Surrounded by houseplants! That’s the dream. But you really need to get easy indoor plants, don’t you?
You really like the houseplants that your friend has placed all around her house, but you can’t even keep a plastic plant alive in yours.
Surrounded by houseplants! That’s the dream.
You really like the houseplants that your friend has placed all around her house, but you can’t even keep a plastic plant alive in yours.
Don’t worry if you’re a beginner plant owner, a very busy plant parent, or just forgetful! We’ve found easy houseplants that can help even the beginner who has a brown thumb become a successful plant parent.
Easy-Care Indoor Plants
Aloe Plant (Aloe genus)
This is very easy to grow as a house plant and can even be placed outdoors in your garden, depending on your garden zone.
Aloe Vera is a very versatile houseplant. It can serve as an air purifier, removing benzene from the air, and a medicinal burn relief/moisturizer. It can even make delicious additions to smoothie and dinner recipes!
This plant will live for a long time and might be around when your kids have kids!
Aloe Vera likes lots of sunlight and temperatures around 70°F. A succulent, it prefers dry soil. Avoid frequent watering and let the soil dry completely before watering. It grows slowly, with mature leaves 8-10 inches long.
Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)
They are also called Butterfly Palms. The areca palms are one of the most popular indoor houseplants sold today and bring a bit of the tropics into your indoor garden.
And, areca palms are one of the most efficient houseplants at purifying indoor air! You might want two or three in your house or office. Imagine a trip to the jungle every day!
Place the plant in indirect light. Keep the soil somewhat dry and water every two weeks.
Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)
This is on my personal list of favorite houseplants! One of the most popular houseplants today, it’s also one of the most durable and easiest to grow.
The Chinese evergreen tolerates neglect, poor light, dry air, and drought. You can fool everyone and look like a true plant expert with the resilience of this plant in your home!
Chinese Evergreens will grow up to a maximum of 3 feet tall. They require moderate watering in a well-drained pot. Place in an area with medium to low light or indirect sunlight.
Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane)
Dumb cane or dieffenbachia is a large, showy houseplant that is adaptable to almost any conditions and lighting that you can put them in. They can grow to 6 feet high. It’s called dumb cane, since ingesting the sap or leaves can cause severe swelling in the tongue, throat, and vocal cords. Don’t eat this plant!
Place the plant in an area that has medium or low light conditions. It prefers normal room temps that are not colder than mid-60°F.
Do not overwater the dieffenbachia! Keep the soil evenly moist and well-drained, and mist the leaves daily.
English Ivy (Hedera helix)
This is an old-fashioned plant that is aggressive in the garden but does well inside the house and controlled in pots. The ivy has pretty white and green variegations on the leaves.
It has trailing vines that can grow to 15 feet! Plan on placing in a hanging basket or allow to run across a bookcase or table. Ivy is pretty when combined with other plants in a pot together.
Keep the soil evenly moist and not dry. Water lightly on a regular basis. Fertilize with a portion of indoor non-flowering plant food once every month.
Place the pot in an area that receives bright light or indirect sun conditions. It likes cooler temperatures from mid-50 to 70°F.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree (Ficus lyrata)
You might not recognize it, but the fiddle leaf fig tree is used everywhere it seems as a decor plant. Growing to 6 feet or taller, the plant fits well into decorating schemes with its tall, columnar form and dark green leaves.
Fiddle leaf figs are very easy to propagate from stem tip cuttings in the spring. The cutting needs to be about 6 inches long with a leaf attached. But, they are so inexpensive it would be easier to just buy one. Amazon has them available.
Keep the plant in an area that remains between 65°F-75°F with bright, filtered light. It likes moist, humid air and you can mist the leaves to help. You might want to keep a humidifier next to it. Let the surface of the soil dry out slightly between watering.
If you see the leaves begin to fade, move it to an area with less light. And keep it away from drafts.
Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Also known as devil’s ivy, Golden Pothos is one of the easiest and most versatile houseplants around. You can have it in a hanging basket, climbing on a post, or crawling over a tabletop or mantel. Pothos can grow six to ten feet long.
You’ll be healthier with it around too, as it cleans toxins like formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and benzene from the air and building materials like carpet.
This plant is so easy, your green thumb will start to show. It will thrive in a variety of temperatures and light conditions. Place it in medium to bright light, or even dark to artificial light. It tolerates both drought and moisture but really loves moderate watering. Allow the soil to dry between watering, and you’ve got a happy houseplant.
Jade plant (Crassula ovata)
These beautiful plants are considered to be symbols of good luck. You’ll be lucky to have one since they are beautiful and really easy to grow.
The jade plant is very long-lived and can reach up to three feet tall when grown indoors.
Jade plants are succulent houseplants and easy to grow indoors. Place the plant in an area with partial or indirect light and ordinary room temps.
Do not overwater the jade plant. The leaves are water reservoirs for the plant. It has seasons: keep the plant watered during the growing season in spring and summer. Let the soil dry out fully between watering in the dormant season of fall and winter.
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
This is a beautiful plant with bright green leaves and interesting flowers. The white flower resembles a flag of surrender, hence its name.
Peace lilies are very resilient, so if you forget to water it, the plant will spring back quickly once you remember! Keep one around as it is forgiving and a plus: it purifies the air in your home or office.
The peace lily will grow to four feet tall. It prefers partial shade but can tolerate artificial light. Water once a week when the plant’s leaves begin to droop. It likes low humidity. Place in an area with regular temps up to 85°F.
Peperomia (Piperaceae genus)
These are beautiful little plants and will add a nice touch of color to your surroundings. They are popular as houseplants because they are tolerant of a wide range of conditions, and they have attractive foliage to offer. Popular varieties include watermelon, red-edged and ripple.
Peperomia can grow to about 12 inches high and 8 inches across.
They like moist soil, but don’t overwater them. Place them in an area with low to moderate light conditions and 60°F-75°F temperatures. If the light is too bright, the foliage will fade.
Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)
Philodendrons are one of the most common houseplants there is. They are trailing indoor plants and can be planted for hanging planters, placed on a bookshelf and allowed to trail down, or trained to grow up a post.
The Heartleaf Philodendron is a very popular variety, along with the Split Leaf or Monstera.
Place your philodendron in an area with lighting conditions that range from low to sunny, preferring indirect light. Keep them in standard room temps. Let the soil dry out between watering. Do not overwater or let sit in water.
Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica)
One of the best indoor plants for beginners, this plant offers low maintenance plus natural air purifier abilities. The plant has shiny, leather-like leaves that grow to a foot long.
Rubber Tree Plants can grow to ten feet tall but you can control the size with occasional pruning.
Keep the soil moist during the growing season, and water once per month during dormancy. Wipe the leaves with a wet cloth. Place in an area with medium to bright light and temperatures between 60°F-80°F.
Shamrock Plant (Oxalis regnellii)
The name shamrock comes from the Irish word seamrog, which means “little plant” or “young plant.” You’ll see the shamrock plants everywhere in March around St. Patrick’s Day, as it’s a symbol of Ireland. You’ve heard the saying “the luck of the Irish” right?
Shamrocks are available in green or purple leaf colors. They have small white flowers.
Place your shamrock in an area that receives bright but indirect or filtered sunlight. Water it once a week. Let the soil dry out between watering.
Snake Plant (Sansaveria trifasciate)
Also mother in law’s tongue, snake plants can be grown by even those with the brownest thumbs. It’s one of the easiest houseplants and tolerates neglect, low light, and drought conditions. Just don’t overwater them.
They’re available in several varieties from tall forms to birds’ nest forms. The most popular varieties have tall, architectural sword-shaped leaves that can grow to eight feet tall. They can be used to add structure to your décor.
Place them in an area with bright indirect light, normal room temperatures, and somewhat dry air. Keep the soil slightly moist and don’t let them stand in water.
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum cocosum)
You might recognize this plant from your grandma’s house or the local Victorian house. One of the most popular houseplants, spider plants are very adaptable and very prolific. They can adapt to almost any condition. They are tough, low maintenance, and easy to propagate, making them one of the easiest house plants to grow.
Several varieties are available, and you mostly see them displayed as hanging plants. The plants form grass-like clumps with long slender stems hanging two to three feet below the container. Spider plants are named for the baby plantlets, or spiderettes, that form on their dangling stems. You can propagate the spider plants by putting the spiderettes into potting soil for rooting.
They like evenly moist soil, and bright to medium light. Their favorite room temperature is between 60°F-75°F.
ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
Also known as the eternity pant, the ZZ plant is very easy to grow and one of the easiest houseplants out there to maintain. In fact, they can tolerate months and months of neglect and still look great.
The ZZ plant leaves have a waxy, shiny coating. The stems grow in a graceful shape that starts thick and tapers to a point on the end.
They will thrive in almost any type of environment but really like bright to moderate indirect light. Just don’t overwater the plant or let stand in water. In fact, you can almost leave it alone.
The Bottom Line On Easy Indoor Plants
Do you think you can’t even grow a plastic houseplant successfully?
We think you can! We are here to help you be successful with your indoor garden adventures.
In this post, we’ve listed some houseplants that are so easy, even your brown thumb will turn green! At least it will look green. If you want more plants, here’s a link to Part Two of Easy Plants Anyone Can Grow.
And the best part is that most of them are also excellent plants for purifying the air and removing toxins from the surroundings. Here’s a post outlining 15 plants that are best for clean air.
Where Can You Get These Easy Indoor Plants?
Each indoor plant listed is available at Amazon.com. I have added the Amazon links below for your convenience.
Philodendron, Split Leaf (Monstera)