Cool plants with fun names are easy to grow, and can make your living space epic. Whether you have a small space, or a ginormous castle, these killer named plants will deliver creativity and beauty to your place. With cool plants, there is a variety of different kinds of plants you can grow in your living space that will test your green thumb, and create a beautiful environment. Other than decoration and beauty, plants (according to NASA) effectively filter out harmful volatile organic compounds (VOC) like formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene from the environment.
The cool plants on the list are very easy to care for, so for beginning growers this list is perfect. Most are very drought tolerant, and if you have good soil drainage at the bottom of the plant, you reduce the risk of overwatering. Most of the cool plants on the list can handle indirect, full, partial, or fluorescent lighting, and enjoy average room temperatures. Because of this, they are perfect for any living space because you might not have a lot of options for where to place the plants.
As with all plant care, you should add fertilizer every couple months, and keep pests off your plants. Not all of the cool plants on the list can be found at your local nursery, Home Depot or Lowes , but they are all worth the adventure of growing.
Dumb Cane, a Cool Plant
Dumb cane or dieffenbachia is a slow growing plant that likes warmer environments. The biggest problem with the Dumb Cane plant is overwatering, so be careful and water when the top soil is dry. The Dumb Cane plant is very adaptable to different kinds of lighting conditions, and can be placed in indirect, fluorescent, or shaded light. Most varieties though do do best with filtered light. Do not place this cool plant where kids, dogs or cats can eat the leaves because this plant can cause throat swelling.
ZZ Plant
Also called Zamioculcas Zamiifolia, the ZZ plant is the perfect cool plant because it is very tolerant to most kinds of conditions. This dark leaved attractive ZZ plant can tolerate some neglect from watering and lighting conditions. The plant prefers low-light conditions, and watering when the top 2-inches of soil are dry. The ZZ plant grows slow, and can placed in dark corners of the apartment. This cool plant is toxic if eaten, so keep curious kids, and nibbling pets away.
Sweetheart, Plant a Cool Plant
The Hoya Kerrii, or Sweetheart Plant is one of the coolest small plants you can have. Shaped like a heart, this succulent is very easy to grow and maintain. As with most succulents, this is extremely drought resistant, and loves bright direct light. However, the sweetheart plant can survive in low-light conditions as well. If you want a beautiful attention grabbing plant with very very low maintenance, this is it.
Snake Plant
Also called Sansevieria, or Mother-In-Laws Tongue, this plant is perfect for cool plant living. This very hardy plant can survive with extreme neglect. The snake plant grows tall, in fact the leaves can grow over 4-feet tall, so it is perfect floor plant. This cool plant can handle very low-light conditions, and should only be watered when the top soil is dry to the touch. Because of this, the snake plant does well placed anywhere in the apartment and actually prefers low humidity conditions.
Spider Plant, a Cool Plant
This hardy plant is one of the most popular house and cool plants out there, and enjoys partial shade and bright indirect sunlight. The spider plant does really well, either hung from the ceiling or placed on a shelf. Spider plants do require daily watering, and do best in moist but not soggy soil. For this reason root rot can be a problem. This plant does not take a lot of upkeep, but watch out for pests.
Rubber Plant
The ficus elastica, or rubber plant can grow very tall in a couple years, or you can restrict the growth by keeping the plant in a smaller pot. Good soil drainage is important, and the rubber plant does not like to be waterlogged. This cool plant does best in bright indirect light, and and you will know if the plant wants more light if the leaves lose their luster or the lower leaves falls off. A rubber plant is known as one of the best air cleaning houseplants you can have.
Dragon Tree, a Cool Plant
The Dragon Tree, or Dracaena Marginata plant is another great cool plant because, it is easy to care for. This miniature tree like plant with sward leaves that shoot upwards is very drought tolerant, and is nearly indestructible. The dragon tree is very slow growing, so at first it might be a counter top plant, but after years, it might need to be moved to the floor. This plant does well with indirect, partial shade, or full sun light, but be careful because the dragon tree’s leaves are toxic to dogs and cats.
Peace Lily
Why not add some tropical plants to your lives! Peace Lily is one of the most common flowering cool house plants, and with good reason. This plant enjoys bright light, and can be withstand partial shade or low-light conditions, but does like warmer weather. Peace Lilies needs watering when the soil is dry or the leaves falls over. Don’t worry though, because when hydrated again the plant will perk back up.
Dark Mystery Plant
The Dark Mystery Plant is a fantastic houseplant that has foliage that looks like some creepy lizard tail plant out of a horror movie or fantasy adventure. It will certainly add charachter to a room and spark some creative and fun converations. Dark Mystery plant care is easy, they love humidity and do well in low light conditions so perhaps a good plant for a bathroom.
Rhaphidophora Decursiva | Dragon Tail Plant
The Rhaphidophora Decursiva also known as Dragon Tail plant somewhat often confused with a monstera or mislabled a creeping philodendron, however it is not a part of either of those plant families. This exotic climber has large leaves and will grow in size according with how much space you give it. For more details and Rhaphidophora Decursiva Care information Check out How to Rhaphidophora in the Gro Guide.
The first step in choosing cool plants is planning on what you want, and where the plants will go. Once you have determined where you will place the plants, watch the area to see the lighting of the location. Once you have all the deets, it is time to go find your new plants. Have fun and stay cool.