Easy houseplants that anyone can grow!
I really love houseplants and I want to have lots of plants around me. But, in the past, I’ve killed more houseplants than you can imagine and I was afraid to bring any more plants home.
So, I set out to learn about indoor plants that are easy to take care of so I could be successful as a plant parent. I want to share these with you.
We’ve found 15 easy houseplants that can help even the beginner who has a brown thumb become a successful plant parent.
15 Easy Indoor Plants for You
Arrowhead Vine (Syngonium podophyllum or Nephthytis)
The arrowhead vine is a fascinating plant that you will really enjoy. First off, it’s a really simple plant to grow. And they come in a variety of colors. Every few weeks, the vine will unfurl arrowhead-shaped leaves that are variegated medium green with white, cream, silver, pink or purple colors.
Young plants form a mound about 1 foot high. As it matures, the plants will grow to 1 to 3 feet high and from 6 inches to 3 feet wide. It starts as an upright plant with leaves that are shaped like arrowheads and will begin to grow vining stems as it ages. Plant it in a hanging basket if you want it to vine down. If you want it to climb, plant it on a trellis or pole for support. And, if you want to keep it bushy, just trim the vines.
Arrowhead vines will thrive in areas that receive low or medium light. It will “sunburn” if left in light that is too bright, which will look like it has bleached areas on the leaves.
Water when the soil begins to dry. Do not overwater as it might get waterlogged and die.
You can find arrowhead vines at Amazon. Here’s the link.
Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
These are hardy plants and easy to care for, as long as you make sure it’s in the right environment.
Remember, ferns love cool temperatures, indirect light, and high humidity.
Keep the soil damp at all times, and don’t let it dry out. If the fern dries out or the humidity isn’t high enough, the leaves will turn yellow. To help with humidity, you could set the pot on a pebble tray with water in it, and even add moisture by misting water on the leaves with a sprayer. You might want to soak the pot once a month or so to keep the potting soil moist.
These plants are very responsive. If you forget to water it, just do it as soon as you remember and it will perk up immediately. You’ll be surprised.
You can find Boston ferns at Amazon.
Calathea (Calathea concinna)
Also known as prayer plants, Calatheas have beautiful green foliage with bold stripes of varied colors like purple and dark green. Other colors include rose, white, or yellow leaves. They remove toxins from the air and are non-toxic to pets.
Place them in an area with indirect light and temperatures between 65°F and 80°F. Direct sunlight can burn the leaves and cause their color to fade.
Calatheas prefer humidity in the air (above 50%) and are happy when placed next to a humidifier. Keep the soil moist and avoid overwatering. Don’t let the plant pot stand in water.
Propagate by splitting the plant into two plants yearly when repotting.
You can find Calathea plants at Amazon.
Cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior)
A member of the lily family, it’s also known as iron plant and ballroom plant. The cast iron plant is one of the toughest plants you can grow indoors.
I heard that they get their “cast iron” name because they can thrive almost anywhere regardless of being neglected, and in low light, low humidity, and a wide range of temperatures. They have been popular off and on since the Victorian times when they were used as decor in the parlors.
Most of them have large, dark green leaves but you can find some that have white or yellow variegation on their leaves. They grow very slowly up to 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide at maturity.
Place the plant in an area with low light and a temperature range from 45°F to 85°F.
During active growth, keep the soil evenly moist. During fall and winter, keep the soil barely moist.
You can find Cast Iron plants at Amazon.
Croton Plant (Codiaeum Variegatum)
The Croton plant is a tropical plant and is available in a wide variety of leaf colors and shapes. Colors range from green, variegated, yellow, orange, cream, pink and black to a combination of colors. The leaves can be short, long, twisted, thin, thick, or a combination of all shapes.
Each croton is different in its needs. Check the tag that came with your plant to see what that particular variety needs for light. Some like medium or low light. Some like high light. The more colorful the croton is, the more direct sunlight it needs to thrive. They like temperatures above 60°F.
Water when the top of the soil feels dry, and water until the water flows out of the bottom of the container. They are tropical plants and like humidity. You can place the container on a pebble tray that is filled with water or mist the leaves.
Don’t be scared if it loses its leaves after you bring your new plant home. They don’t like being moved (you take it from the store and bring it home) and will go into shock easily. Just take proper care of it and new leaves will quickly begin growing again. Once it is settled, it will become a resilient houseplant for you.
You can find Croton plants at Amazon.
Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii)
This is an evergreen succulent that will thrive in almost any home conditions. Leaves have thick green foliage and bright orange flowers.
Plant in a well-draining potting soil like a succulent or cactus soil.
Place the Crown of Thorns plant near a sunny window in an area that has average temperatures 65 – 75°F.
Water the plant by flooding it when the soil is dry down to an inch deep from spring through fall. Be sure to empty the saucer and don’t let the pot sit in water. During winter, allow the soil to dry down to 2-3 inches before watering it. Add fertilizer to the water every two weeks in spring, summer, and fall.
Beware: Wear gloves while handling this plant. The sap causes skin irritations. This plant could be toxic to pets, as it’s poisonous if eaten.
You can find the Crown of Thorns plants at Amazon.
Dracaena (Dracaena Marginata)
This is a group of 50 assorted species of plants that come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The dracaena family of plants is used indoors in all kinds of commercial buildings, and they are some of the most durable foliage plants available. Bonus: they offer a small footprint for the in-home garden.
Dracaena Marginata is the most versatile houseplant in the family. It is also known as Dragon Blood Tree and Red Edged Dracaena. It looks a bit like a palm, but it isn’t! You can see the Marginata in bush form, straight cane, staggered cane, tree form, and character forms. The leaves with red to purple stripes along the sides are sitting on top slender canes. It will grow up to 6 feet tall. Easy and beautiful houseplant!
These species can tolerate low light: Nidularium, Vrieseas, Guzmania. Others want medium light.
Avoid overwatering! Try to water from the bottom. If watering from the top, just once a week when the soil is dry. Let the soil be slightly damp after watering.
Use any well-draining potting soil with peat moss. Feed only during the growing season, twice per year.
Repot only every two to three years, as they like having their roots confined.
You can find Dracaena plants at Amazon.
Goldfish Plant (Columnea gloriosa)
A cousin to the African violet, the Goldfish Plant produces masses of bright orange flowers that look like goldfish (you might have to squint to see it!). They bloom in the spring and summer
A mature plant will have stems that are 2 to 3 inches long and branches that are 3 feet long.
Place it in an area that receives bright, indirect light. They can even thrive under artificial light.
Use a soil that is fast-draining. Water generously in the summer and keep the soil always moist. In the winter, cut back on the water and let the soil become slightly drier. Try to keep the leaves dry when watering.
Goldfish plants like to be slightly pot-bound. When you re-pot it every 2-3 years, limit the new pot to just one size larger than the last one.
You can find Goldfish plants at Amazon.
Grape Ivy (Cissus rhombifolia)
This is really a fun houseplant to grow as it is so versatile to use. It grows like a vine but it is a mounding plant so it also adds a lush tidiness to hanging baskets.
Growing to 6 feet as a vine, grape ivy likes medium light and temperatures between 65°F and 80°F.
Water it regularly, keeping the soil evenly moist. Prune it to the shape you want.
One variety of grape ivy to consider is the “Ellen Danica,” which is also called oakleaf ivy since its leaves are shaped like oak leaves.
You can find Grape Ivy plants at Amazon.
Hoya (Hoya carnosa or kerrii)
Also known as the wax plant, the hoya is one of the best indoor flowering plants for beginners.
It has trailing stems that are lined with beautiful waxy foliage and can grow to 4 feet or more. So good at producing small clusters of fragrant pink flowers, you’ll be able to smell them all through the house.
You can choose if you want your hoya to be a trailing or climbing plant.
Place the plant in an area that receives medium to bright light in temperatures between 55°F – 75°F.
This is a low-water plant. Allow the top of the soil to dry out between watering
You can find Hoya Carnosa plants at Amazon.
Inch Plant (Tradescantia zebrina)
You might remember this plant in your grandma’s house as it’s a really old-school houseplant that is so simple to grow. You can bring it into your own decor with your choice of container, and choose to display it as a hanging plant or in a pot and allowed to drape on the table or other surfaces.
A.k.a. Wandering Jew or Purple Heart, the inch plant is probably either named for its ability to grow about an inch per week or the fact that you only need an inch of the plant to propagate and start new plants. A trailing vine with purple and green striped foliage, there are several varieties with different colors and leaf sizes available.
Grow inch plant in medium or bright light in ambient house temperatures. If the light is too dim, you’ll see the foliage begin to fade.
Let the soil start to dry before watering the plant, keeping the soil moderately moist.
You can find Inch plants at Amazon.
Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana)
A succulent that offers beautiful, shiny green foliage and gorgeous flowers, the Kalanchoe is easy to grow and spectacularly colorful addition to your decor. The flowers come in bright red, pink, yellow, or orange.
Blooming in winter and early spring, it is readily available at the grocery store.
Place it in an area with bright, indirect light. It likes temperatures between 60°F – 75°F.
Allow the soil to dry out between watering. If you want, you can soak it with water and let it drain.
You can find Kalanchoe plants at Amazon.
Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)
You’ve met lucky bamboo before. It seems to be everywhere: on office desks, homes, bathrooms, and available at the grocery store. You can find a three-stalk plant for around $10 or so.
Lucky bamboo is an important part of feng shui and thought to bring good luck and good fortune, especially so if one is the recipient of lucky bamboo as a gift.
This plant is popular and easy to care for. It has a reputation as being almost indestructible. It will survive in all lighting conditions, even indirect light. You’ll see some planted in water and some in soil.
But if you want a really happy lucky bamboo plant, place it in an area that gets bright, filtered sunlight and temperature ranges of 65°F – 90°F.
You can plant it in water or in well-drained potting soil. Keep the soil moist, not soaking.
Give it abundant water using bottled or distilled water (it is susceptible to bleach).
Keep your lucky bamboo shapely by trimming offshoots back to within an inch from the main stem. Use the trimmings to propagate new baby lucky bamboo plants!
You can find Lucky Bamboo plants at Amazon.
Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
A.k.a. the Elephant’s Foot, the Ponytail Palm is not really a palm but a succulent from the lily family. This plant is one of the easier houseplants available.
The swollen trunk is a water reservoir for storage, so it can go without water for long periods. This plant is perfect for the person who forgets to water the plants!
Slow growing, the ponytail palm tolerates dry air and likes even, hot temps. Place it in an area that receives bright light and with a range of temperatures between 65°F – 75°F.
Allow the soil to dry out between watering. Avoid frequent watering and don’t overwater it!
You can find Ponytail Palms at Amazon.
Umbrella Tree (Schefflera actinophylla)
There’s just something about having an Umbrella tree or Schefflera around. I love having a Schlefflera at my house for the tropical ambiance it brings to the indoors. You can get a large specimen that will grow to 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide, or a dwarf Schefflera (Schefflera arboricola) that will grow only about a foot or so tall and a few inches wide. The Schefflera is one of the easier houseplants, and beautiful too.
True to its nickname, the foliage is glossy green with leaflets that radiate out from a central spoke, looking link an umbrella.
Place your umbrella tree in a spot with bright to medium light and indirect sun.
Don’t overwater it.
You can find Umbrella Trees at Amazon.
The Bottom Line? Easy Indoor Plants!
Do you think you can’t even grow a plastic houseplant successfully?
I think you can, and I’m here to help you be successful with your indoor garden adventures.
In this post, I’ve found 15 of the easiest houseplants for you. They’re so easy, your brown thumb will turn green!
Did you find your favorite plants to try? Here’s also a post that lists the houseplants that can help you get better sleep.
Where Can You Get These Easy Houseplants?
Each of these easy indoor houseplants is available at Amazon.com. I have added the Amazon links in the plant description and for your convenience. Try a couple of them! You’ll be amazed by simple it is to keep them beautiful.