for cats and work well as larger indoor plants in living rooms.
  
• Kentia palms are non toxic indoor palms suitable for homes with cats.
  
• The Chinese Money plant is a compact pet safe indoor plant that prefers bright rooms with indirect light. It is on eof the most popular plant choices for a desk or other small surface.
  

House plants to avoid if you have cats

Some very popular indoor plants are toxic to cats and should be avoided. These include:

• Monstera plants
  
• Snake Plant
• Ficus lyrata (fiddle leaf fig)
  
• Rubber plants (Ficus elastica)
  
• Peace lilies
  
• Yucca plants
  

These plants can cause symptoms such as mouth irritation, vomiting, drooling, or digestive upset if ingested.

Indoor plants that like shade are usually referred to as low light indoor plants or shade tolerant house plants. These plants grow well in rooms with limited natural light, making them ideal for hallways, bedrooms, offices, and north facing rooms commonly found in Irish homes.

Best low light indoor plants

The following plants are well known for tolerating shade and lower light conditions indoors:

• The Snake Plant is one of the best low light indoor plants. It thrives in shade, needs very little water, and is ideal for bedrooms and hallways.
  
• ZZ plants are extremely shade tolerant indoor plants and cope well with low light and infrequent watering.
  
• Devil's Ivy grows well in low to medium light and are popular trailing indoor plants for shelves and higher spaces.
  
• Peace lilies tolerate low light well and are often chosen for shaded rooms, though they will flower more in brighter conditions.
  
• Calatheas prefer shade or filtered light and should be kept out of direct sun, making them ideal for shaded living areas.
  
• Indoor ferns, such as Boston ferns, enjoy indirect light and higher humidity, making them suitable for shaded bathrooms with natural light.
  

These shade tolerant plants are ideal for indoor spaces with low light.

Where to place shade loving indoor plants

Shade loving indoor plants are best placed:

• In hallways and stairwells
  
• In bedrooms with limited daylight
  
• In north facing rooms
  
• Away from direct sunlight
  

They should still receive some natural light during the day, but do not need bright conditions to thrive.

Things to avoid

Even shade tolerant indoor plants should not be placed in complete darkness. Artificial light alone is usually not enough for healthy growth. Direct sunlight should also be avoided, as it can scorch leaves on low light plants.

Indoor plants that like direct sunlight thrive when placed in south or west facing windows where they receive several hours of direct sun each day, which is common in brighter Irish homes during spring and summer.

Best indoor plants for direct sunlight

The following indoor plants are well suited to bright light and direct sun:

• Succulents are some of the best indoor plants for direct sunlight. They need bright light to maintain their shape and colour and are ideal for sunny windowsills.
  
• Cactus plants thrive in direct sun and are perfect for south facing windows. They are very low maintenance and prefer dry conditions.
  
• Aloe vera is a popular sun loving indoor plant that grows best in bright light with some direct sunlight each day.
  
• Jade plants (Crassula) prefer bright rooms and direct sun, making them ideal for sunny living rooms and kitchens.
  
• Yucca plants tolerate and enjoy bright light, including direct sunlight, and work well as large indoor plants in sunny spaces.
  
• Indoor citrus trees, such as lemon or orange trees, need plenty of direct sunlight to grow well and are best placed beside bright windows.
  
  

These sun loving houseplants are ideal for bright light indoor conditions.

Best places to put sun loving indoor plants

Indoor plants that like direct sunlight should be placed:

• On south or west facing windowsills
  
• In bright rooms with prolonged sun exposure
  
• Near large windows with unobstructed light
  

Rotating plants regularly helps ensure even growth.

Things to be aware of

Not all indoor plants can tolerate direct sunlight. Plants like the Monstera, calatheas, peace lilies, and ferns prefer indirect light and can suffer leaf burn if placed in direct sun. Always match the plant to the light conditions of the room.

While indoor plants do not replace ventilation or air purifiers, certain houseplants can make indoor spaces feel healthier and improve air quality, especially in Irish homes where central heating can dry the air.

Best indoor plants for health and why they help

• The Snake Plant helps improve indoor air comfort and humidity and is often used in bedrooms because it copes well with low light and stable indoor conditions.
  
• Spider plants are known for supporting cleaner indoor air and helping regulate humidity. They are also easy care plants that suit most rooms.
  
• Peace lilies help increase indoor humidity, which can reduce dry air caused by heating. They also contribute to a fresher indoor environment.
  
• Areca palms and other indoor palms release moisture into the air, making them especially beneficial in dry homes. This can help ease dry skin, throats, and nasal passages.
  
• Boston ferns are excellent at improving humidity levels and are often recommended for living rooms and bathrooms with natural light.
  
• Rubber plants have large leaves that contribute to better indoor air moisture and help stabilise indoor environments.
  

These plants are commonly featured in air purifying indoor plant collections and health focused houseplant ranges, making them great selections for your space.

Mental wellbeing benefits of indoor plants

Beyond physical comfort, indoor plants are strongly linked to improved mental wellbeing. Having greenery indoors can help reduce stress, improve mood, and create a more relaxing atmosphere, particularly in bedrooms, living rooms, and home offices.