In this article we consider what plants to grow in your yoga studio, and why you should consider it in the first place. The benefits of growing plants in your yoga studio are both intuitive and backed up by science. Research shows that spending time in an environment with houseplants reduces psychological and physical stress. Houseplants are also known to reduce blood pressure, pain and anxiety, and may help your yoga practice by improving your concentration and attention.
Overall, science shows that having houseplants around will make you happier and more productive. Flowering or other highly scented plants are particularly beneficial. Neuroscientists have confirmed that aromatherapy has a positive impact on mood, physiology, and behavior.
Adding plants will also improve the air quality in your studio. NASA experiments showed that plants purify the air, removing chemicals like benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde. Other research shows house plants reduce dust in the air, so you won’t inhale so many particulates during pranayama.
Every environment poses its own landscaping challenges. Whether you have poor sun exposure or limited window space, thanks to the diversity of houseplants available you can find the perfect plants to grow in your yoga studio. We have broken down the following 18 recommended plants into categories to match your setting or preference.
Contents
Plants for Low Natural Light
1. Peace Lily
Many people assume they can’t grow houseplants in their yoga studio because they have no windows with direct sunlight, but this isn’t true. In forests and jungles, ground cover plants don’t get direct sunlight because of the dense canopy overhead, so many plants are happy in a north-facing or semi-shaded window as it matches their natural environment.
The peace lily is an extremely popular and easy to grow tropical houseplant. They prefer filtered light and will remove more pollutants from your studio than most other houseplants. Peace lilies bloom twice each year, with long-lasting flowers.
You might also be interested in our round-up of inspiring yoga studio design ideas and tips.
2. Prayer Plant
Another great choice for a low-light studio space is a prayer plant, which is native to the Brazilian rainforest. They have beautiful multicolored leaves, some with pink veins. Prayer plants can’t tolerate direct sunlight, and they require acidic soil, so try adding extra peat moss to your potting mix.
3. Ferns
Ferns are a great choice for many studios. They are satisfied with indirect sunlight, and are particularly good at air purification. One of the best is the Boston fern, which thrives in cool spaces with indirect light. Other options include a rabbit’s foot fern or Kimberly Queen fern. Make sure to keep your fern’s soil damp, and if your studio isn’t already humid then spray them with water occasionally.
Plants for Limited Space
4. Ox Tongue Succulent
If the growing area in your yoga studio is limited, you can still grow a lot of plants if you pick the right kinds. Slow-growing succulents are a good choice for small, sunny windowsills. You might grow them in a row of tiny pots or an indoor window-box. Try the attractive ox tongue succulent, which prefers bright but indirect light and stays compact.
5. Zebra Cactus
Cacti are another great space-saving choice. One popular option is the dramatically patterned zebra cactus. They generally stay less than six inches tall and are perfect for a tiny windowsill container.
6. Creeping Fig
If you want to expand your growing area, a great strategy is to use the vertical space near your windows. Try growing climbing plants that can be trained to grow up a wall or trellis. For example, the creeping fig, the smallest member of the ficus family, is a great houseplant that prefers bright but indirect light.
7. Spider plants
In addition to climbers, hanging baskets are an effective option for using vertical space.
Spider plants are highly suitable for hanging baskets. They are resilient growers, and content with a wide range of environmental conditions, including indirect light and cooler temperatures. They are a joy to watch grow, as they produce small white flowers that turn into miniature spider plants, called spiderettes, which allow easy propagation of the plant.
Plants for Hot and Humid Studios
8. Umbrella Tree
If you run a hot yoga studio, you’ll want tropical plants accustomed to high heat and humidity. One great option is the umbrella tree, which is perfectly at home in a warm and sunny environment. Even indoors, the umbrella tree can grow up to fifteen feet tall, making good use of vertical space.
9. Hibiscus
Tropical hibiscus is another great choice for a hot yoga room. Hibiscus produce large, showy flowers, and come in a wide variety of colors. Due to its tropical origins, hibiscus thrives in sunny, humid rooms.
10. Crown of Thorns
It’s no surprise that Madagascar is the origin of many plants that are perfect for a hot yoga room. A crown of thorns succulent, for example, appreciates heat and humidity. The crown of thorns is covered in small but eye-catching red flowers, which bloom nearly all year-round.
11. Bird of Paradise
Another great lover of heat and humidity is the bird of paradise. These tropical beauties offer attractive greenery, and may even bloom indoors in a particularly sunny south-facing window.
Aromatic Plants
12. Jasmine
A classic of aromatherapy, jasmine makes a great plant for a yoga studio. Jasmine needs a south-facing window with good light, and typically won’t bloom until the second year, but their heavenly fragrance is well worth the effort.
13. Meyer Lemon Tree
Small, potted Meyer lemon trees are perfect for yoga studios with good sunlight. Meyer lemon flowers have an intoxicating fragrance, and the trees flower off and on year-round. If well cared for, the flowers will grow into small, delicious lemons that make a perfect garnish for your post-yoga water.
14. Paperwhite
Paperwhites, a variety of narcissus, give off a rich, almost musky scent. Paperwhites are bulbs that can be forced to flower at any time of year. They don’t require soil, so they can be grown as part of a beautiful display, for example using pebbles in the bottom of a glass vase in a calming color.
15. Mint
Mint is another great all-purpose plant for the yoga studio. Sunlight awakens the leaves, releasing their scent into the air. You can harvest leaves to dry for tea or crush them with ice to infuse your water. Unlike most houseplants, mint can easily be grown easily and inexpensively from seed.
Low-Maintenance Plants
16. Philodendron
If you struggle with being mindful about taking care of your houseplants, try a resilient philodendron. Philodendrons come in literally thousands of varieties. They are attractive, shiny-leaved, fast-growing creepers, which can be trained to grow vertically or along walls and ledges. They require little attention and tolerate a wide variety of growing conditions.
17. Cast-Iron Plant
A particularly resilient option is the Aspidistra elatior, commonly known as the Cast-Iron plant because it is so impervious to neglect and mistreatment. It is drought-tolerant and will survive even with extremely minimal light.
18. Aloe
Aloe is a great plant for forgetful yogis. They prefer bright, indirect light, and cool temperatures. They will survive almost any treatment other than over-watering. Aloe is a healing plant, which can be used for burns.
Final Word: Perfect Plants to Grow in Your Yoga Studio
We hope that we have managed to convey just how diverse the options for indoor plants are? No matter what the specifics of your setting, with so many options to choose from, you should have no problem finding a variety of plant or plants that are perfect for a yoga studio or even your home.
There are no limiting factors. Our natural environment is subject to a diversity of conditions just as our built environment is. Take the time to assess your needs and then enjoy choosing the right plants for you.
