Indoor plants are more than trendy home and office decor. They are pretty great for your health and well-being too. Unfortunately, those of us without a green thumb may find it tough to find the perfect plant for our space and lifestyle. If you have a less-than-perfect track record when it comes to plants, consider the following easy-care houseplants.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera is one of the most widely used medicinal plants in the world. Lucky for you, it’s also a relatively easy plant to grow. Aloe is part of the succulent family and, therefore, prefers bright, indirect light coupled with dry conditions. It is common for experienced plant growers to keep their aloe plant near a kitchen window for easy, periodic use. If you choose this location for yourself, it is important to remember that Aloe cannot handle sustained direct light. This will cause these trendy houseplants to dry out too much and begin to yellow.
ZZ Plant
The ZZ plant (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia) is the perfect indoor plant for the neglectful plant parent. It can tolerate just about any environment, from low light levels to low humidity – you can even forget to water this guy for a couple weeks. The ZZ plant, unlike many other plants, doesn’t even need natural light to survive. The fluorescent lights often found in office buildings provide all the light needed for a ZZ to thrive.
Pothos
These trailing, foliage houseplants do well in a variety of environments. Due to their ability to thrive in low light conditions, Pothos (Epipremnum auruem) is a popular choice for bathroom decor and as an office companion. Also known as Devil’s Ivy, Pothos can be easily propagated from cuttings. The only thing better than one Pothos plant is…two Pothos plants! Do be aware that while Pothos is an easy-care houseplant featuring lovely heart-shaped leaves, it is considered toxic to cats, dogs, and children.
Hoya
Hoyas are a go-to plant for the busy plant-lover. These fast growing, easy-care trailing plants that are available in a variety of leaf colors, sizes, and textures. They require little watering and only partial sun. The Hoya’s vining nature makes it a unique ‘spiller’ plant when creating container gardens. (For more info on how to create a gorgeous container garden, check out our quick guide ‘The Art of Container Gardening’). Their foliage can be described as both smooth and shiny, which is why they are commonly known as wax plants. They also work well in hanging planters and can even be trained to grow on a trellis.
Snake Plant
While fantastic for beginners, many seasoned plant parents enjoy the snake plant (Sansevieria) for its dramatic, upright foliage. This hardy plant can survive in almost any environment, but will really thrive when taken care of properly. When placed in bright light, a snake plant will produce tall, leathery sword-shaped leaves and possibly even a stalk of fragrant flowers. *fingers crossed*
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