As I sit here with my fan on full blast, watching the thermometer climb to uncomfortable heights, I'm reminded just how harsh an Indian summer can be. But I've discovered something that changed my home environment completely - cooling plants that act as nature's air conditioners! From my personal experience living in Delhi's scorching summers, not only do these green friends beautify our living spaces, but they also help maintain indoor temperatures. Let's explore the best plants that can help you create a naturally cooler home this summer.

How Do Indoor Plants Help Cool Your Home?

Last year, during the summer season, after receiving some suggestions from a local community group, my mother decided to buy a few plants for our indoor space. While we don't have a home filled with a variety of greens to show off, the few plants we brought indoors made a noticeable difference, and we absolutely loved them.

Science suggests that plants store moisture in their tissues, which is then released through a process called transpiration. This process not only helps the plants stay healthy but also contributes to improving the humidity levels inside our home. My mother was initially sceptical about providing the plants with the right amount of sunlight, but I did some research and suggested perfect spots for our summer indoor plants. I recommended placing them on the balconies or window sills, ensuring they could still get the sunlight they need while blocking the harsh rays from entering the house directly.

Soon enough, we had a natural shield in place, protecting us from the intense summer heat, and it made a huge difference indoors. The air felt fresher and cooler, and the soft green tones brought a sense of calm to the entire space. It wasn’t just about having a few plants indoors—it was about creating an environment that helped us feel more comfortable and connected to nature. Looking back, I can confidently say that incorporating summer indoor plants into our home was one of the best decisions we made. 

List of Indoor Plants for Indian Summers

Talking about buying indoor plants for the summer season always brings us across leafy greens and tall plants that soak up the sun’s heat. Now, let us explore some of the great options for cooling plants that act as natural purifiers and temperature regulators. 

• Ferns

Want a companion for the shady corner of the garden or the room? Fern plants are here to the rescue. They are one of the oldest plants that come in various varieties; one can easily choose from. These leafy ferns not only help clear the air of the harmful chemicals, but also stand as an aesthetically pleasing option with different designs that nature has provided them with as a boon. 

You can simply buy a nice-looking pot and place your fern plant in it, keeping it in the section you want to bring vibrancy in. As indoor shade plants, ferns thrive in low light conditions, making them ideal for dimly lit spaces while still offering natural beauty and air-purifying benefits. Some of the best options available to you are western sword fern, Boston fern, golden fern, etc. 

• Money Plant

Do you also love to keep the cuttings of money plant in water, near a corner of the window, in a pretty glass bottle? Well, I am asking that as I am standing next to one. 

Money plant is one of the perfect plants for indoor gardening that stands as a go-to choice for beginners. Once it grows, you can arrange its vines in a way that acts as a natural curtain placed on the window, against the blistering heat. If you’re a newbie, thinking about how you will care for it, then a simple way is to place it in indirect sunlight and water whenever the topmost layer goes dry. 

• Areca Palm

Out of all the plants placed in the house, I love the match of balconies and areca palms. They bring a touch of tropical vibes with their graceful and feathery fronds. 

This plant can reach a height of 6 to 7 m indoors and can act as a privacy hedge when placed near windows. Areca loves indirect sunlight and watering to maintain the moisture. Generally, the areca palm has bright green leaves that may turn yellow or brown for a variety of reasons, such as overwatering, underwatering, direct exposure to sunlight, etc. 

• Fiddle Leaf Fig

The Fiddle Leaf Fig is a showstopper. It has large, glossy green leaves that appear violin-like on closer look. It grows up to a height of about 5 to 6 m, and can be placed near the windows. While some people buy this plant purely for aesthetic reasons, it can also help homes in blocking the direct heat of the sun. This plant is also perfect for office spaces or some plant enthusiasts like me who are willing to create a mini indoor jungle in the future. 

• Chinese Evergreen

Chinese Evergreens, or Aglaonema, was a gift from one of my close friends. I keep it near my bedroom window, and watch its leaves flourish with minimal care. Apart from the instant love for aesthetics, these plants can act as your mini saviours in the summer season. They are known to have a high transpiration rate, which gives a cooling effect in your room. These plants come in variegated patterns and are the symbol of good luck. 

• Peace Lily

Peace Lily is one such plant that tends to become an all-time favourite for every plant enthusiast. It’s a perfect green touch to your indoor spaces against the unbeatable summer heat. It cleans the air of harmful toxins and thrives in the limited natural light that enters the home through windows. Despite its benefits, once you watch the white blooms of the peace lily, it adds elegance to your indoor garden, you’re surely going to be mesmerised.  

• Rubber Plant 

In the list of heat-absorbing plants, the rubber plant also stands as an excellent choice. Its glossy green leaves can fool anyone into thinking that it is high maintenance, but it is very easy to maintain a plant with minimum care requirements that can be fulfilled by any beginner. Coming to the cooling effect of this plant, its broader leaves release moisture into the air than is helpful in the drier months. 

It’s Time to Chill with Plants!

Working at a plant nursery sure comes with its perks. In these summer months, when the blistering heat of the sun is making it tough to stay cool, I now believe in a minimum investment hydration solution that can be planted in pots (you get what I mean, right?). Indian summers are not only a season to pass by, but a chance to make a change in surroundings with these green friends. And, believe me, this soaring heat won’t impact the affordability that comes with buying plants from Urvann. Do not forget to join our email list to know updates in the plant world (and upcoming discounts first!). 

Happy Gardening!

Frequently Asked Questions about Best Indoor Plants for Summers

• What is the best plant for the Indian summer season?

The Indian summer season calls for a vibrant and stunning garden look. This can be achieved with plants like bougainvillaea, marigold, jasmine, etc. If you are looking for something cooling for indoors, then plants like areca, aloe vera, snake plant, and monstera might be good options. 

• Which plant supplies oxygen for the full day?

Plants that are known for their ability to give away oxygen for 24 hours a day include money plant, peepal tree, bamboo palm, Boston ferns, areca palm, etc. 

• What are some of the healthiest plant options for your house?

In the list of the healthiest plants, we include those that improve the indoor air quality by removing harmful toxins. You can consider buying indoor plants like ZZ Plant, Philodendron, Money Plant, Rubber Plant, Monstera, and Fern Plants. Check out the Urvann India collection for affordable rates and the best quality. 

• Which flower blooms for 12 months a year in India?

There are a variety of flowers that help in maintaining the aesthetics of your garden throughout the year. It includes flowers like bougainvillaea, ixora, hibiscus, Lantana, and Desert Rose.

• What are some of the best shade-tolerant indoor plants?

If you are looking for plants to bring vibrancy to shaded regions at your home, then ferns can be a good choice. You can also choose plants like spider plant, monstera, etc.