Our daily lives are increasingly busy and with more things to do in a day, it becomes less easy to manage smaller house tasks, such as watering and feeding houseplants. That is why we have come up with this easy care houseplants list to help you identify the plants that don't want your undying attention – or any attention at all really.
So, you can go about your day, unconcerned about your house plant, safe in the knowledge it is healthy and looks amazing.
The 10 Easiest House Plants to Keep Alive
The easiest indoor plants to take care of will often be those that can survive in changing light conditions, low water or moisture conditions, and even poor nutrition. Some houseplants are from hotter, harsher regions of the world and have developed clever adaptations to help them survive without too much effort. Others are just not very fussy anyway and function well regardless.
Snake Plant
A frequent guest on our ‘top indoor plants' list, the Snake plant is great for fragrance, air purifying and it is near impossible to kill by neglecting it. The key to its success is that it is robust, withstanding any inside pests like insects, and also flourishing in low light and low moisture environments. What's more, the distinctive leaves are interesting and attractive, being absolutely certain to draw enquiring glances.
Maidenhair Fern
If you're looking for easy low light plants then you can't get much better than ferns, of which the Maidenhair Fern is particularly good-looking. As the name suggests, the Maidenhair fern has flowing light green flowing leaves that cascade wonderfully over pots and shelves. There is a bit of a disclaimer with this one, as they do like damp soils, so it is best to keep them in humid conditions like a bathroom.
Philodendrons
This is probably in the top 5 most popular low maintenance plants indoors. They are a split-leaf house plant that have a very slow water intake that means they can go for weeks without watering. Add in the good tolerance to low light and you have a real winner on your hands.
Wax Plants
These have (as the name suggests) very waxy leaves and grow well in warm conditions. That makes them perfect if your house is kept very warm year-round and because they store water, they don't need much in the way of watering. Another benefit of wax plants, is that even if they wilt, get brown leaves, or look in poor health, a quick water will restore them almost instantly to their former glory.
Aloe
Another regular on our lists, the beautiful and multi-functional aloe plant. They are a member of the Succulentsgroup of plants below, but aloe gets its own section because it is totally amazing in every way. It doesn't wilt, it doesn't need much watering and if you pop it on a windowsill you will be in for a real treat. They are also known for their soothing, medicinal qualities which makes them a very handy and practical houseplant.
Christmas Cactus
Cacti and succulents are very easy to grow indoor plants, but something that really sets the Christmas cactus apart is the wonderful burst of rich Christmas colours that bloom in the spring. This floral cactus is definitely a head turner and it is low maintenance too. The only thing you need to make sure you do is put it on a windowsill that gets plenty of sunlight.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree
This unusually named fig tree has deep green glossy leaves and grows tall and upright. It only needs an occasional water (around once each month) and doesn't need a huge amount of natural light. This makes it one of the greatest living room plants on this list.
Succulents
Mentioned above alongside the Christmas cactus, succulents are hard-wired to survive in less than optimal water conditions meaning that if you leave one on a windowsill you will be a very happy houseplant owner. They can go for months without water due to the plants holding on to any spare water and they have air cleaning properties as well.
Moss Terrarium
Like the Maidenhair fern, moss loves growing in dark and damp areas making it one of the standout easy low light plants. Again, like the ferns, it is best grown in bathrooms where it is humid if you don't intend to water it regularly. Both ferns and moss need damp soil almost constantly making them unsuitable for dry, or direct sunlight conditions.
Jade Plant
Our homes often fluctuate in temperature, especially during the winter months when the cold nights set in and we reach for the radiator switch. Jade plants are incredibly good at adapting to temperature variation making them a real gem as a year-round healthy grower.
3 Basic Tips for Unkillable House Plants
Easy house plants are quite easy to come by if you know which varieties to look for. Any plants that grow in the desert tend to have water retention properties. Other plants that like the gloom of the forest floor will be great in low light conditions. There are even some exotic rainforest plants that bring the best of both worlds, growing with little water and light needed.
Here are 3 easy house plants tips.
- Don't ignore a houseplant altogether, even an unkillable house plant may struggle if left for months on end.
- Cacti and succulents are very robust house plants and need little in the way of water – but they need warmth and sunlight so keep them on a windowsill.
- If your plant becomes poorly, water it and/or give it a better light source, that should save it from dying.
And that concludes the top 10 list. Once you know what you're doing, indoor house plants don't need much effort at all, you almost don't need to lift a finger.
