I love having a variety of greenery displayed around my house, but I'm all about low-maintenance greenery as home decor. Indoor plants shouldn't be a hassle or burden to take care of because they do add a lot of beauty to a room. Don't stress during your next trip to the garden center because there are plenty of indoor plants that can handle a little neglect every so often.
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Having plants in your home is full of benefits that are far more important than just making your home beautiful. They've been shown to improve your mood, give you more energy, lower anxiety, and improve focus. So whether you want one in your home office to make the word day go by faster or one in your bedroom to create a haven of relaxation, it's never a bad idea to get a house plant! However, even the best-intentioned plant parents end up forgetting to water their plant babies, leaving your house full of sad, dried up plants.
To avoid this and have houseplants no matter how your green thumb is, it's best to find ones that are resilient and don't need regular water to survive. Whether you're looking to bring nature indoors to your living room, kitchen, or bedroom, we have a list of the best indoor plants that are so low-maintenance, you hardly have to do any work to keep them alive.
Indoor Houseplants
1. Jade Plant
With its thick branches and silky smooth jade green leaves, jade plants, also known as friendship tree or money tree, is a popular houseplant that requires very little care. Keep it in a spot with low light and give it a little water once or twice a month.
Jade plants shouldn't be sitting in moist soil, however, if you notice the leaves on your jade plant wrinkling or falling off, that's how you know you're not giving it enough water.
2. Rubber Plant
This has to be one of the most low-maintenance indoor plants to have in your house as long as you care for it the right way. Rubber plants or rubber trees like bright light but indirect light, for example, in a spot where there is a sheer curtain.
While rubber plants are growing, they prefer moist soil. It's also best to wipe down the leaves with a cloth, so they don't turn yellow. During the dormant season, it's best to water your rubber tree plant once or twice a month. Be on the lookout for droopy leaves, which is a sign that it is not getting enough water. Don't let the soil dry.
3. Snake Plant
Forget potting a ficus, check out this tall plant! The snake plant, as known as mother-in-law's-tongue, is another beautiful plant that is super low-maintenance. The striped green leaves stand tall and upright and bring beauty to any room. They can survive in low light areas and are known to be air purifying plants, removing toxins to keep your house clean.
Snake plants can live off of very little water, so no need to keep the soil moist multiple times during the month.
4. Spider Plant
The spider plant is known to be easy to grow and very forgiving, so it's perfect for those who didn't inherit the green thumb trait! They need well-drained soil, indirect (bright) light, and cooler temperatures. Spider plants also need occasional watering-about once a month. If you notice the tips of the leaves beginning to turn brown, that's a sign of it needing more water.
5. Air Plant (Tillandsia)
Indoor plants known as air plants are completely foolproof and as easy as it gets! The reason why is that they require no soil to grow, so that means hardly any H2O, but an occasional misting will do. They rely on the environment-air quality, humidity, etc. to survive and look beautiful in pots or floating in a bowl or piece of driftwood.
6. Peace Lily
A great way to brighten up the living room or office space is with a Peace Lily. Know for its dark green leaves and white flowers, the Peace Lily is another indoor plant that greatly improves the air quality in any room. It prefers indirect sunlight and temperatures around 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit (cold drafts will harm it).
Try not to overwater it, which is one of the most common reasons why they don't survive. Also consider prayer plants and English Ivy if you like peace lillies!
7. Schefflera
Schefflera is a popular houseplant that comes in many varieties, the most popular being the umbrella tree. It doesn't require much care and with the medium light conditions and watering, this plant is ideal to have around the house. Umbrella trees need bright, but indirect sunlight. Make sure it's in a spot that doesn't get too hot or bright since that could burn the leaves.
Water just until the soil is moist, being careful not to overwater. Overwatering can cause root rot and eventually kill the plant.
8. Cast-Iron Plant
I'm sure I'm not the only one picturing my cast iron skillet right now, but try to remove that image because there's another cast iron around, and it's a gorgeous indoor plant. Cast-iron plants (Aspidistra elatior) is an ideal houseplant because it pretty much brings the tropics indoors.
They can tolerate hot temperatures, cool temperatures, and overall, a little neglect every once in a while. Just keep it in a spot with low light or shade and occasionally water it each month.
9. Zebra Cactus
If you display a zebra cactus somewhere around your house, there's no doubt it's going to get the attention it deserves. Zebra cactus or zebra plants are succulents that look pretty similar to aloe plants. They have thick, dark green leaves with bumpy white stripes around each leaf, giving them that zebra look. Keep them out of cold, drafty areas and away from bright sunlight.
There's really no need to give this plant much attention at all, just an occasional water every month or so.
10. String of Pearls
String of pearls, also known as bead plant, is a type of succulent that lives up to its name. It does best displayed as a hanging plant and is sure to be the focal point in any room. It grows better in bright light, preferably sunlight, and needs very little care.
Originally from South Africa, the string of pearls plant is used to the dryness and lack of water, so no need to stress if you forget.
11. ZZ Plant
ZZ plants or Zamioculcas zamiifolia are air purifying plants that everyone needs in their home at some point.
They're drought-tolerant, and those dark green leaves are so beautiful and bright.
12. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera plants love bright areas. If you have a room with a lot of natural light, place it there. You only have to water it once a month, and you don't have to worry about low-light conditions? That's a win!
Check out Amazon and Home Depot for houseplants that will look fabulous by your windowsill or in a hanging basket.
If you're looking for larger indoor plants, consider fruit trees, fiddle-leaf figs, and dragon trees.
Editor's Note: Products featured on Wide Open Eats are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
This post was originally published on August 14, 2020.
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