I, my friends, have the dubious reputation of being able to kill an air plant. It wasn’t intentional, I assure you. I simply had no idea they were such sensitive little beings. Since that unfortunate incident, I’ve been more than a little wary of bringing home any plants that must rely on my care. I mean, who needs that kind of pressure, right?
However, according to my recent research, several bravely resilient houseplants are just waiting to be adopted by the notoriously plant-challenged. So, if you’re ready to give plant parenthood another shot, check out my carefully selected list of the most durable, low-maintenance greenery around. Let’s get ready to finally become the plant parents we always dreamed of, without the fear of unintentional planticide.
A Plant’s Most Vital Requirements
At the heart of a plant’s survival are its most essential needs—water and light. Water is like a plant’s lifeblood, carrying important stuff all over its body. It’s also crucial for photosynthesis, a fancy word for how plants turn sunlight into energy. Sunlight is the plant’s energy source for this process, helping it make the food it needs to stay healthy.
That’s TMI, in my opinion. I get very confused about what plant needs this amount of water and what plant needs that amount of water. Then there’s the lighting issue. Direct light or indirect light, south window or west window. We’re getting into the area of too much to remember for me. I just want a few plants around the house that will look pretty and won’t require much work.
A NOTE OF CAUTION: Unfortunately, all of the plants on this list except the cast iron plant are toxic to pets to some degree if ingested. Many pets are totally uninterested in houseplants, and there are several solutions to keeping pets away from plants, such as using foil or citrus peels or applying pet-safe repellant to the leaves. One of the simplest solutions is spraying your plants with diluted lemon juice. Citrus is a great natural deterrent for both cats and dogs and is safe for your houseplants.
My Solution? Hard to Kill Plants with the Same Water and Light Requirements
Ta da! My theory, and one probably already known by those who are not horticulturally impaired, is that by grouping plants with matching needs, the risk of over or under-watering and/or giving too much or not enough light is significantly reduced, and the chances of keeping a lush, healthy indoor garden increase. The following water and light guidelines apply to all the plants I’ve recommended below.
WATER
Water when the top inch or two of the soil becomes dry to the touch. Even easier than sticking your finger in the soil every day and violating their space and your manicure, use a soil moisture meter. Also featured below, this one is affordable, easy to use, and has/will no doubt save many innocent lives.
LIGHT
Medium to bright, indirect light. What does that mean? Placement near east- or west-facing windows or a few feet away from south-facing windows are common strategies for providing medium to bright, indirect light indoors. Finally, lighting directions for plants that even I can understand!
Bring Your Green Thumb Back to Life With These Resilient Plants
PEACE LILIES: (Which aren’t actually lilies) are a popular indoor plant known for their large, elegant leaves and distinctive white flowers.
CAST IRON PLANTS: With their broad, glossy green leaves, cast iron plants add a lush, tropical look to any indoor space.
GOLDEN POTHOS: with their trailing vines and heart-shaped leaves, pothos make a beautiful addition to any space and are easy to care for, even for beginner gardeners.
RUBBER PLANTS: With their large, glossy leaves, rubber plants are a popular choice for adding a touch of greenery to any space.
CORN PLANTS: Also known as dracaena, they are popular indoor greenery choices due to their striking appearance and relatively low maintenance requirements.
SNAKE PLANTS: These resilient houseplants, featuring bold architectural leaves, purify the air and are easy to care for, making them a popular choice for homes and offices.
ZZ PLANTS: This houseplant has shiny, dark leaves, adding a tropical feel to any space.
HEARTLEAF PHILODENDRON: popular houseplants known for their lush, trailing, glossy, dark green, heart-shaped leaves.
MONSTERA: Featuring iconic green leaves with holes, the monstera adds a tropical feel to any space.
Go Forth and Grow!
I certainly feel more confident now, and I hope you, who, like me, have a stilted background as a plant parent, do, too. I plan to embrace a few of these brave houseplants in an effort to cultivate a thriving indoor garden.
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