House plants for an apartment?

I'm moving soon to a new city, and want my first apartment (that is, no roommates) to feel really homey and comfortable. What kind of house plants can I get that will make the atmosphere pleasant in my apartment? Here is what I do/don't want..



I DON'T want a plant that will attract bugs. In fact, it would be nice if it would repel bugs.

I DON'T want a plant that is overly fragrant. Subtle is okay, but not too much.

I DON'T want a plant that might be poisonous to a cat that chews on it.

I DO want a plant that will make breathing easier, like having a feeling of fresh oxygen.

I DON'T want a plant that might cause my allergies to act up (that is, avoiding pollen/weeds).

House plants for an apartment?
Sanseviera, common name snake plant.



This plant repels bugs, definitely not fragrant, survives in low light, PLUS it release oxygen at night - I learned that from the book "How To Grow Fresh Air".



Get more ideas of what you can grow in your home, for your home from this easy to read book.
Reply:Try some bonsai; gardenias are beautiful, but they do smell a lot... junipers and other evergreens work well.

Also try an avocado plant; put the pit of an avocado into a small plastic bag filled with small amount of water (halfway up the pit is good). Then, if and when it germinates, take it out and put it in soil. They are easy to care for and stunningly pretty. The hard part is starting them off. It took me like 8 tries.



One of my personal favorites- Chlorophytum; spider plant. Makes a nice Hanging plant.



Anyway check out my source. It's just a list I used because I can't remember names now and then. Good inspiration. Also will teach you how to grow.
Reply:Easy... cactus...the cat will learn to stay away...you can get spineless cacti,or ones with small spines that would not harm a cat, plus they are easy to look after, give them a bit of light and a touch of water and fertilizer about once a month. If it's cold where you are you can pretty much ignore it during winter
Reply:An Ivy would make a good plant. I have a cat and I have always had Ivy's. They are pretty easy to keep, and to me they do not have an overwhelming smell to them. They are fairly cheap too.
Reply:i think ferns will do a good job in your apt. my balcony is full of them. or maybe orchids but they only bloom once a year. bamboo is also good.
Reply:One year in a nice large pot, I grew sage, oregano, basil, and thyme. And I had no trouble with bugs getting into them- And yes, I even cooked with them.
Reply:Get a Carnivorous plant!
Reply:Keep in mind that almost anything can be grown in a pot. I grew vegetables on my patio in an apartment for years.



Here are some suggestions:



Marigolds and citronella plants repel insects; citronella especially repels mosquitos.



Most fragrant plants aren't too heavily scented unless you crush some of it (or alot, depending on the plant) Most of the flowering plants with the heaviest scents don't grow well in pots (hibiscus being an obvious exception). Alot of herbs are lightly scented, grow great in pots and look nice. Kitchen herbs are safe for cats. Rosemary, basil (though basil is more strongly scented, it will just make people want to eat), oregano, thyme, mint, and catnip.



Most plants will help clean the air. Some plants are better at removing certain toxins that others. The following web page lists 10 good air cleaning plants.



http://www.care2.com/greenliving/top-ten...



To avoid aggravating allergies, don't grow heavily flowering plants (though most houseplants don't flower much).



Always check for toxicity with your vet. They will have a list of what to avoid. We hung the plants we didn't want the cats munching on from the ceiling. One other warning, plants in large pots on the floor might end up being an experimental litter box. Cover the soil with some spanish moss or something to deter kitty pottying.