The 12 Best Houseplants For A Lifetime Companion
It is not necessary to have a green thumb to care for houseplants. Indoor plants can relax you, purify the air, and show your friends and family members you are capable of doing something separate from your body. Having a collection of handsome green leaves around your apartment is a great way to create a dynamic, comfortable ambiance. However, the last time you tried growing something, you didn’t end up with that, did you?
There are a lot of questions that plague new plant owners: what made their first plant wilt? Should they have used different soil? Did they water it too much? Or did they water it enough? Many of us view our first plant as a burden rather than something to cherish. But it’s also possible that your first plant was something that was actually kind of hard to grow – orchids, for example, made life rather difficult, didn’t they? What you need are plants for beginners, plants that are more forgiving of someone with a black thumb.
The Best Indoor Plants for Beginners
Pothos Plant
Keeping a pothos is probably the best opportunity to get the most reward for the least effort. It is virtually indestructible. Even in an apartment with little light, you’ll get good results. The best results come from placing it in front of a large window. The vines of Poison Ivy quickly reach and twist outward, so be prepared for your home to quickly become its lair.
How often to water? The soil should be partially dry before watering your pothos.
Philodendron Plant
They have heart-shaped leaves that can take neglect and smothering. Additionally, they can root quickly, so one plant can quickly grow into a jungle. Philodendrons look a lot like pothos, but their leaves are darker and more matted.
How often to water? It is best to water when the soil is partly dry. But it is pretty hard to go wrong here.
Snake Plant
Despite its look, snake plants are actually quite easy to maintain. Not only does a snake look like a fire emoji, but it is also easy to maintain. And if that’s not enough to convince you, you’ll also be happy to know that it is NASA-approved. All plants are capable of absorbing carbon dioxide, but NASA researchers found that some of them are also capable of absorbing toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene. We’d like to see other home decor purify the air naturally.
How often to water? Make sure the soil is fully dried before watering a snake plant.
ZZ Plant
ZZ plants are hardy, and they grow rapidly. They thrive in low light conditions and are low-maintenance. They have small, waxy leaves that aren’t always big, but there are more than a million of them per plant, making each one nice and distinctive.
How often to water? Water when soil is completely dry.
Cactus
Cactus plants are designed to make your life easier: These thick, fleshy plants hold water better than other species, so even the most forgetful and water-withholding of us can keep them alive. It is possible to keep a saguaro cactus for hundreds of years if you take the right steps. Your grandchildren can inherit a pet cactus if you do this right.
How often to water? The soil must be completely dry before watering.
Succulent
A succulent can be described as a cat of the plant world. They are independent and normally happier left alone to spend their days relaxing on a sunny perch, and they are right at home at any white minimalist, latte art-poured coffee shop. The options are endless when it comes to succulents, including those that are perfect for your own style — whether you’re a latte art Instagrammer or not.
How often to water? I wouldn’t recommend sticking your fingers in the soil of one of these. Once you have picked the plant and noticed that the roots are light, fill a bowl with water, add the plant, and let the roots drink for a few minutes.
Aloe Plant
It’s magical to watch an aloe soaking up the sun. It grows best in hot climates, with little watering requirements. As a bonus: Aloe pups can be gifted as gifts. In addition, aloe juice can be used to treat wounds.
How often to water? The soil must be completely dry before watering.
Spider Plant
Spider plants have an exotic look even arachnophobes can enjoy. They are easy to care for – just keep them away from direct sunlight and prune off the yellowing and browning bits. The most diligent of owners can appreciate spiderettes, which are long, spindly vines that explode like fireworks at the tips. Like the snake plant, the spider plant is also great for purifying the air in your home. According to recommendations, you should use 1 spider plant for every 100 square feet of space-so 2 plants for the average New Yorker.
How often to water? The soil should be partially dry before watering.
Ponytail Palm Tree
They are technically succulents, which means they thrive in bright or medium light conditions. Although they aren’t palm trees, their look makes them feel like palm trees and immediately transform a space into one that feels more tropical.
How often to water? Typically, the soil needs to be watered every three weeks.
Dracaena Plant
Its leaves are beautiful and have striped green patterns that are tough to break. Dracaena plants dislike bright light, so keep them out of direct sunlight.
How often to water? The soil must be completely dry before watering.
Rhipsalis Plant
These droopy cactuses are weird, which is a big part of their appeal. They look like they belong in the ocean or on Mars. They thrive in bright, indirect sunlight.
How often to water? Wet soil after it has partly dried.
The Best Indoor Plants for Intermediate Plant Parents
Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant
Fiddle leaf figs are universally-hailed as one of the most beautiful plants. They bend skyward and cluster together, creating a lush green mob. The plant is the hardest to maintain, but its Kardashian-like ubiquity means it’s impossible to leave off the list. One can find these plants all over social media and in nearly every ad with a young target audience.
How often to water? When the soil is partially dry, water it and consider liquid fertilizer.
Peace Lily Plant
Peace lilies are an excellent choice for bright and medium-climate rooms in your home because they produce beautiful, white flowers. If they need watering, the leaves literally drop to the ground. It is an excellent choice for drama lovers.
How often to water? To grow peace lilies, the soil must be consistently moist. Water whenever the soil top is dry.
How to water indoor plants
Probably the most freeing (and frustrating) aspect of owning plants is that they shouldn’t be watered according to a specific schedule. They are living things that react to a constantly changing environment. Light and season can affect how much water they need, so sometimes they use more, sometimes they use less.
When watering your plants, the smarter approach is to observe them instead of following a schedule based on plant type. To do this, just stick your fingers into the soil and feel how moist it is. This will let your plants tell you when they’re thirsty.
It’s also possible to check the weight of a pot to determine whether or not it needs water by lifting it. That way you keep your fingers clean. If the pot is light, you can start watering. Ensure that your plant is in a container with drainage, since this will provide you with a step-by-step guide for watering the plant.
A final tip: watering your plants is an ideal time to check in on them. Pay attention to any signs of stress, such as yellowing, wilting, or abnormal growth, so you can identify any problems soon.
How to Pot and Repot Your Plants
Be sure the plant comes with a proper home before you buy it. It is often packaged in a small plastic container without adequate room to grow, so you’ll need to repot it in a vessel that allows drainage, as well as a saucer to catch any excess water.
You will need to layer your pot with soil, then remove your plant from its container, as well as its roots, and put it in its new pot. Sprinkle the top with a little soil. You might want to avoid packing the soil too tightly and making sure it is level with the lip of the planter. Otherwise water will flow over the top when you water it.
Once your plant has grown to a significant size, you may have to repot it into a bigger planter. However, you need to do this only once a year, not more often. Repot your plant only when roots are emerging from the drainage hole.
The specific timeline will depend on a lot of things, but if you find yourself watering your plants more frequently than usual, check its roots. Small plants should be repotted about once per year, and larger plants can probably wait two or three years before repotting.
Where to Buy Indoor Plants
Generally speaking, the best places to buy plants are the nurseries and independent shops nearest to you. Shopping at these stores gives you the chance to see the plants up close, determine if they are healthy, and ask questions about plant care. However, if your local shop is closed or does not provide what you need, you might want to consider ordering plants online.