Share this post

If you met me 10 years ago, I would have said I hated gardening. Dirt under my nails, the possibility of snakes, and my strong distaste of being out in the sun…I’m not an outdoors person. Or at least I didn’t used to be. I’ve changed. We all change. Through years working through my OCD and major depression, I found something in the middle that helped my mind to let go of all the bad in my head. This was indoor plants. I once had read a blog post before that referenced that every room of the home should have something alive in it. I started collecting and caring for indoor plants and it became something for me to fuse my attention to. This kept me from spiraling. This post highlights some of the best indoor plants for mental health to incorporate into your home to make your house a place of healing.

During my illness, we discovered that anything forward focused was a productive use of my brain’s energy. These forward focused ideas trained my brain to focus on real life instead of OCD insanity. I started showing interests in new hobbies since my old hobbies and interests weren’t feeling the same. This included getting to know, learn, and care for house plants. I found the entire process therapeutic. Also, you get that little burst of dopamine when you see your plant is sporting a new leaf! AH! Magnifiique! An old friend turned me onto the Planterina Youtube channel (which has since been discontinued) and I would watch and study and feel all kinds of jealousy towards her wild plant collection. But she also taught me so much about how to care for plants in an enjoyable way.

*Amanda, (formerly Planterina), is back on Youtube- but has a different channel dedicated to crafts, linked here.

---

How do indoor plants help with mental health recovery?

Boost Concentration & Memory:

Studies show that being around plants improves focus and cognitive performance—especially helpful for work or study environments. Even major corporations like Google, Nike, Facebook and more added indoor plants to their offices to improve work performance. Brain fog is shockingly debilitating when experiencing depression, so this can be a great aide in mental performance.

Three great indoor plants for improved focus in an office space would be Snake plant, Aloe, or Peppermint.

Related: 10 Simple nutritional priorities for depression and brain fog

Reduce Anxiety & Stress:

Exposure to greenery lowers cortisol levels and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting a sense of calm. Your environment plays a huge role in how your brain functions and your mood.

Three indoor plants best for anxiety and stress are Lavender, English Ivy, and Peace Lily. These also will assist in better sleep performance which is imperative to mental health recovery.

Related: How to improve sleep performance

Enhance Mood:

Indoor plants have been linked to increased feelings of happiness, reduced depression, and overall better emotional well-being. This could kind of correlate with any plant that you enjoyed looking at. The Wandering Jew from my sister, sits in the window sill and reflects sunlight. The purple I find very uplifting. Also, some of my larger plants like my Rubber Plant or my Philodendron Rojo bring me joy just by how they look. My giant Philodendron has been named Sheba, and takes up way too much space in our house, but she’s part of the family now.

Indoor plants best for depression or improved mood are, Gerbera Daisy, Golden Pothos, and Rosemary.

Related: Self care for depression: 10 things you need to try

Purify the Air:

Some plants improve indoor air quality by removing toxins and increasing oxygen, which can help reduce brain fog and fatigue. This means it would also help with getting proper sleep. This is so important!

Indoor plants best for purifying the air are, Spider plant, Aloe Vera, and Peace Lily.

Encourage Mindfulness:

Taking care of plants can be grounding and meditative, offering a simple way to practice daily presence and intentionality. Nurturing something else when you are unwell can help to care for yourself as well. Some of my best tips for mindfulness can be found in my post: How to find rest in the chaos.

---

Here are some of the best indoor plants mental health:

1. Snake Plant

Snake plants are known for their ease of care, although I have to admit I killed my first one quite quickly. I kept it in a dark room and watered it a lot. These are considered succulents so they need very little water and well draining soil. Our newest one, rests happily on a south facing window sill in well draining soil.

For more care tips, see this full guide for Snake Plant care and growing.

2. Golden Pothos AKA Devil’s Ivy

This was my very first house plant. I received some clippings from a family friend over 10 years ago, and it still enjoys life on our book shelf. This plant is known for its ease of care. Even the name points to it;s ease, referencing it can even grow in hell, or even the devil can’t kill it. I’m not sure which.

For full care of a golden pathos, check out this post.

3. Peace Lily

I don’t have the best history with peace lily plants, but I am including it on here for what it’s best known for. It’s a low maintenance plant, that can survive in low light conditions. My peace Lily plant, has gone through some rough times but is still hangin on. Peace lily varieties are different in variety, and if I bought a new one, I would choose one of the larger varieties, like Sensation Peace Lily pictured here.

For complete guide to peace lily care, read this post.

4. Aloe Vera

Aloe plants are interesting to look at, easy to care for, great for purifying air, and also practical for burn care. They produce new babies frequently, and you’ll be able to gift these to friends as it grows. This can be best placed in a sunny kitchen for handling burns, or a bedroom for promoting oxygen production and better sleep!

A complete guide to peace lily care can be found here.

5. Colorful vibrant plants like Wandering Jew, or Crotons

More varieties of colorful houseplants can be found here. Sometimes with all that greenery, you need a pop of color and interest. These plants fill that void and can stay true to personality or personal taste. If you’ve ever read anything about Color Psychology, you would know that different colors impact mood and mental health. Yellows are most known for their bright and cheerful effect, while blues are known for their calming influence. Consider this while you choose your indoor plants for mental health.

6. Orchids

Don’t stress out. Orchids are known for being difficult to care for, but the price is worth it. You may have a black thumb and know you cannot keep anything high maintenance alive. If that’s you, here is something to consider: You can buy a new orchid for as little as 20-30 dollars and have a beautiful blooming flower in your house for weeks, months, or years. You can spend 20-30 dollars on a grocery store bouquet of cut flowers and have blooms for 1 week. Doesn’t sound so intimidating now does it? These flowers are peaceful and tropical and the height they add to home styling can be just the right thing.

Complete care or orchids for beginners can be found here.

7. Succulents or Cati

I’m not really a succulent person. However I did see an episode on Magnolia Network where Johanna Gaine’s sister Mikey opens a vintage RV succulent shop… and she kind of changed my mind. Their whimsical designs are super charming and if you use her method of finding unique one of a kind vessels as there home- it adds such a warmth that makes my heart happy. Episode is here. Besides all of that, succulents and cati make the list for being easy to care for and resilient- this creates a neat visual metaphor.

Look here for more care instructions.

8. ZZ plant

ZZ plat makes the list for its low maintenance lifestyle and whimsical look. Known officially as Zamioculcas zamiifolia, this plant can still thrive even after neglect and may be the perfect choice if you’re suffering from burn out and not capable of taking on anything more right now.

ZZ plant care can be found here: ZZ 101.

Related: Burn out Recovery Project

9. Hanging or draping plants

These are on here for a personal preference. Their cascading leaves brings a sense of softness and flow to a space, which creates a calming atmosphere. I have two hung in our home and they’re some of my favorite for home design. My husband told me before, “That’s an old lady thing.” when I said I wanted to hang some. These have since grown on him. In our home, we have a curly spider plant and a philodendron brasil. I find them so peaceful to look at. Spider plants are also most highly regarded for their air purifying abilities making it a great addition to a bedroom space.

10. Aroma rich plants like lavender or rosemary

Plant aromas can significantly improve mental health by interacting with the brain’s emotional and nervous systems. When you inhale the scent of certain plants, aromatic compounds—like linalool in lavender or menthol in mint—travel through the nose to the olfactory bulb- directly connected to areas of the brain that regulate mood, memory, and stress response. While peppermint may improve focus and alertness, lavender and eucalyptus can decrease stress and anxiety.

---

Where to buy indoor plants:

I’m lucky enough to have a great family run green house within a few miles of me. However, there are also a variety of online retailers that specialize in healthy, well-packaged greenery delivered right to your door. One popular option is The Sill, which offers a wide range of beginner-friendly plants, plant care accessories, and beautiful planters. Bloomscape is another great choice, known for shipping large, fully-grown plants in stylish pots with detailed care instructions. For more budget-friendly options, Plants.com offers curated indoor plants for different needs—such as air purification or pet-safe varieties. Even larger retailers like Lowes and Home Depot have plant selections, though the variety and quality may vary.

Are indoor plants bad for allergies?

Indoor plants aren’t usually bad for allergies, and many can actually help improve air quality—but it depends on the plant type and your sensitivities. Certain plants, like peace lilies, snake plants, and areca palms, can filter airborne toxins and add humidity, which may ease respiratory irritation and dryness. Some plants trap dust and allergens on their leaves, keeping them out of the air (just be sure to wipe leaves regularly). However, some indoor plants can worsen allergies by being a pollen producing plant, or without proper care- some plants can grow mold creating issues for sensitive individuals.

Do indoor plants attract bugs?

Unfortunately, yes. But they’re more of a problem for the plant than they are for you. Common pests include fungus gnats (tiny black flies that hover around moist soil), spider mites (microscopic insects that leave fine webbing), aphids (small green or black bugs on new growth), mealybugs (white, cotton-like clusters in leaf joints), and scale (brown bumps on stems that suck plant sap). These pests are typically drawn to overly moist soil, poor airflow, high humidity, or plants brought in from outdoors or infested store stock. Personally, I’ve been struggling with scale on one of my large umbrella plants after keeping it outside for the summer and bringing it back in (I won’t be doing this again). Neem oil has helped tremendously, but the battle is still ongoing.

To prevent bugs, avoid overwatering and allow the soil to dry out between waterings, since most pests thrive in moisture. Make sure your pots have good drainage and use quality, well-draining soil. Wipe down your plants’ leaves regularly and inspect them often to catch problems early. Get more information here if you’re dealing with a pest problem.

---

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I do not recommend products that I have not personally vetted.