10 Houseplants to Beat the Winter Blues

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Native to tropical and southern Africa, the spider plant will remind you of warm, sunny days in the winter. Comprising a rosette of thin, leggy, green-and-yellow foliage, the common houseplant is famously easy to care for. Though it prefers indirect sunlight, it can tolerate low-light conditions and drought. In the winter, once-a-week (or even less frequent) waterings are sufficient.

You shouldn't expect your spider plant to grow much over the winter, but when it does spring to life, look for long, arched stems giving birth to baby spider plants, "spiderettes," which you can pinch off and plant on their own.

Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera deliciosa)

Known for its large, split, and glossy green leaves, this big beauty also hails from the tropics and will bring a piece of the jungle to your house when it's cold and grim outside.

Also known as the Mexican breadfruit or hurricane plant, the Instagram-favorite Swiss cheese plant lies dormant in the winter, preserving its stately, holed foliage for warmer times. It prefers indirect light, so display it on a bookshelf or end table near a window and water only when the top inch of soil feels dry. You want to be careful not to overwater your monstera, especially during its dormant period.

Air Plant (Tillandsia)

There are roughly 500 species of air plants, all known for their long, springy leaves and lack of reliance on soil. This is what makes them especially good for winter: While other plants become finicky during winter dormancy, these pot-free anomalies require the same care all year round. Simply soak them in room-temperature water every one to two weeks, display them in a terrarium or hang them on the wall, and watch as their appearance remains consistent through the changing of the seasons.

Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)

With its namesake promise of wealth and abundance, the Chinese money plant brings hope to the dreary season. The belief that it's lucky is rooted in traditional feng shui. Endemic to China's Yunnan province, this quirky beauty's leathery leaves—reminiscent of a lily pad or a UFO—shoot enthusiastically from its crown.

The Chinese money plant is simple to propagate, so you can potentially brighten up your home with a whole flock given just one. To adhere to the principles of feng shui, place your pilea in a southeast corner, associated with financial prosperity and abundance.

Aloe Vera

Commonly incorporated into skincare products, aloe vera acts as a natural moisturizer, which is especially handy in the dry winter months. Aloe vera's soft, leathery flesh loves to sunbathe, but be careful: Too much direct sun can result in browning leaves.

Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)

A lack of ventilation is to blame for the atmospheric staleness so typical of winter. Air-purifying plants become increasingly important, and while research is notoriously torn on the issue (how many plants are needed to make an impact remains unknown), jade plants are thought to be some of the most effective. In a 2016 American Chemical Society meeting, chemistry professor Vadoud Niri of the State University of New York said jade plants excelled at removing toxic toluene from the air. Also, in the practice of feng shui, the jade plant symbolizes good luck, growth, and renewal.

Fern (Polypodiophyta)

Ferns are the quintessential outdoor plants. In fact, in most parts of the world, they can't even survive outside in the winter. That they thrive on high humidity makes ferns good bathroom plants—there, they reap the rewards of hot, steamy showers and give off rainforest vibes, even when it's snowing. Many common fern species are found on the forest floor, so make sure their soil drains well and contains plenty of organic matter, to mimic that environment.

Devil's Ivy (Epipremnum aureum)

Though it also goes by the name golden pothos, this vine's "devil's ivy" reference hails from its ability to stay alive (and green) even in dark and neglectful conditions. It won't take too much of a hit from shortened days and dry conditions, and its large and variegated green leaves are great for adding life to your home when the weather outside is grey and bleak.

Madagascar Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata)

This small tree features long, stiff leaves in a bright shade of pinkish red, the perfect pop of color to get you through overcast, flowerless winter days. Madagascar dragon trees prefer indirect light indoors, but don't need much—not even a window seat—to survive. Its spraying, swordlike leaves match the aesthetic of the Malagasy forest from which it originates. The tree can grow between three and seven feet tall and three feet wide.

Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)

With the ability to look like it came straight from the rainforest even through drought and poor light conditions, the parlor palm is an ideal choice to include in your indoor plant family come winter. It can grow up to six feet tall, which adds some serious green volume to your living space when you need it most. Parlor palms grow well in three-gallon pots.