Spruce up your home for spring
Home contractor Skip Bedell shares easy DIY ideas to make your home look like new.
Spring is a time that the many seasonal flowers we haven't seen in a while make their way back to the indoors and outdoors of our homes.
While greenery is everywhere outside during the spring and summer months, the inside of your home may be lacking some color and the best of Mother Nature.
If you're looking to breathe beautiful life back into your home, the plant and flower options for you to choose from are endless.
BRING THE OUTDOORS INSIDE: HORTICULTURE IN THE HOME
Create a space that feels light and alive in the springtime with any of these houseplants.
Check out these varieties listed and detailed below.
The African violet comes in lots of different colors and can add vibrancy to your space. (Steve Pfost/Newsday RM via Getty Images)
- African violet
- Anthurium aka flamingo lily
- Ficus
- Aloe
- Ponytail palm
- Orchid
1. African violet
The African violet is so stunning it almost doesn't look real.
The African violet comes in a variety of colors and is fairly easy to care for, experts say. The flowers need a pretty good amount of light, though this light should be indirect, according to Almanac.
GARDENING 101: 7 EASY FLOWERS TO PLANT THIS SPRING, PLUS THE TOOLS YOU'LL NEED
As for watering, the violets should be watered with room-temperature water, and the soil should be kept moist.
When you water your plant, be careful not to get too much water on the leaves, as this could cause dark spots to form, according to Homes & Gardens.
2. Anthurium aka flamingo lily
Flamingo lilies are beautiful tropical plants that come in red, pink, purple and white. Inspire a rainforest in your home with anthuriums.
Flamingo lilies require minimal maintenance. The plant only needs to be watered once a week on average. (Avalon/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Anthuriums don't need to be watered daily.
The flower only requires water about once a week when the soil is dry, according to Smart Garden Guide.
These flowers need medium to bright indirect light, according to the same source — and do well in temperatures from 60 F to 90 F.
BEAUTIFUL FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS IN SPRINGTIME ARE EASIER TO CREATE THAN YOU THINK
3. Ficus
If you're hoping for colors that are less bright and in more natural tones of green, a ficus plant is a great option to include in your space.
The ficus is pretty easy to maintain; this flower needs to be watered regularly. (DEA / G.CIGOLINI/De Agostini via Getty Images)
Ficus plants need a lot of indirect sunlight, according to HGTV. You'll want to make sure you find a place in your home where the plant can receive the light it needs.
Ficus plants need pretty consistent watering, according to the same source.
Keep in mind that they can get pretty big, so be choosy about the pot for the plant. If you're hoping to grow a ficus plant that takes up a large portion of your space, add it to a big pot.
If you're hoping for something sweet and petite, use a small pot — and it should retain its size for a while.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
4. Aloe vera
Aloe vera plants are a succulent with numerous use cases.
While they're a naturally stunning addition to a home's space, they also have health benefits and are used pharmaceutically.
Aloe not only look great, but the gel on the inside of the leaves can help to soothe burns on the skin. (DEA / G.CIGOLINI/De Agostini via Getty Images)
If opened up, inside each aloe plant leaf you will find a gel. This gel is commonly used to treat sunburns and help with acne, according to HGTV.
The plant can also assist in managing blood sugar, healing wounds, preventing signs of aging including wrinkles — and more.
Aloe plants are very easy to grow — they need just minimal supervision.
If you are growing an aloe plant, you can cut off the leaves and slice them open to reveal the gel. Scrape the gel off the leaf into a container for use later or rub the leaf gel directly onto the spot that needs healing.
Aloe plants are very easy to grow, as they need very minimal supervision. They need bright, indirect sunlight, according to Architectural Digest, and only need to be watered once a week.
5. Ponytail palm
The ponytail palm, similar to a ficus, is a plant with a unique look. Ponytail palms have trunks and string like leaves that grow long at the top of it and droop downwards.
If placed in a small pot, they should remain small for many years; but if placed in a larger pot, they can grow quite large, according to Almanac.
The ponytail palm can grow large if grown in a bigger pot. (DeAgostini/Getty Images)
These plants can survive in bright light or also with very little light, according to Fox News Digital.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
6. Orchids
Orchid plants are a beautiful addition to any space, small or large. They come in numerous vibrant colors including red, blue, green, purple, orange and yellow.
