Could your home use some natural greenery? House plants are an excellent way to bring some of the natural world indoors (without all the weird bugs and pollen) and can even help purify the air in your home. Best of all, you don’t need to have a miraculous green thumb – there are plenty of low-maintenance, beginner-friendly house plants to choose from. Any of the plants on this list would be happy to join your home, even if you’re a first-time plant mom or dad:
Snake Plant
Despite its creepy-crawly name (by the way, it’s also nicknamed “mother-in-law’s tongue), the snake plant is both elegant and striking. The plant features a crown of stiff, pointed leaves that can grow several feet in height. The leaves bear an eye-catching yellow border and a dark green pattern reminiscent of tiger stripes. These plants are known to thrive on neglect – just a little sunlight and water go a long way. In fact, it’s recommended to only water them once their soil is completely dried out. Plus, they’re great at filtering toxins like benzene and formaldehyde out of the air.
Pothos
Pothos is a type of vine known for its yellow-green heart-shaped leaves. As a vining plant, pothos do well in hanging baskets and or on shelves where their tendrils can drape and curl naturally. You’ll be amazed at how fast they grow and how big they can get. When kept indoors, each vine can reach up to ten feet (three meters) in length. Despite their rampant growth, pothos aren’t too demanding – they require only low light and infrequent watering. They also come in a stunning variety of colors and shades, from the classic golden pothos to electric-green neon pothos and more.
Lucky Bamboo
This hardy little plant has been used in Feng Shui practices for over 5,000 years to represent good luck and happiness. For that reason, bamboo makes a great gift – even if it’s just a gift to yourself! Bamboo can be sculpted into a variety of shapes, from cool spirals to intricate lattices and cute little hearts. It’s also fairly easy to take care of. Keep it out of direct sunlight and place it in a well-draining substrate like rocks or small pebbles. Make sure your bamboo is watered thoroughly each week. And that’s it! Any bamboo would feel lucky to be a part of your home.
Spider Plant
No offense to the other house plants on this list, but spider plants are probably the coolest looking of the bunch. A young spider plant is just one main plant, but as it matures, it will sprout long tendrils sporting mini-spider plants called “spiderettes.” How cool is that! You can keep the spiderettes on the main plant if you like the elaborate look, or you can snip them off and raise them into an army of spider plants. These guys like indirect sunlight and light watering. If the leaves are turning brown, it could mean your house is a bit too dry. Time to break out the humidifier!
Peace Lily
With their glossy leaves and tapered white flowers on delicate stems, peace lilies cut an elegant silhouette. They’re also well-known for their air-filtering powers, and even earned the coveted #3 spot on NASA’s list of top ten best plants to clean indoor air. In terms of care, peace lilies are easy customers who like bright, indirect sunlight and slightly damp soil.
A note of caution to pet owners: peace lilies are toxic to mammals, so if you have a dog or cat that likes to treat your houseplants like their own personal salad bars, you might want to skip this one!
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a spikey succulent known for its medicinal properties (it’s the main ingredient in many burn gels!) as well as being a natural alternative for heart burn relief, mouthwash, and laxatives. Wow, what can’t this little guy do? Taking care of aloe vera is pretty straightforward – it likes soaking up lots of bright, indirect light and needs very little water. In fact, too much water can rot the roots. Aloe vera is also easy to cultivate from cuttings, which is helpful if you plan to grow lots of it.
Jade Plant
Jade plants are part of the hardy succulent family and cousins of desert-loving cacti. As such, they require very little water and thrive well in well-drained soil. Mature plants can handle direct sunlight, but baby plants should be kept in bright indirect light. Overall, this plant is pretty forgiving as long as it’s not overwatered – that’s its kryptonite! Some jade plants grow beautiful white or pink flowers in the spring.
Do you have any house plant care tips to share? Let us know in the comments!
