To find an indoor plant that suits your taste and lifestyle is a challenging though exciting task. On the one hand, there are green pets that need regular care and tolerate no indifference. On the other hand, there are houseplants that can forgive even if you skip watering for a week or so. Here, we talk about 10 most unpretentious plants to take care of. These plants can be transplanted every few years, they don’t mind dry air, lack of light or irregular watering.
Perfect choice for busy (or lazy) people. Do you have any of them at home?
1. Monstera deliciosa
A species of evergreen tropical vines and shrubs, native to Central America. If you’ve never seen Monstera before, you may be confused by the holes in its leaves. Don’t worry - it is a unique feature of this plant. That's why it's second name is “Swiss cheese plant”. These holes serve Monstera to increase the spread of the leaf while decreasing the mass of leaf cells. Monstera adapts to almost all lighting conditions, though thrives best in medium indirect lights. If you locate the plant next to direct sun, it will tolerate it as well (but won’t be excited about that). Monstera is drought-tolerant - you should water it every 1-2 weeks, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. Also, if you have the bright light inside, water more often. If the light is low, water less frequently. Monstera feels perfectly in temperatures between 65°F-85°F (18°C-30°C).
2. Snake plant
Sansevieria, Snake plant, Mother in Law Tongue, Devil’s Tongue… Numerous names for one unpretentious plant. It feels comfortable in conditions typical for every office - lack of natural light, dry air, heating, air conditioning system, etc. This plant thrives in any light - from dim to bright sun. Snake plant doesn’t need a lot of water, it is not sensitive to temperature changes and doesn’t require any additional maintenance. They combine well with other plants and are well-known for their air purifying properties. Sansevieria stores water in its leaves and rhizomatic leaves; thus, you may properly water it once a month. It also doesn’t need any misting or pebbles in saucers filled with water. These babies love don’t mind dry air.
3. ZZ plant
Zamioculcas is a tropical perennial plant native to Estern Africa. It has gained popularity in recent years due to its tolerance of a huge range of conditions. Young ZZ plants have bright lime leaves, while older plants grow with emerald green leaves. The plant loves medium to low indirect light, but can also tolerate bright direct sun (still, try to avoid it). Water your ZZ plant every 2-3 weeks. Average home temperature (60°F-85°F (15 °C- 29 °C) is suitable for Zamioculcas.
4. Spider plant
This plant is named so because of its spider-like leaves - they dangle down from the mother plant, just like spiders on a web! Also, as daylight increases in spring, these plants can bloom, producing baby spiders.
They tolerate cool temperatures (55°F-65°F (13°C-18°C)) and benefit from occasional pruning (cutting them back to the base). Keep your Spider plant in bright to moderate light and water once a week. In winter, allow the soil to dry more between waterings. We recommend using distilled water or rainwater - some plants don’t like fluoride in tap water. Fertilize Spider plant every 2-3 weeks with a balanced houseplant fertilizer.
5. Philodendron
The Heartleaf Philodendron (aww….) is an evergreen perennial vine native to Tropical America. It does not only tolerate the regular indoor conditions but also filters gaseous toxins from the air. Philodendron can grow up to 10 feet long!
This plant loves medium indirect sunlight and needs to be watered once in 1-2 weeks. Increase frequency of waterings as light increases. Philodendron feels ok in dry air, but it will be thankful if you moist the air around - this will lead to faster growth and larger leaves. Also, these plants do not like frequent transplantation - we recommend doing this not more often than once in 2-3 years.
6. Hedgehog aloe
Aloe Vera's cousin, Aloe the Hedgehog loves sunny spots in your home and can even be kept outdoors in summer. This unpretentious plant is a succulent, which means it requires very little water - keep the soil damp, but not soggy. Also, do not let the water collect on the bottom of a pot - it can cause rotting. This plant needs 0,8 cups of water every 12-14 days (water in summer more often, and in winter - less often).
7. Dracaena giganta
This bright plant does best in low to medium light conditions. It only needs to be watered when the soil starts to feel dry, making it a perfect plant for anyone who is very active and is always on the go. Water your Dracaena 1-2 times a week - keep the soil moist but never soggy. Even if you forget to do this, the plant will tolerate the dry climate for 7-10 days. Also, there is no need to transplant it regularly. If you want to fertilize your Dracaena, feed every two weeks in spring and summer with a balanced houseplant fertilizer. In fall, reduce fertilization to once a month. In winter, let your plant benefit from a period of dormancy.
8. Ponytail palm
A perfect plant for those who travel often or have little time. The Ponytail Palm doesn’t mind being watered every couple of weeks. Also, as it is succulent, it withstands even direct sunlight. Water your Palm every 2-3 weeks, in winter months - water sparingly. This plant feels perfect in dry conditions and tolerates 60-80 F (15-26 C). Use a general houseplant fertilizer once in spring and once in summer. Be careful not to over fertilize your Ponytail Palm - this will lead to brown tips on the leaves.
9. Aglaonemas
Aglaonema’s lush foliage attracts lots of attention from gardening lovers. It can adapt to any home or office space - not sure you’ll find a more versatile stunner. Aglaonema is also called the “Chinese evergreen”, it is native to the tropical forest floors of Asia. That’s why it loves the spots with indirect sunlight (direct sun can scorch its leaves). We recommend keeping Aglaonema a few feet from a well lit window. Watering routine is also important - feel the soil with your finger a few inches down to make sure it isn’t most right beneath the surface. Do not forget to rotate your plant sometimes - this will ensure even growth on all sides. Dust the leaves often (undersides too) to promote efficient photosynthesis.
10. Pothos
Pothos is a perfect plant option for a bathroom or office - it tolerates low light and does well in bright indirect sunlight. Golden, Marble Queen, Neon, Blue - choose any variety you want. If you put Pothos in nutrient rich soil, it will do well, but if you grow it in poor nutrient soil - it’s not a problem as well. If you have your plant in low light, the growth rate will be slower. Moderate light is perfect for Pothos. We recommend watering Pothos once every 6-7 days in the warm months and every 9-10 days in the colder months. You’d better keep your plant on the dry side rather than wet.
Please, note that Pothos plant is toxic to cats, dogs, and children - can cause irritation or vomiting if injected.
