When spending time with mom can be as simple as going to the nearest mall or trying out the newest restaurant, we often find ourselves wanting to do something unique and extraordinary for the most special woman in our lives—especially as Mother’s Day is fast approaching.
Growing plants is one fun and special project you can consider doing with mom. Apart from adding more charm and color to your home, plants can also have beneficial and restorative purposes.
And you won’t even need a huge and spacious lot for a garden. There are, in fact, a lot of plants that can thrive inside the house or an apartment, as long as they are well taken care of.
Aloe plant
We grew up seeing this easy-to-grow succulent in everyone’s gardens and windowsills. The gel of the aloe plant (or aloe vera) is widely known to heal cuts, bruises, burns and sunburns. But what most of us aren’t aware of is that this plant also has air-clearing abilities, especially against formaldehyde and benzene, which are by-products of chemical-based cleaners and paints.
Spider plant
Spider plant
This plant is perfect for newbie gardeners because it is resilient and requires little maintenance. It doesn’t need direct sunlight, but it needs to be watered. Just make sure that you don’t leave the soil soggy which can cause its roots to rot. The spider plant is also an effective air cleaner against benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene, a solvent used in printing, leather and rubber industries. Spider plants are nontoxic and safe to be kept around pets.
Snake plant
The snake plant loves a humid, low light environment that it can even thrive in bathrooms. It is an efficient air filter that’s easy to grow as well. Just make sure to put your plant in soil that’s free draining since it can easily rot.
Mint
Mint
Mint is fast-growing which makes it a perfect starter herb. It can also be grown indoors for as long as you give it its daily dose of morning sunshine. Mint, however, is invasive so it is best that you put it in its own pot instead of grouping it with the other herbs in one big pot.
Basil
If you love pesto, then basil is a must-grow herb for you. The plant thrives well in a hot and humid climate and loves a lot of sunlight, even though it will live just as fine in partial shade. Basil can easily be grown in pots, but it will need rich, moist soil, so make sure that your basil’s soil is watered daily, especially during summer. Basil also doubles as a pest repellent drives away flies and mosquitoes, making it all the more fun to keep in the kitchen.
Lemon grass
Lemon grass
Lemon grass or tanglad is another garden staple in our country. It is a favorite herb among Filipinos as cooked rice, roast chicken, and lechon smells and tastes better with it. Lemon grass can also be boiled for tea and has therapeutic properties.
Arugula
We often find it in fancy salads, but there’s nothing fancy about growing arugula. Its seeds are fast-growing, and once it has sprouted, caring for the plant is easy. It likes cooler temperatures so it can thrive indoors. Arugula is healthy and nutritious—good for the heart, bones and skin. It has vitamin C and antioxidant properties, and is low in calories which makes it good for weight loss. It also helps protect your body against cancer.
Citronella
A cousin of lemon grass, citronella is the most common ingredient in insect repellants. Keep this plant at your own home to keep your place mosquito-free. It is one way to keep dengue at bay, too. Plus, citronella’s lemon scent will make the house smelling fresh and clean.