Do you have enough trouble getting water and sunlight for yourself, let alone your plants? Does your dream of rainforest-inspired decor always end up looking like Death Valley instead? Would green protective services consider you an abusiveplant parent?
It sounds like your green thumb might be gray and desiccated instead. But don't worry; there are plenty just like you out there wherebyeverything they touch dies. To help you find your soil-mate, we've assembled this list of the ten best indoor plants that can withstand even the most absent-minded owner.
So, what are you waiting for? Let's get plant shopping! Remember,it's not hoarding if they're alive. Very soon, you'll have enough foliage to say they're not houseplants; it's a plant's house! Alright, maybe that joke needs some work...
Anyway, let's get into it.
This one ranks high on our list simply due to its fun name. Also known as the Swiss cheese plant (don't ask us what the Latin name means... although it definitely sounds like adeliciousmonster), it's an easy one to care for and one of the most popular indoor plants for both newbies and experienced gardeners alike.
Direct sunlight can be too much for the leaves of this plant, so remember to keep it in indirect light. Indirect light means not in a direct beam of sunlight for those unsure. Don't keep it in a dark closet, either, though. Let the soil dry out a bit between watering, give it the occasional fertilizer, and re-pot it every two to three years. Can you manage that? Great—we've got your first candidate forplant adoption.
The spider plant, akaChlorophytum Comosum, are indoor plants that prefer you don't act like a total clinger around them—they just want some space, ok? Named spider plant because if you squint, it kinda looks like a giant, weird, green spider; it's pretty tolerant of a lack of care and attention.
While spider plants can tolerate direct sunlight, it prefers bright indirect light. Like Monstera, you should avoid overwatering it as it can be prone to root rot.Wet your plants, but not too much. It also doesn't mind the occasional misting, so keep that spray bottle handy.
The Chinese evergreen plant is another popular choice for beginners due to its relatively infrequent need for water. They tolerate low light and medium indirect light and come in a wide range of colors and leaf patterns—so you might as well get a few different varieties!
While we're on the subject of plants from the Far East, check out the Chinese money plant. A favorite low maintenance plant for many, it has adorable pancake-shaped leaves that provide a charming touch to any shelf or nook needing a hint of green.
This plant prefers bright indirect sunlight, so avoid placing it anywhere too dark or in direct exposure to the sun. You'll know if you're underwatering it from wilting leaves. Conversely, too much water will cause root rot.
Devil's Ivy, orEpipremnum Aureum, is a great choice for newplant dads and moms. In fact, it gets its name because it's damn near impossible to kill, even when kept in the dark. For those who find the name intimidating, it's also known as the Pothos plant.
While it's beautiful, it grows fast—so make sure to prune it occasionally unless you want your living room to look like an overgrown Aztec ruin. Make sure to water it when the top of the soil feels dry to the touch.
Snake plants, spider plants, devil's ivy... You might be thinking,what is this, Halloween? Names aside, the snake plant is another popular choice for those who can't maintain healthy plants all day. Chances are, you've probably seen a snake plant in a thousand home furnishing stores and advertisements.
The snake plant tolerates a wide range of light conditions, from bright light to low indirect light. As a low maintenance houseplant, the snake plant can go around two to four weeks without water, depending on the humidity in your home.
The aloe plant known as Hedgehog aloe, orAloe Humilis, is a fantastic choice if you're asucker for succulents like us. Succulent plants are famously easy to keep alive, too. After all, why do you think they hang out in the desert?
These indoor plants are low-growing aloe with small spines. They're cute and only a little prickly to the touch. Water sparingly, and make sure to pot it with good drainage.
The peace lily stands out due to its glossy leaves and stunning white flowers. It's so beautiful you'd think it must be a lot of work, right? Think again. The peace lily is popular due to its looks and ability to thrive as an indoor plant in low light conditions.
From a beauty-to-difficulty ratio perspective, it's one of the best indoor plants. Aitsall, who doesn't like low maintenance? Just remember that they can be sensitive to cold air drafts.
The jade plant is one of many low maintenance indoor plants that can thrive with minimal attention. Jade plants need a few hours of direct sunlight each day, so place them in a sunny spot with bright light.
Jade plants are sometimes called money trees—not to be confused with the money plant we previously mentioned, although they look pretty different.
The ZZ plant is the first plant to be named after the rock band ZZ Top. Just kidding... it's not, at least as far as we know. However, it is one of the best low maintenance indoor plants as it can withstand a wide range of lighting conditions, from low to bright indirect light.
The ZZ plant is a tropical plant with waxy, dark green leaves, grown mainly as an ornamental plant—perfect for those who want a living decoration for their apartment.
Although not made of rubber, rubber plants in the past were used for the latex separated from its sap to produce rubber. That's a cool fact to drop if you want to be a proud plant parent.
The rubber plant doesn't like direct sunlight; otherwise, they’re easy to care for as far as tropical plants go. You'll know you're doing a good job when it reaches its full size, with leaves up to 12 inches.
This one may sound more like a trick straight out of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, but it’s actually one of the most low maintenance plants around. It doesn't even need soil—hence the name.
In nature, they often grow on tree branches or other plants. Ensuring good air circulation is most important for keeping these plants happy. They don't need watering repeatedly, so if you put them into the soil, ensure it drains well.
English ivy, sometimes known as common ivy orHedera Helix,is a flowering plant once considered native to China. In fact, it's actually from Japan. Why the Brits put their name on it, though, who knows.
English Ivy is reasonably easy to care for. However, remember these few things to get those beautiful vines crawling up your bookshelves. Use well-drained soil; don't let it get too much direct sunlight. Got that? You're all set.
Also known as the bar-room plant, Haran, orAspidistra Elatior, the cast iron plant is just about as hardy as its namesake, so feel free to neglect it to your heart's desire. It can grow in low light and a wide range of temperatures. It doesn't get much easier to care for than that.
Finally, we have the dragon tree orDracaena Draco. Once again, they prefer indirect sunlight but can tolerate low light. They don't like to be overwatered. Prune it occasionally to prevent it from becoming overgrown.
Native to Madagascar, its sword-shaped thin leaves with a red edge make for a cool addition to any indoor garden. While they don't produce flowers, they're drought-tolerant and relatively close to indestructible. In other words: plant wreckers, do your worst.
From spider plant to jade plant to rubber plant, there you have it: the 15 best indoor plants for those who have no business being responsible for another living organism.
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