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Let me guess. You are a windowsill-gardener wannabe who craves an intimate relationship with something that photosynthesizes, but you just have no clue where to start? Or you tried and failed, thinking that you will never be able to keep a plant alive?
The answer is quite simple. Start with easy-care plants. Low-maintenance plants are beautiful and hardy. They are undemanding, well-suited to the environmental conditions in our home, able to tolerate low to medium light, low humidity, and can thrive even with some neglect. In short, they yield great results with very little care. Most plants come in numerous varieties, offering a colorful palette of flowers to complete your interior design.
We are going to make houseplants happen even if you don’t have a green thumb with this list of 25 easiest houseplants you can cultivate without fearing you’ll kill them. Our plant care tips will help you with that.
Source: Flickr, Canva
25 Easiest House Plants to Keep Alive
1. African Violet
Everyone can picture adorable, ruffled, and abundant flowers of African Violet in all shades of colors splashed and flecked with different tones. It blossoms continually and you cannot dissuade an African Violet from it.
They can endure lack of humidity, lapses in watering, and low light and still live to tell the tale.
Sun: Indirect sunlight from east or west exposure
Water: Allow soil to dry and do not wet the leaves
Temperature: 15-18 degrees C
Soil: Rich and humusy with compost
Fertilizing: Early spring to late fall
2. Begonia
Generous Begonia varies in leaf shapes and many plants in the genus add some dash to your house with their colorful, striped, or mottled eyelashed leaves. Rhizomatous begonias are the easiest to grow low-light plants in the genus.
Irresistible as they are, begonias are nearly unkillable. The only problem you might have is powdery mildew.
Pop here to learn about 45 Begonia species.
Sun: Good bright light
Water: Allow to dry out before watering
Temperature: 12-21 degrees C
Soil: Rich, humusy and peaty
Fertilizer: Early spring to late fall
3. Croton
Croton plants stop traffic with their distinctively looking leaves that grow in a delightful green display.
Codiaeum variegatum “Revolutions” is a new version, extremely easy to care for and endures low light. It might shed few leaves in protest if left without water for too long.
Sun: Medium-light
Water: Allow to dry
Temperature: 12-21 degrees C
Soil: Humusy with compost
Fertilizer: Early spring to late fall
4. Dracaena deremensis “Lemon Lime”
The youthfully fresh color of the leaves instills liveliness and playfulness into your home. Group it with a blue bloomer, like African violets and it smiles.
It remains diminutive with age too, around 30 cm in height, so you can opt for a shallow container less than 15 cm in diameter.
Check out 23 amazing Dracaena species.
Sun: Bright light
Water: Allow to dry
Temperature: 15-21 degrees C
Soil: Humusy with compost
Fertilizer: Early spring to late fall
5. Evolvulus “Blue Daze”
“Blue Daze” looks as if someone shrank the morning glory. It offers a magnificent payback for your efforts-a shock of long, wavy branches, furry leaves, and button-size blue blossoms.
If can get aphids if you stress it by causing it to wilt.
Sun: A bright, sunny south window
Water: Fairly thirsty
Temperature: 10-15 degrees C
Soil: Rich, heavy
Fertilizer: Early spring-late fall
6. Beefsteak Plant
Irestine is a glorious wine with magenta markings or lime with lemon markings. It also has thick, succulent stems, bright, cheerful colored leaves, and stays quite compact, between 50 and 90 cm high, except “Purple Lady”.
Train it onto a trellis when it spreads its branches.
Sun: Medium to bright indirect sun
Water: Keep moderately moist
Temperature: 10-18 degrees C
Soil: Rich, humusy with compost
Fertilizer: Unnecessary
7. English Ivy
English Ivy is so prevalent as an indoor plant. Dwarf or medium-size plants with aerial roots like Hedera helix “Oak Leaf” or “Needlepoint” are easier to keep indoors.
It is by no means high maintenance plant. Your plant can get brown edges if you are very negligent or overly generous with watering, or a hot and dry house that can cause leaf drop. Take rooted cuttings in early spring.
Sun: East or west exposure
Water: Moderately moist
Temperature: 10-21 degrees C
Soil: Rich, humusy
Fertilizer: Early spring-late fall
8. Snake Plant
Snake plants are very striking in appearance with their stiff and sword-like, pointed leaves in bright green with yellow stripes at both ends. Also known as Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, it is an indoor plant that helps to purify the air, but it is toxic to animals.
The two things to be concerned about are overwatering and cold temperatures. Overwatering leads to yellow leaves, especially during winter. Check the base and roots of your snake plant for rot.
Sun: Medium to bright indirect light
Temperature: 10-26 degrees C
Water: Moderately in spring and summer
Fertilizer: Monthly in spring and summer
9. Spider Plants
Like Peace Lilies, Spider Plant is also the runner-up on the list of top air-purifying plants, beside Aglaonema, Pothos, Philodendron, Ivy, and Ficus.
Spider Plant “Bonnie” is one of the easiest spider plants to grow in the genus, a draping plant with long, thin, and grass-like, curly leaves with white streaks. It forms a series of spiders showering down. Keep it neatly groomed and handsome.
Sun: Any window will do for a spider plant
Water: Allow to dry slightly
Temperature: 10-21 degrees C
Soil: Humusy with compost
Fertilizer: Unnecessary
10. ZZ Plant
ZZ plants instill a highly architectural vibe into your room with their fat and juicy stems lined with shiny, rounded leaves that have a very tidy look overall. Your ZZ plant won’t produce any flowers, but it still looks amazing.
Sun: Filtered light is ideal for ZZ plant
Water: When the soil is dry to the touch
Temperature: 10-27 degrees C
Soil: Quality potting soil
Fertilizer: Early spring-late fall
11. Wax Plant
Hoya plants are ideal bedroom plants since they bring a smile whenever one opens their eyes in the morning. This position will also keep them from sunburn.
They require absolutely no maintenance, another reason to choose the plant for a very noticeable position. The plant climbs if you train it on a supporting structure and it is equally stunning in a hanging basket with its trailing stems.
And when wax white flowers blossom, they add another perk to an already riveting package. Plus, it is fragrant.
There are more than 80 Hoya plants described, check them out and pick one for yourself.
Sun: Avoid very bright light to avoid leaf burn
Water: Keep moderately moist
Temperature: 15-21 degrees C
Soil: Rich, humusy, peaty with compost
Fertilizer: Early spring-late fall
12. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is the most popular indoor plant in the genus, but it has another perk. It is beneficial for you in treating burns or mild skin wounds.
It is a good-looking indoor plant with thick, succulent leaves growing in rosettes. It is also drought-tolerant, unlike other plants on the list.
Learn how to grow Aloe Vera fast and care for Aloe Vera adequately.
Sun: Bright light indoors, even south exposure
Water: Tolerant of dry soil
Temperature: 10-21 degrees C
Soil: Sandy-like cactus or succulent mix
Fertilizer: Unnecessary
13. Air Plants
Air plants hang in the air without soil. The easiest way to grow them is in a glass bowl.
Who can stop with just one? They require nothing more than occasional watering. No further fuss whatsoever.
Sun: Low to medium light, avoid full sun
Water: Weekly to maintain evenly moist soil
Temperature: 12-21 degrees C
Soil: This plant doesn’t require soil
14. Pothos
Pothos is a perfect indoor trailing plant with its rounded to heart-shaped leaves. There are waxy versions with cream or white markings, but gray species are a lot more handsome.
It can be riveting, so place it where it will get noticed. Push a container into the center of the room, but ensure the toxic plant is away from your pets.
Sun: East or west
Water: Moderately moist
Temperature: 10-21 degrees C
Soil: Rich and humusy with compost
Fertilizer: Early spring-late fall
15. Prayer Plant
Prayer plants are made to impress. They are available in lots of bizarre color combinations, very jazzy and extremely diverse with stripes and streaks of color, including red, green, cream.
It is an interior accessory that reads from across the room. Make sure to repot so that the roots aren’t pot-bound. For more tips, check out how to care for a prayer plant.
Sun: East or west
Water: Keep moderately moist
Temperature: 15-21 degrees C
Soil: Humusy with compost
Fertilizer: Early spring-late fall
16. Monstera Plants
Swiss Cheese Plant or Monstera deliciosa, a 190s favorite plant that’s making a comeback. Monstera plants transform any room into a jungle with their exotic-looking dark leaves.
Overwatering can cause wilting and low temperatures and hot, dry air can cause browning of the leaf tips and edges.
Sun: Bright or lightly shaded spot out of direct sunlight
Temperature: 10-24 degrees C
Water: Once the top has dried a bit
Fertilizer: Once a month in spring and summer
17. Asparagus Fern
Now, this is an ideal bathroom indoor plant because it requires high humidity and tolerates low light situations. It is an easy-care gracefully growing species with feathery foliage. One requirement for asparagus fern is evenly moist soil.
Sun: Medium to low indirect light
Water: Never let it dry out completely
Soil: Rich and humusy
Temperature: 10-21 degrees C
Fertilizer: Early spring and summer
18. Haworthia fasciata
Zebra plant is a succulent plant with pointed, dark green, and aloe-like stems with white, horizontal markings.
People usually consider Haworthia species hostile because of their bizarre forms, but they are very amiable and not particularly demanding. They can get browned foliage if you splash the leaves, but if you avoid that, Haworthia fasciata is the easiest of the batch for sure.
Sun: South exposure
Water: Allow to dry out
Temperature:10-21 degrees C
Soil: Sandy
Fertilizer: Unnecessary
19. Philodendron
Philodendron plants are a great decorating secret for offsetting red furniture or bringing a glowing ember of yellow into your room.
It drapes vigorously and rapidly, making a thoughtful presentation with their heart-shaped leaves, long, paddle-like, variegated – they win hearts.
Sun: East or west
Water: Moderately moist, once a week
Temperature: 10-21 degrees C
Soil: Rich and humusy
Fertilizer: Early spring-late fall
20. Ponytail Palm
Nolina recurvata or Elephant Foot Tree has a fountain-like shape and just craves to be grown in an urn. Ponytail palm has long, thin and grass-like, mildly curving leaves and forms a large bloated bulb at the base.
It is an extremely low-maintenance plant, too. Yellow leaves are the only thing to be concerned about.
Parlor Palm is another popular houseplant worth cultivating for bright spots of lower light.
Sun: Medium to low light, sudden bright light will cause scorching
Water: Tolerant of lapses, since it has a water-retaining bulb
Temperature: 12-21 degrees C
Soil: Humusy
Fertilizer: Early spring-late fall
21. Christmas Cactus
Early winter brings a gorgeous, though sparse gift: blossoms in sunset orange, flaming yellow, pearly white, or ballet pink. It is one of low light and low maintenance plants, perfect for darker corners.
Christmas Cactus can last an eternity. And it requires almost no maintenance.
Sun: Low light
Water: Tolerant of dry soil
Temperature: 10-21 degrees C
Soil: Cactus mix
Fertilizing: Unnecessary
22. Peace Lily
Shiny dark green leaves and a white cone-like spathe – that’s how you recognize a Peace Lily.
Peace lilies can endure a lot of neglect while also tolerating low light. NASA found it is an air-purifying plant and received the highest ratings for air-quality control. That’s a sufficient incentive to grow Peace Lily. However, it is toxic for pets.
Sun: East or west exposure
Water: Evenly moist soil
Temperature: 12-21 degrees C
Soil: Humusy
Fertilizer: Early spring-late fall
23. Radiator Plant
Peperomia is one of the most adorable and easiest plants to grow. It has long, slender green leaves splattered with cream, sometimes succulent and bloated, sometimes smaller, oval with watermelon-like stripes. Some even make rosettes.
The leaves are so intriguing and diverse that you can’t stop with just one. And they are incredibly forgiving, so they won an epithet on the basis of their ability to be beside a radiator without causing it any damage. Avoid drought, though.
Sun: Low light
Water: Tolerant of lapses in watering
Temperature: 10-21 degrees C
Soil: Rich, humusy
Fertilizer: Early spring-late fall
24. Chinese Evergreen
Homes are happier with Aglaonemas speckled and striped with deep red or bright pink. Their leaf shape is expanded, some are broader while others are slender. Which Chinese Evergreen to pick? Get several.
Chinese Evergreen “Sparkling Sarah” and “Crete” are but two elegant versions to try and some of the best houseplants for a sunny spot. If overwatered, it could exhibit yellow leaves.
Sun: Bright indirect light
Temperature: 12-21 degrees C
Soil: Rich, humusy with compost
Fertilizer: Early spring to late fall
Water: Allow to dry a bit between waterings
25. Flowering Katy
Otherwise known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, this plant is amazingly low maintenance indoors. It has long-lasting red, pink, orange, white, or yellow flowers.
The leaves turn red in the sun and remain compact, achieving 30 cm in height and spreads up to 20 cm. It is one of the easiest houseplants to keep alive.
Sun: Sunny spot in bright light, some direct sun, and artificial lights
Water: When the top 3 cm is dry
Soil: Rich and hummus-like
Temperature: 18-24 degrees C
Fertilizer: Once a month in spring and summer
Conclusion
Growing houseplants in an imperfect, time-challenged world have never been easier with these easy-care indoor plants, right?
Easy houseplants are able to add liveliness to darker corners and cheer you up when you are not in your element. Some of them are also air-purifying plants.
Just find them a bright spot, low light level, avoid tap water, full sun, and don’t let them stay wet to avoid root rot. If your exposure is insufficient, get artificial light. Many easy houseplants will thrive if you stick to these plant care tips.
