Spring is in full bloom, and as the ground begins to defrost and the sun hangs around a bit longer each day, many of us are itching for more time spent with nature. But, you don’t need to be outdoorsy to reap the benefits of plants. This season, bring nature to you with an indoor houseplant that aligns with your zodiac sign.
“Choosing a houseplant based on your zodiac sign will help you to understand yourself a bit better and also strengthen your ability to nurture yourself and others by committing to keeping a plant alive and well,” says Meghan Rose, a spiritual advisor, intuitive tarot card reader, and author of Glamour magazine’s Tarotscopes column.
The Best Houseplants for Your Zodiac Sign
According to astrologist Lisa Stardust, choosing a houseplant compatible with your sun sign can “help you have an emotional connection to it.” For further connection, Stardust recommends talking to your plant or playing music “in order to help it grow and flourish.” While it might sound a bit out there, research conducted by the Royal Horticultural Society suggests that talking to your plants can really help them grow.
While you might be busy caring for your plants, your plants also care for you. According to research, having a houseplant to take care of can positively impact mental health. We are constantly stimulated and stressed by modern technology and fast-paced lives in the world we live in, which leaves us in a regular state of ‘fight or flight’ mode. But, caring for a houseplant can ground you back to Earth and deepen your connection to nature and leave you feeling less anxious, stressed, and out of alignment.
Adding a houseplant to your home can also bring in a breath of fresh air — literally, since plants produce oxygen and purify the air — and picking out greenery that is tailor-made for you and the personality traits of your zodiac sign makes them all the more fun to care for.
Aries or Aries Rising
Best Houseplant: Lucky Bamboo
“Lucky bamboo is perfect for Aries, who always like to have the best and intense plants to raise the everyday energy to powerful levels,” says astrologist Lisa Stardust. The sculptural houseplant comes in an array of designs, including bamboo stalks that swirl around each other, braid together, or stick straight up — they’re essentially a living piece of art. The great thing about lucky bamboo is that it’s relatively easy to care for since it’s closely related to the succulent family. They thrive in filtered sunlight and are hard to kill for the most part.
When purchasing a lucky bamboo plant for your space, the two most important things to consider are your pets and the type of water you nourish it with. Lucky bamboo is considered toxic for cats and dogs, so it’s best to place these plants somewhere your fur baby can’t reach them. And, they are picky about the water they drink, as they are particularly sensitive to some of the chemicals found in tap water. With that in mind, it’s best to quench this plant’s thirst with distilled or bottled water.
Taurus or Taurus Rising
Best Houseplant: Peace Lily
Taurus prefers to keep the peace, so a peace lily is a great choice for this Earth sign. “Peace lily is ideal for docile Taurus, who likes to have calm and chill moments in life — no matter what is going on in the outside world,” says Stardust. This classic tropical houseplant has beautiful glossy ribbed leaves and long-lasting lily blooms in the spring.
The great thing about a peace lily houseplant is that it actually prefers shade, so you don’t need a spot supersaturated in light to make this blooming beauty happy. They also don’t like to be overwatered, so they’re a great choice for someone who might forget to water their plants from time to time. Like the lucky bamboo, peace lily plants are another houseplant that is toxic to cats and dogs, so they should be kept up high (or hanging from a macrame planter!) where your pet can’t reach.
Gemini or Gemini Rising
Best Houseplant: Croton Petra
The croton petra is the plant of choice for those with a Gemini sun sign. “Much like a Gemini, they’re natural-born shapeshifters and able to amplify an environment with their presence,” says Rose. “And, to top it all off, they do best on a desktop, much like a studious and cerebral Gemini,” she adds.
The dual-colored leaves of the croton petra houseplant boast pink, green, and yellow hues, making them a great, eye-catching piece of home decor, too. They prefer to sit in bright, indirect sunlight and their colors actually change according to how much light they receive (they’ll stay mostly green without enough sunlight). They prefer consistent moisture, especially in the summertime when it’s hot out, so regular watering and misting is a must.
Cancer or Cancer Rising
Best Houseplant: Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree
The fiddle leaf fig tree is a finicky houseplant that requires a lot of love and care. “They aren’t the easiest to keep happy and, like a Cancer, they will need to make sure you take them into consideration with every plan you make from here on out,” says Rose. “They are gorgeous and make any space feel like a true home, as a Cancer does,” she adds.
The fiddle leaf fig tree reigns as one of the trendiest houseplants on social media. And, while it is popular, it’s also more of an intermediate plant. They won’t give you too much trouble with proper care. Fiddle leaf fig trees love bright, filtered light and hate to be moved — so, once you place it somewhere, try and keep it there. Moisture-wise, they love humidity and enjoy a nice spritz of H₂O regularly. They also prefer a moderate amount of water in their soil to grow and thrive. That said, be careful not to overwater.
Leo or Leo Rising
Best Houseplant: ZZ Plant
“With their wide, attractive leaves, these plants boast as one of the most favorable houseplants on the market,” says Rose, adding, “what’s more Leo than being number one?” This is the best houseplant for Leo sun signs for a few reasons. “ZZ plants can tolerate neglect and, like a Leo on the prowl, they don’t want to be locked down,” Rose explains. “However, their waxy finish is a great reflector of light and needs very little sunlight, as they essentially create their own — like Leos [which are ruled by the Sun], they bring their own shine,” she adds.
The great thing about ZZ plants is that they are incredibly easy to care for and require very little maintenance. If lighting is an issue in your space, you don’t need to worry with a ZZ plant, as they can thrive in a range of lighting situations — be sure to keep it out of direct sunlight to protect the leaves. ZZ plants also require little watering, so they’re great for anyone who doesn’t have a green thumb. The one thing you’ll want to watch for is dust buildup on the leaves. The ZZ plant has beautiful and succulent glossy leaves that can become dull over time as dust builds up. Wiping the leaves of dust will help prevent this, though.
Virgo or Virgo Rising
Best Houseplant: Bonsai Tree
Bonsai trees are “perfect for the patient perfectionist, Virgo,” says Rose. “Their attention to detail will leave these bonsai trees in tip-top shape and wow each of their guests, [which is] what every Virgo secretly wants when they let someone into their home,” Rose adds.
Bonsai plants come in a wide range of tree species, so caring for them really depends on the tree type. When purchasing a bonsai, the most common things to consider are proper watering and sunlight. Most do well if you water as needed vs. trying to stick to a watering schedule and many love humidity, so placing a bowl of water nearby can be helpful. Bonsais also like daylight, so placing them by a window can help them thrive.
Libra or Libra Rising
Best Houseplant: Orchid
Orchids are “beautiful, bright, and sure to catch the attention of all of your house guests,” says Rose. “Libra will love having the beautiful energy of an orchid in their home [as they are] essentially synonymous with Libra energy,” she adds, noting their fragrant, delicate, and charming appeal.
These plants are typically purchased in full bloom, making them a great alternative to flowers. Once the blooms fall, switch the orchid plant to a new pot since the pots they come in aren’t typically suitable for longevity. As far as light and water go, this plant likes stronger sunlight — but not hot and direct afternoon light — and minimal watering. Orchid plants also love humidity, so spraying them or sticking a mini humidifier near them adds to their comfort level.
Scorpio or Scorpio Rising
Best Houseplant: Venus Flytrap
“Look, but don’t get too close, or you might get bit,” Rose says of the Venus flytrap plant. “Much like a Scorpio, they look cute, but if you mess with them, they will put you in a chokehold,” she adds. “The Venus flytrap is a perfect alternative to the Scorpio’s stinger — watch out and don’t get on their bad side unless you want to draw blood.”
These plants are typically easy to care for but can be a tad gross if you hate bugs. They come in plastic containers, which help them retain humidity levels and require frequent watering. Because these plants are carnivorous, they need to eat bugs to survive. If the plant is not in contact with enough flies, mosquitos, or gnats, you’ll need to add live flies to the container (using a tweezer is the most effective way).
Sagittarius or Sagittarius Rising
Best Houseplant: Monstera
Monstera plants are luscious and exotic houseplants that “make you feel like you’re in the middle of a jungle when you have enough of them in one space,” says Rose. “Like a Sagittarius, they always remind you to book your next vacation,” she adds, noting how as they grow, their “curious stems splay in multiple directions, always looking to explore more of their counterparts,” which is very much aligned with the Sagittarius.
These tropical beauties are a showstopper in any home, plus they are relatively easy to care for, making them a popular houseplant. They need bright, indirect sunlight and a regular watering schedule of once per week during the spring and summer (water a bit less during the fall and winter). Since they are tropical, these plants love humidity. Misting them or placing them near a humidifier is best to meet their humidity requirements.
Capricorn or Capricorn Rising
Best Houseplant: Succulents
Succulents are known for their resilience and easy care. “These dry plants like to be left alone most of the time,” Rose explains. “Once you give them a happy, sunny place to sit, they will take care of themselves,” she adds, noting how succulents come in a wide range of varieties and colors and “can effortlessly match calm spaces with resilience” like no other houseplant. “What’s more Capricorn than that?”
While there are many different types of succulents, most of them require similar care — though it can be helpful to look up how to care for your specific type. Most of them prefer bright light and fast-draining soil. During the warmer months, they need to be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between watering. But, in the winter, they only need to be watered once a month.
Aquarius or Aquarius Rising
Best Houseplant: Air Plant
Aquarius is a fixed air sign, making an air plant a great houseplant choice for this sun sign. “They absorb most of their nutrients and moisture from the atmosphere,” says Rose. “Much like an Aquarius, they are in tune with the universe around them,” she adds.
Air plants are some of the coolest houseplants out there — they are literally floating plants that require no pot or soil! They’re also very low maintenance, which definitely counts for something. These houseplants require bright to medium indirect sunlight and regular misting to quench their thirst. Additionally, they will need to be soaked in water for between 20-40 minutes every couple of weeks to keep them happy and healthy.
Pisces or Pisces Rising
Best Houseplant: Aloe Vera
The aloe plant is a great choice for a Pisces as “this healing houseplant likes to give its life to help others,” says Rose, adding how you can use the gooey center of an aloe vera plant to soothe sunburns and other skin irritations. “Much like a Pisces, they can’t help but to live a life of service,” says Rose. “Aloe vera is a great addition to hot climates with their hydrating leaves and, like Pisces energy, will always bring you back to a balanced state after a long hike or day out in the sun.”
Aloe vera is a succulent plant, so its requirements are similar to the Capricorn-aligned succulents. This plant needs bright, indirect sunlight, fast-draining soil, and infrequent watering.
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