Many things could make your yoga studio more welcoming, but nothing is better than plants. Yoga studio plants add instant brightness and lively colors to your space, and they come with a wide range of benefits. Let’s take a look at the best types of plants for your yoga studio.
Large Plants For Yoga Studio
- Areca Palm
- Lady Palm
- Rubber Plant
- Dracaena
- Bamboo Plant
- Dwarf Date Palm
- Zebra Plant
- Flowering Maple
Low-maintenance Plants For Yoga Studio
- Philodendron
- Peace Lily
- Ponytail Palm
- Ficus Alii
- Hindu Rope Plant
- Chinese Jade Plant
- Asparagus Fern
- Shrimp Plant
- Peperomia
- Golden Pothos
Spice Garden Plants For Yoga Studio
- Rosemary
- Aloe Vera
- Lemongrass
- Spearmint
- Lavender
- Chamomile
Air Purifying Plants For Yoga Studio
- Boston Fern
- Mood Moss
- Snake Plants
- Chinese Evergreen
- Decorative Pepper
- Spider Plant
- English Ivy
- Gerbera Daisies
- Bromeliad
- Orchid
Plants With Calming Properties For Yoga Studio
- African Violet
- Marino Blue Heliotrope
- Clivia
- Jasmine
- Gardenia
- Valerian
- Passion Flower
So, now that you know which plants will suit your yoga studio well, we can dive in deeper and learn more about them so you can choose the right plants for your yoga studio.
This post is part of a series of guides and articles providing in-depth information about how to start a yoga studio. Head to the main article to find a list of articles and guides covering the topic.
Factors To Consider When Choosing Plants For Your Yoga Studio
Choosing plants for your yoga studio isn’t an easy job. You have to choose those that both fit well into your environment and agree with your schedule.
For example, a plant may not work for you if your studio is not that bright, and the plant needs brightness or if it needs more care than you can afford to give.
On that note, here are some of the factors you should consider before purchasing plants for your yoga studio.
Yoga Studio Space
People usually think that they need a considerable amount of space to fit a beautiful plant. However, no matter what kind of space you have, you can find a plant that will fit right in. There are small plants that could fit in a jar and make your shelves more beautiful or plants that will take up an entire corner and provide some lovely shade.
The amount of sunlight is also something you should consider. Some plants will need more sunlight, while some can thrive in a relatively darker environment. So, before you head out to your local flower shop or a plant nursery, assess your environment thoroughly and find the perfect plant for your studio.
Maintenance Required
All plants need some form of care, whether it’s daily or only occasional.
Think about the time you can commit to the plants you bring into your yoga studio. Do you have the time to water them regularly and maintain them?
Some plants will need pruning, some will need consistent cold or warm temperatures, and some will be able to grow without you even paying attention to them. Depending on your availability, you can pick some plants that require more or less care.
Yoga Studio Ambience
You should also consider how you want your studio to look, feel, and smell. Flowers could add a pop of color to an otherwise bland environment while greenery makes a space feel fresh and mindful.
Think about the smells that come from the plants you pick. Some of them make people happy, improve their memory, or simply don’t smell at all. Avoid overly perfumed smells since they can be distracting, but a subtle scent can enhance the atmosphere of any room.
A great way to add fresh smells to your studio is to use spices and herbs. They are healthy, and they smell amazing but are not overbearing. Plus, you’ll be able to use them for meals or quick drink infusions.
Flowers will give you a pop of color, especially if you have a calmer palette of colors for your yoga studio, while the greenery you pick will give off a feel of a fresh rainforest or beach.
The air quality Of The Yoga Studio
Plants are not just there to make your yoga studio look great; they are also a fantastic way to improve the air quality in your studio. Considering that you’ll be spending a lot of time in the studio and that breath is such a crucial component of yoga, purifying plants will work well for you.
Tradition
You could also like a plant because of its medicinal properties. Certain plants are great as an addition to food, and some function as a medicine, for example, aloe vera. Even if you choose not to use them, they still hold a good meaning.
41 Amazing Plants For Your Yoga Studio
Once you consider all of the factors that can affect your decision, it’s time to go shopping. Here are the best plants for your yoga studio, along with the conditions that would be best for them.
Large Plants
If you have a larger yoga studio and plenty of space — or even a spare corner in a smaller space — these plants will work great for you. Add a piece of jungle or rainforest to your yoga studio and enjoy the wonderful air-cleansing properties that come with these gentle giants.
1. Areca Palm
Areca Palm also goes by the name of “butterfly palm.” It’s an upright plant that’s perfect for studio conditions and thrives in humid environments.
When choosing which Areca Palm to get, make sure to choose one that’s a bit heavier in the trunk area as the plant could bend over and be a lot harder to maintain if it’s thinner.
2. Lady Palm
Lady Palm is an easy plant to grow and requires relatively low maintenance. It grows taller than Areca Palm, with some plants reaching upwards of 14 feet. There are different types of Lady Palm, and each of them requires different conditions to thrive.
3. Rubber Plant
Rubber Plant will grow well in your studio, especially if you give it its preferred conditions — an area with plenty of light, but no direct sunlight. It needs plenty of water when it grows, and you’ll need to prune it every once in a while. It can grow up to eight feet in height and five feet wide, so it’s a good idea to leave enough space for it.
4. Dracaena
Another big plant, Dracaena can reach 10 feet in height and 3 feet in width. And even though it’s pretty big, it’s not that hard to grow and maintain. You’ll only need to put it in a bright place, ensure it doesn’t get too much direct sunlight, and keep the soil wet.
5. Bamboo Palm
With Bamboo Palm, you’ll need direct light to ensure it grows properly. Don’t worry if your new plant starts losing leaves when it arrives — this usually happens before it acclimates to the new environment. Keep in mind that it doesn’t like too much handling, and it will lose some leaves every time you move it around.
It likes moisture, but you shouldn’t overdo it. It shouldn’t be drowning in water. It can get attacked by spider mites, but you can protect it with a solution.
6. Dwarf Date Palm
The Dwarf Date Palm is another gentle giant, with minimal needs for maintenance. Give it a bit of indirect sunshine and some water, and it will thrive. Remember that it grows slowly, and it won’t need as much pruning as similar palms do.
7. Zebra Plant
The Zebra Plant is commonly placed in homes and offices because it looks great with its beautiful white-green leaves and fiery flowers. However, it’s a bit more high-maintenance. Keep it in a bright space and ensure the soil is always moist. Zebra plant prefers lukewarm temperatures, so try not to leave it in a cold space or in an area where temperatures fluctuate a lot.
8. Flowering Maple
The Flowering Maple can grow up to nine feet in height, so make sure that you can fit it in your studio without overcrowding it. Depending on the particular plant you get, you can expect to see flowers in red, orange, pink, or yellow. It’s a perfect plant to add a pop of color, and it thrives in bright sunshine and evenly moist ground.
Low-Maintenance Plants For Your Yoga Studio
If you’re not much of a green thumb, you’ll enjoy not having to put much effort or time into these plants while still maintaining your own slice of nature in the yoga studio. While these plants don’t need a lot of maintenance, they still provide all sorts of benefits — from air purifying to looking marvelous while you practice yoga.
9. Philodendron
With a preference for medium to low light, philodendron will thrive in a shady corner. All it needs is an occasional misting and dusting. It will last you a long time too, so it’s a good, durable plant for a studio.
10. Peace Lily
The Peace lily can grow even in artificial light, so it will work well even if you don’t have windows in your studio. And even though this plant doesn’t need much work, it blooms into a beautiful sight that will relax and amaze your clients. The Peace lily is also an excellent air purifier.
11. Ponytail Palm
Ponytail palm is a succulent, so it doesn’t need a lot of care to flourish in any space. Of course, if you want fast growth, you should put it in bright light. It looks great, too, as it resembles a palm (hence the name).
12. Ficus Alii
If you’re looking for a popular and low-maintenance option for your studio, you can’t go wrong with a ficus. Another excellent plant, the ficus alii will bring a Hawaiian spirit into your studio, and has a high tolerance for low light and movement.
13. Hindu Rope Plant
Just like yoga, the Hindu Rope plant also comes from India. It’s probably one of the most interesting plants to add to your display. It’s a succulent, which means it won’t need a lot of care. But, it’s also a vine that you can put in a hanging basket — it could be good for smaller spaces since it doesn’t steal from the floor, and yet it adds an impressive level of detail to a studio. The Hindu Rope plant is also great at purifying the air.
14. Chinese Jade Plant
If you’re not particularly good at caring for plants, the Chinese Jade plant will prove you wrong. It doesn’t need any maintenance, and it can be resilient despite terrible conditions. So, you don’t have to fear that you’ll ruin it — the Chinese Jade Plant can survive it all. This is why it’s believed that it brings good luck and money. No matter the conditions in your studio, this plant will thrive.
15. Asparagus Fern
If you have a room full of heavy-looking plants, the asparagus fern will give the space a bit of contrasting lightness. It has thin, delicate-looking branches and leaves. It also doesn’t need a lot of maintenance, but you should train it to grow in a tighter shape, or it will spread too much.
To train it, just cut the tips of the stems that are going out of your desired shape and direction.
16. Shrimp Plant
If you are looking for something that can grow in dry and cool conditions, the Shrimp plant is a great bet. The flowers bloom throughout the year, and they have a wonderful rosy-pink color that you and your students will love to look at. It only needs some basic maintenance, and you can even put it in a hanging pot to save some space.
17. Peperomia
Peperomia is an interesting indoor plant with leaves that look like miniature flattened watermelons. It’s a succulent that will not need a lot of maintenance, especially in the watering department. So, you won’t have to do a lot to keep it alive and well, making it an excellent choice for a busy studio owner.
18. Golden Pothos
The golden pothos is incredibly easy to manage — all it needs is a bit of indirect light and watering when the ground is dry. You’ll love the mix of yellow and green, and this plant will make any space brighter with its presence.
Spice Garden Plants For Your Yoga Studio
Herbs and spices have always been a favorite in many different cultures, and they could be a good choice for your yoga studio too. They smell great, and they can even be useful when you throw a tea party for your students.
There are many ways you could organize them since they usually grow in small pots and don’t require much maintenance. One of the best examples is a vertical garden or even hanging pots in a brighter area of your studio.
19. Rosemary
You’ve probably used rosemary in your kitchen before, but it’s also an excellent plant for your studio. It smells great and looks fantastic. Rosemary can be grown in containers of any size so that you can adapt it to your needs. To grow well, it will need plenty of light.
20. Aloe Vera
Everyone knows just how beneficial aloe vera is for the skin. And, as a wellness business, any yoga studio will benefit from having it on display. Aloe vera purifies the air while needing less care than most plants. It also thrives in indoor conditions.
21. Lemongrass
Lemongrass is often used as a spice or in teas, but it’s a great plant to keep in a studio too. Place it in a bright space and water it occasionally so it can grow properly. And when you have a group event with your students, use some of it for dishes or teas.
22. Spearmint
One of the best aromatic plants for your studio is spearmint. It’s a scent that wakes people up and supports focus and alertness. It will smell the best when the sun hits its leaves. And considering that it grows perfectly fine in the wild, you can expect it to need minimal maintenance.
23. Lavender
Another calming plant is lavender. You’ll often hear health professionals recommending it for sleep, and its scent is truly relaxing. In addition, it has pretty purple flowers that can brighten up the room. It needs direct sunlight and dry conditions, though, so only get this plant if you have ample space near a window.
24. Chamomile
Chamomile is also well-known for its calming properties. In addition to that, it can also be a beautiful, delicate studio plant, as its blooms look like wildflowers from a fairytale. It doesn’t need much care, either. All you have to do is put it in direct sunlight and water it occasionally. If you can keep it somewhere cooler, that would be best, but it pretty much grows well anywhere.
Air Purifying Plants For Your Yoga Studio
Since yoga studios are a place where people come to practice wellness and exercise, it’s a good idea to get some plants that can help you improve your air quality. Most of these are easy to maintain too, and they look amazing, so you’ll love having them in your studio.
25. Boston Fern
The Boston fern is perfect for purifying the air in your studio. You can expect it to grow well in indirect sunlight and with little maintenance. It’s commonly used in studios, as many owners value air-purifying plants above all others.
26. Mood Moss
If you want to impress your students, you can use mood moss to create a beautiful wall display in your studio. It doesn’t need much light, but it will need some moisture. It looks lush and rich, making it an excellent addition to any studio with natural decor.
27. Snake Plants
A great mix of yellow and green, snake plants can boost the energy in your studio. They also purify the air, and it grows best when you just let it be. All you need to do is place it somewhere relatively bright (but not in direct sunshine) and watch it thrive.
28. Chinese Evergreen
The Chinese Evergreen brings good luck. And while there’s no proof regarding this claim, it also has some scientific benefit, like being a good air-purifier and boasting a no-fuss maintenance routine. It blooms much as the peace lily does, so you can watch it grow and change over time.
29. Decorative Pepper
Decorative pepper is one of the best plants for fighting indoor pollution. However, it does require a bit more care than some of the other options. It has precise water requirements, and you’ll need to prune it regularly if you want it to remain healthy.
30. Spider plant
The spider plant is an excellent air purifier, and it’s very resilient. Its leaves reach up to three feet, but it’s incredibly simple to take care of despite its size. Put it in a bright spot and keep the ground consistently moist. You can even put it in a hanging pot to save space and brighten up the higher areas of your studio.
31. English Ivy
English ivy is another excellent plant for a yoga studio since it’s great at removing harmful microbes from the air, like mold or bacteria. It needs medium light and regular watering, but the maintenance is worth it because of its beauty and healthy properties.
32. Gerbera Daisies
For a true pop of color, gerbera daisies are a perfect choice. They are not just pretty either — they also remove harmful compounds from the air. Place them close to a window and watch them bloom into a wide variety of colors. Keep in mind that gerbera flowers are by no means easy to take care of. They need a lot of light while also needing cold temperatures. Watering regularly is important too.
33. Bromeliad
Bromeliad is another tropical plant that can be a good air purifier. It needs indirect light and enough humidity in the air, while still maintaining air freshness around the plant. The ground needs to be moist, but not drowned with water. From time to time, you will have to supplement it with fertilizer.
34. Orchid
Orchids look beautiful and are perfect for a yoga studio because of their simplicity and air-cleansing qualities. However, orchids are notoriously hard to care for. You’ll need to keep its soil continuously moist, but allow it to dry from time to time. Orchids need a high percentage of humidity and fertilizing twice a week.
Best Calming Plants For Your Yoga Studio
Yoga is all about finding that inner peace, and fortunately, some plants can help you achieve that. They look good, some of them even smell great, and your students will be delighted to spot them on your shelves and in your corners. Here are some of the best calming plants.
35. African Violet
Not just a beautiful name, the African violet is a great way to introduce some mindfulness to your studio. You can keep it in a pot, and it blooms well indoors, with minimum maintenance and conditions like a bright spot and ample moisture.
36. Marino Blue Heliotrope
The Marino Blue Heliotrope is a mesmerizing plant, offering a contrast of purple flowers against deep green. It loves the sunlight, and the flowers will always turn towards it. Still, it can survive well in the shade. Keep it moist and enjoy its smells, which people often describe as a mix of vanilla and cherry.
37. Clivia
Clivia smells enchanting and looks even better, with bright orange flowers that can bloom at all times of the year. It doesn’t need a lot of light or much care, but it can instantly make a boring space look amazing. Remember to keep removing the yellow leaves since they can look unsightly on an otherwise gorgeous plant.
38. Jasmine
Jasmine‘s scent has the power to calm people down, and scientific studies have shown that it can even improve sleep. So, it’s an excellent plant to add to a yoga studio to help your clients unwind after a difficult day.
Jasmine needs direct sunlight in the spring and summer, especially if you want it to smell well. Keep the soil moist, but don’t drown the plant.
39. Gardenia
Gardenia is another flowering plant known for reducing anxiety and its enchanting blooms. However, it’s a sensitive plant, and it will need a lot of care to grow and flourish. For one, it needs a bright spot, but it can’t be directly exposed to sunshine. It also needs a cool, humid environment and plenty of water.
40. Valerian
Valerian is an excellent indoor plant known for its calming properties. With wonderful flowers and greenery, it will brighten up the room, but it’s quite specific in its needs when it comes to maintenance. For instance, it needs at least six hours of sunlight a day. The soil needs to be wet at all times, but it can’t be soggy.
41. Passion Flower
The passion flower works wonders in calming restless people and reducing anxiety. It has an exotic appeal, and since it’s a tropical plant, it will need plenty of sunshine and dry soil to flourish. Place it close to a window, if possible.
This post is part of a series of posts providing in-depth information on everything you need to know to start a yoga studio. The other posts in this series include:
- Are yoga studios profitable?
- How much do yoga studio owners make?
- What is the cost of opening a yoga studio?
- Teach yoga without certification
- Do yoga instructors need insurance?
- How to name a yoga business
- How big should a yoga studio be?
- Best place to open a yoga studio
- Yoga studio decor
- What color to paint a yoga studio
- Best flooring for yoga studios
- Heaters for yoga studios
- Music in yoga class: do’s and don’t
- Candles for yoga studios
- Incense, scents, & essential oils for yoga studios
- How yoga studios pay teachers
- Yoga studio marketing: Ultimate Guide
- Opening a yoga studio in a small town
- How to start a donation-based yoga studio
- Yoga studio grand opening ideas
- Why yoga studios fail
- Yoga studio franchise
- Yoga Studio Scheduling Software
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About the author
Naz Ahm is the founder of StudioGrowth and has spent a decade growing start-ups and venture-backed companies. He writes about sales, marketing, and growth, especially in the yoga, fitness and wellness industry.
Naz has an MBA from IESE Business School and started his journey in the wellness industry when he set-up an on-demand wellness business. Naz currently resides in London, U.K.