12 Best Houseplant Anyone Can Grow
There are some houseplants that grow by themselves. In fact, your biggest challenge may be dealing with all the baby plants that will be made by your plants. The indoor plants shown here can all be grown in indirect sunlight from a window and enjoy temperatures in the same range as most people (55 to 75 degrees F.). A few require a bit more attention, but nothing extreme.
It is always a possibility that you will encounter insect pests on your houseplants, such as aphids, scale, and spider mites. Only too much water can bring about root rot, but from a disease standpoint, you’re not likely to incur anything. So, I think the following indoor plants are also great for someone who forgets to water their plants every now and then.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera plants produce sap that is used as a skin moisturizer, to heal minor wounds, and to ease sunburns. Additionally to being excellent for use, this plant is also beautiful. Because it is a succulent, it does not require much water, but it does like bright, indirect sunlight, especially in cooler temperatures. In the same container, aloe plants can thrive for many years. You should not remove more than a third of the plant leaves at a time, if you opt to use them. (USDA Zones 8 – 11)
Cast Iron Plant
Its name comes from its ability to survive in the harshest of conditions, even outdoors in the deep shade. Light in low levels is ideal for it. Leaves on this plant are sword-shaped and pointed. They are about 4 inches wide and 2 feet long. Occasionally, the cast iron plant will flower indoors, and it grows in a clump. It is also available in a variegated version with white stripes and in a ‘Milky Way’ version with white dots. (USDA Zones 7 – 9)
Chinese Evergreen
This plant is extremely forgiving and can adapt to most room conditions, though it does not like drafts or temperatures that drop below 60 degrees Fahrenheit for extended periods. Sunlight that is low or indirect is best for this plant. Let the soil dry for a couple days before rewatering. Almost all varieties of these plants have a variegated leaf, adding to their aesthetic appeal. (USDA Zones 6 – 9)
Christmas Cactus
The Christmas Cactus is a trailing species of cactus that blooms in early winter and produces deep pink or red flowers. The plant is the type that seems to do its best when neglected. You can grow this plant in low light, but bright light helps the flowers grow more abundantly. Keeping the plants bushy and full can be achieved by pruning after blooming.
The Christmas cactus can be forced to bloom in December by keeping it in complete darkness at night for 12 hour periods, starting around mid-October. It should be kept in the dark until it bursts into buds. Even easier is to place it in cool temperatures (50 – 55 degrees F.) for a few months starting in November. Then, while you’re at work, just leave it on a windowsill at home with the heat turned off. Several weeks should pass before you see flower buds. (USDA Zones 9 – 11)
Dumb Cane
It is not too difficult to grow Dumb Cane and it is very attractive due to its variegated leaves. The plant is very fond of warm temperatures, so try to avoid placing it near windows and drafts. When growing this plant near pets or children, take precautions. Its name derives from milky sap that it exudes. Ingestion of the sap may cause temporary mutism, as it can cause a skin irritant and cause an impairment of speech. (USDA Zones 11+)
Jade Plant
A Jade plant is among the hottest indoor plants because of its glossy leaves and thick stems. To grow lush and healthy, Jade requires plenty of sunlight, so choose your brightest room to house it. Jade plants need specific amounts of water to grow, and this is where the difficulty comes in. Watering them too much will result in their roots rotting. If they don’t receive enough water, their leaves will drop. Don’t let the soil sit thirsty for too long before giving it more water. Let the soil dry completely before giving it more water. (USDA Zones 10 – 11)
Lucky Bamboo
Dracaena has been a centerpiece of container plantings for many years. There is a spiky dracaena stuck amidst red blooming geraniums surrounded by a half whiskey barrel in streets across the U.S. However, there is quite a bit of variety in this genre, and most of them make excellent houseplants that require little or no care.
A couple of great choices include the Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginal), an exotic palm-like flowering plant that reaches 10 feet tall, and Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanders), that isn’t really bamboo at all. Both plants have stems that can be shaped into bends or spirals. The leaves on these stems are slender, arching, and have a narrow purple margin. It is best for them if they are given bright light and allowed to dry between waterings. Growing lucky bamboo in water first produces a significant amount of roots, but once the roots have formed adequately, it is much more happy in soil. Although the leaf tips may turn brown if the plant is allowed to wilt, dracaena will spring back after watering. In low light, Dracaena will survive. (USDA Zones 10 – 11)
Snake Plant
Her long, sharp, pointed leaves give it the name Mother-in-law’s tongue, and she’s known for her long flowering period. The plants are long-lived and easy to maintain. Low-light-tolerant, Mother-in-law’s Tongue grows well in the shade. You should water sparingly to prevent the plant from rotting. When it comes to indoor plants, depending on the humidity, it only needs to be watered once or twice per week. The variegated forms require more light and can be more difficult to grow. Additionally, a dwarf variety called Bird’s Nest is available, Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Hahnii’. (USDA Zones 10+)
Peace Lily
One of the most striking characteristics of the peace lily is its flowers. The white flowers are made up of long, thin white pannicles surrounding a leaf-shaped white structure called a spathe. Initially, the spathe is a bright white hue, but it fades to yellow, then to green as it ages. Even though peace lilies are typically found in warm, humid environments, they are also tolerant of cool, dry conditions, provided that they are not placed in drafty settings or rooms that are left unheated for extended periods. (USDA Zones 11+)
Pothos
Pothos is one of the easiest houseplants to grow and will usually not die if you take good care of it. The trailing plants keep growing, sometimes reaching 10 feet or more. Plants can be pruned to make them fuller at the base, and each cutting can be rooted in water to create more plants. Pothos plants like to dry out between waterings, but if they are left too long without water, their leaves will wilt and eventually wilt and fall off. The species is very tolerant of all lighting conditions, even artificial office lighting. There are several options for securing them, including trailing, trellis, or hanging. It is possible to find variegated and gold varieties. (USDA Zones 11+)
Prayer Plant
Some of the most colorful leaves you could ever imagine can be found on the Maranta species. Even though it doesn’t have a particular preference for growing conditions, you’re most likely to succeed if you provide it with consistent warm temperatures. The presence of indoor plants can also attract pests, so keep a close eye on yours and catch any issues before they become a big problem. Keeping your plants hydrated and preventing pests by washing them periodically will keep them healthy. (USDA Zones 11+)
Spider Plant
The benefits of spider plants are endless. Rarely will you see a spider plant without babies. The spider plant often grows two to two and a half feet wide and two to three feet long when it is grown in hanging baskets. Repotting plants every couple of years may be necessary because their roots grow rapidly. If the dangling babies develop roots, they can be cut off and planted independently. (USDA Zones 9 – 11)