Always wanted to grow some indoor plants in your house but are afraid of killing them?
Maybe you’ve tried gardening before, but it just doesn’t work out. Your plants won’t stay as healthy as you expect them to be. They end up dying, leaving you frustrated with a few empty pots lying around at home.
Even those with a minimalist décor can enjoy the beauty of low-maintenance indoor plants without the worry of high upkeep.
Guess what?
Now, you can choose indoor plants that are low-commitment and easy to care for.
Indoor plants have become popular in Malaysia recently—partly because we are spending more time at home than ever with the pandemic and lockdown orders.
Whether you live in a compact apartment or in a spacious house with a terrace, these plants add a refreshing touch to your living space.
If you’re a houseplant lover, you must have seen these minimalistic, eye-catching plants on social media.
If not, maybe it’s time to give indoor plants a try and put a fresh look and feel into your home. In this post, we’ll share everything about indoor plants: why they’re becoming popular, their benefits, where to buy them, and we’ll also recommend the best indoor plants for you in Malaysia.
Why Are Indoor Plants Becoming Popular in Malaysia?
Well, firstly, with the extended lockdown, more Malaysians are looking to make their houses cozier with some greenery. Secondly, indoor plants are very easy to care for—even someone with little or no gardening experience can manage them.
Besides their aesthetic value, indoor plants also help purify the air at home, making it more pleasant to work from home. Let’s look at the benefits in more detail.
Health Benefits
Indoor plants filter harmful toxins and pollutants from the air, leaving you with cleaner, more breathable air.
Easy to Maintain
Low-maintenance indoor plants require minimal care—you only need to water them once a week. Even if you overwater them (a common beginner’s mistake), they rarely die or rot. They don’t need direct sunlight, so you can place them anywhere in your home. Just put them in a spot with indirect sunlight and they will thrive.
Environmentally Friendly
Indoor plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Certain species also help remove toxins like formaldehyde and benzene from the air, giving you healthier air at home.
Cure to Boredom
Lastly, growing and nurturing indoor plants is a joyful, healthy hobby and a great way to pass the time.
They can even transform a narrow corridor into a vibrant passage, adding life to every corner of your home.
8 Best Low-Maintenance Indoor Plants For Your Home
Ready to get some indoor plants? Here are our top recommendations for beginners.
1 – Epipremnum Aureum (Money Plant)
Epipremnum Aureum, sometimes known as the money plant, is popular for its air-purifying features and ease of care. You only need to water it once a week. If the trailing stems grow too long, you can simply cut them. If you’d like the plant to crawl and grow, just re-pot it into a larger container—or even propagate new plants by placing the cut stems in water.
The Epipremnum Aureum plant can be placed anywhere at home, for instance on a sunny kitchen window sill to brighten your space.
2 – Pachira Aquatic
Pachira Aquatic is another excellent choice for beginners. It loves moist soil and requires watering only 1 to 2 times a week. It also thrives in indirect light and is best positioned in a fairly sunny spot.
Pro tip: For optimal longevity, fertilize Pachira with any water-soluble fertilizer 3 to 4 times a year.
3 – Peperomia Tetragona
Peperomia Tetragona belongs to the Piperaceae family and is renowned for its long lifespan—it can thrive for decades with very little care. It prefers indirect sunlight and moderate humidity. The optimal temperature is between 18 to 24°C, making it ideal for placement in an air-conditioned room, such as your home office. Take care when moving it, as it is sensitive to temperature changes.
4 – Ficus Elastica
Ficus Elastica, also known as the rubber plant, can grow impressively tall—up to 2 meters indoors. It thrives in brightly lit spots with minimal direct sunlight. It requires little watering; simply stick your finger in the top layer of soil to check its moisture level. Remember, with indoor plants, too little water is safer than too much.
5 – Aglaonema Pink
Aglaonemas are vibrant and colorful, known for their striking leaves. They can tolerate both moist and dry conditions and even thrive in low-light environments, allowing flexible placement around your home. However, note that Pink Aglaonema is slightly toxic; if you have kids or pets, you might opt for a more family-friendly variety.
6 – Dieffenbachia Green Angel
Dieffenbachia is perfect for decorating your home or office. It is highly adaptable to different lighting conditions and can be placed anywhere you like. It requires a high humidity level and a proper watering schedule—always water only after the top layer of soil is fully dry. Ensure your pot has adequate drainage to prevent overwatering.
7 – Philodendron Imperial Green
Philodendron is another popular indoor plant. It loves humidity and bright, indirect sunlight. However, too much direct sunlight can turn its leaves yellow. You can check the soil’s moisture by sticking your finger into the topsoil layer to determine if it needs watering.
8 – Ficus Lyrata Bambino
Our final recommendation is Ficus Lyrata Bambino, which features distinctively larger, darker leaves. It’s a great indoor plant that blends seamlessly into your home design, especially if you’re looking for a darker-tone accent. Bambino thrives in humidity and indirect sunlight. Water it only when the soil starts to dry out, and remove any excess water from the drainage.
Pro tip: With Malaysia’s typically hot and humid weather, monitor your soil’s moisture closely to determine the optimal watering schedule.
Where Can I Buy Indoor Plants in Malaysia?
Before indoor plants became popular, most people visited a nearby nursery to browse for plants. However, with many physical stores closed in Malaysia, you can conveniently buy plants online.
Whether your home features a cozy apartment or a spacious layout with a terrace, HOMA delivers top-selling indoor plants anywhere in Malaysia within 3 working days.
Lastly, How Much Do Indoor Plants Typically Cost?
Depending on what you buy and the species, prices range from RM10 to RM200. The cost is usually influenced by the type of soil, the plant species, and the pot. If you’re feeling adventurous, check out the Yellow Pot at HOMA.
What makes them special is that they are made from recycled plastic sourced from Malaysian rivers and seashores—each purchase is a small step toward a greener, cleaner Earth.
Conclusion
Indoor plants can refresh your home and serve as great decorative items. The best part is they’re beginner-friendly and don’t need constant care to thrive.
Which are your favorite indoor plants? If you’ve decorated your home with some plants, snap a photo, upload it to Facebook or Instagram, and tag us at @homa2u for a nice surprise.