I know there are many of us out there who would love to take part in the house plant trend, growing bigger every year, but through past failures are feeling discouraged. Here are 8 easy to care for plants that will earn back your confidence, and before you know it you will have your very own indoor jungle!
We must begin with by far the most uncomplicated 2 plants on tis list, both of which are know for being tolerant of very low light and preferring to be watered infrequently. Lest we say these 2 are the plant for you if you struggle with low light or remembering to water.
The Snake Plant / Mother in Law’s Tongue (Sansevieria) most commonly has long, wide blade-like foliage in silvery-blue, deep green or a green with a yellow variegation. You can also find snake plants with rounded, rush like foliage or that grow in a more stacked, or fanned shape. This plant can take some seriously low light, but keep in mind low light doesn’t mean no light. If you can’t easily read a book in the daylight falling on your plant, then this is too low of light. Move a little closer to the window if this is the case.
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) has very attractive, shiny, tropical looking foliage. The thick, almost succulent-like leaves are responsible for the low water needs of this plant. It is a very well-behaved house plant that will reward you with many new leaves through out the season, even when placed in lower light situations.
Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) is another plant tolerant of lower light and drying out between watering. Foliage of this beautiful indoor plant is available in many patterns and colours and can often be found in larger sizes. These larger plants are a great floor plant and look particularly stunning in a basket or in a container with a decorative stand.
Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) is a lesser talked about relative to the very popular fiddle leaf fig tree but is much more forgiving in care. It will perform better in a higher light condition than our former 3 plants, preferring bright indirect sun. For watering, water regularly, not letting soil completely dry out between watering.
Pothos (Epipremnum) and our next plant are both good options if you are tight on floor space and want a hanging plant or something to put on a shelf that will grow ‘down’ and instead of ‘up.’ Because of its easy nature, this is a plant you often see in shopping malls or offices. If you notice your plant stretching or producing smaller foliage than previous, you may want to move it into spot with more light.
Heart Leaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum) has a much similar appearance to Pothos but is a little more tolerant of lower light and you will experience less of a reaction with underwatering. The only thing to keep in mind with both the Philodendron and the Pothos is over watering. Both plants can be prone to root rot, so if they are in a lower light condition make sure you are not watering more frequently than the plant can use it up. Think less light equals less photosynthesis taking place, therefore your plants will use less water. Little to no water leaves the soil through evaporation.
Air Plants (Tillandsia) are a unique plant that grows without the presence of soil. Due to this you can get creative with how you display them, using them as a kind of living art. For care they require bright, indirect light and a 10-15 min soak in water every 1-2 weeks. For more care tips see our
Air Plant care page!
Cactus are the ultimate low water, easy care house plant. All they ask is that you provide them with a bright sunny spot, this means receiving at least 6-8 hours of sun per day. The other important thing to know when it comes to cacti is to ease up completely on watering during the winter months. Many cacti go into dormancy during winter, requiring little to no water until spring comes again.
I hope you have learned a few things and feel inspired to try one of these rewarding plants. Be assured that no matter how much experience we have, there are always new things for us to discover and mistakes to be made and that sometimes the best way to learn is through our experiences of defeat, so don’t be discouraged if you lose a plant. It just means you can try another!