This article can help you choose beautiful, easy-to-care for indoor plants for your home. You’re going to learn about 6 best houseplants for beginners that will make your home look amazing. There are some of my favorites that you will love that I’ve included.
How can beginners choose the best houseplants? Plants that are easy to care for and do not require a lot of maintenance are good options for beginners. Plants such as Peperomias, Spider Plants, ZZ plants, Snake Plants, and Phalaenopsis Orchids make excellent starter plants. Irrespective of how experienced you are in gardening, you will undoubtedly appreciate a plant that is beautiful yet doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. It is also important to find a plant that is not too sensitive or prone to issues. Listed below are some easy-to-take-care-of indoor plants.
1. Peperomia
Whether on a table, desk, shelf, or even as a centerpiece, Peperomia makes a great feature piece. Peperomia species come in shades of red, purple, green, gray, and variegated, solid and waxy leaves, which are both drought-tolerant and variegated. Despite its forgiving nature, peperomia makes for a great beginner’s houseplant because it can tolerate a fair amount of neglect. You can grow the plant alone or group it with others to create interest. In spite of its high light requirements, it is not too concerned with fluctuations in light. It seldom grows over 12 inches tall.
The plant needs loamy, aerated potting soil with good drainage (it can also enjoy chunky orchid potting medium) and a bright room (direct sunlight is not required). Once the top half of the soil becomes dry, water it. All that’s needed to maintain a happy Peperomia is the moss. I wrote a comprehensive guide to taking care of Peperomia houseplants here.
2. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum)
The Spider Plant ( Chlorophytum comosum ) is popular among beginners as a houseplant, aka Chicken Plant or Hen Plant. The plant features long, sword-like leaves that grow from a point at the base in shades of green, cream, and white. There is minimal maintenance required to grow these plants. In a bright room (without direct sunlight), they do best in hanging baskets. However, they also thrive on a shelf or table. This plant has a high degree of adaptability, allowing it to thrive in nearly any environment when given time to settle.
Spider Plants do not have adverse reactions to being moved to a different environment, so you don’t need to worry about moving them around. Spider plants do best in bright, moist places. The soil of your Spider Plant must be dry before you water it. Overwatering can cause roots to rot and wilt. Spider plants typically develop brown leaf tips when they become ill. A simple article I wrote explains exactly how to treat your Spider Plant to keep it in top condition explains how you can easily prevent mistakes like this.
3. Wandering Jew Plant (Tradescantia Zebrina)
The Wandering Jew Plant (Tradescantia Zebrina) is a good beginner houseplant, mainly because it is considered ‘difficult to kill’. Plants with striped leaves commonly grow in Mexico, and their upper surfaces show growth. New growth appears in purple, whereas old growth appears in green. In spring or early summer, Wandering Jew blooms with purple, pink, or white flowers.
Hanging baskets and high shelves are great places to grow Wandering Jew as it cascades beautifully. Only a few requirements are needed for this houseplant, including a high humidity level and moist soil. Your soil might have to be kept moist and humid if your home has dry air (if the soil dries out completely, the roots might die). Maintaining good humidity levels can be done using a humidity tray, grouping your houseplants, or purchasing a humidifier.
Growing this best houseplants for beginners might become scraggly and thin. Cut off the plant’s tips to remedy this. By trimming the plant well, the plant can grow thick and full again. If you think the Wandering Jew is the plant for you, I’ve written a complete guide to caring for it. Read more here.
4. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas Zamifolia)
It has hardy, pointy dark green leaves that are smooth and glossy with a waxy surface. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas Zamifolia) is low maintenance with a waxy, smooth and shiny surface. There are usually just a few small, demure white flowers blooming in mid-summer, and it never grows taller than 3ft. Beginners who want a house plant that is ultra-tough can’t go wrong with the ZZ Plant. ZZ Plants hardly notice drought or poor light, although they prefer bright indirect sunlight and well-draining soil (no matter the soil type). If you leave it overdue, it will not exhibit any extreme adverse effects since it only needs water when its root system has become fully dry.
5. Air Plants
The air plant (Tillandsia) is a great plant for beginners who have no prior experience with plants. It can grow and flourish in the absence of soil (Epiphytes). It is available in over 600 varieties, the majority of which are from Mexico and South America. Branches, shrubs, rocks, and the ground naturally support these plants. The silver leaves of drought-resistant air plants prevent their foliage from drying out as quickly as green leaves.
Air plants require constant flow of air to survive, so they do well in areas where there is ample circulation of air. Low-maintenance, they only require a few minutes of submersion each week. They prefer moist, partially shaded environments and are sensitive to the sun. Ensure that your air plant is in a bright, sunny area, away from direct sunlight. A good starting point is Tillandsia Lonantha Scaposa, Tillandsia Lonantha Guatemalan, Tillandsia Lonantha Fuego, and Tillandsia Argentea Thin, to name a few.
6. Snake Plant
This is the final boss of best houseplants for beginners. Tropical West Africa is home to Sansevieria trifasciata, which grows in dense, upright stands in open woodland. Rhizomes provide nutrients to the plant, helping it survive adverse conditions. A fascinating drought adaptation is that the leaves close their pores during the day to preserve moisture, and breathe at night when it’s cooler. You need to use well-drained potting mix and let it dry out between waterings for it to survive indoors. Dark corners or full sun are fine (but don’t thrive on them), but bright light and a warm environment free from drafts are ideal for snake plants. Besides the mottled variations, there are stripes as well.