How do I take care of my plants? Am I giving them too much water, not enough water, too much light, not enough light? Not enough love and attention? There are some who seem to be able to grow just about anything…no matter the circumstances…and then there are people like me. If you don’t have the greenest thumb, here are some hearty plants that refuse to die and will make you feel like you’re the most accomplished gardener around.
Anthuriums
The bright red, heart-shaped blooms on anthuriums may last forever with very little effort required. They do best in bright, indirect light and don’t like continually moist soil. Only water these plants when the soil looks dry, which ends up being approximately once a week or so.
Bamboo
There is nothing much easier to grow than bamboo! Put it in some water and replace the water every once in a while. Bamboo also requires very little light, making it a perfect indoor houseplant or office plant.
Money Tree
Sounds like a winner! You’ll like it even more when you see how easy it is to maintain. Money trees do best in full and partial sunlight and should stay inside. Only water if the soil looks dry, around once a week (if that).
Snake Plant
It’s fantastic for beginners, but many seasoned plant owners also enjoy the snake plant for its dramatic, upright foliage. This hardy plant can survive in almost any environment, but it really thrives when placed in bright light.
Peace Lily
These plants are almost impossible to kill, and they add lush, vibrant greenery to the home. You will know when to water them because the leaves will begin to droop.
Succulents
These plants are wildly popular these days for their beauty, along with their drought-resistant qualities. Succulents are great plants for anyone. They require very little watering, as they don’t like continually moist soil. Keep your succulents in bright, indirect light, and water whenever the soil looks completely dry.
Hoya
Hoya plants are a great choice for the busy plant-lover. They are fast growing, minimal-care, trailing plants that are available in a variety of leaf colors, sizes, and textures. They require little watering and only partial sun. This plant’s vining nature makes it a beautiful and unique “spiller” plant when creating container gardens. The foliage of this plant can be 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.
ZZ Plant
The ZZ plant is the perfect indoor plant for the neglectful plant owner. It can tolerate just about any environment, from low light to low humidity. You can even forget to water it for a couple weeks. The ZZ plant, unlike many others, doesn’t even need natural light to survive. The fluorescent lights often found in office buildings provide all the light the ZZ needs to thrive.
Pothos
These trailing, foliage houseplants do well in a variety of environments. They can thrive in low light conditions and are a popular choice for offices, bathrooms and kitchens. Pothos is also known as Devil’s Ivy and can be easily propagated from cuttings. One word of caution on this easy to maintain houseplant… it is considered toxic to cats, dogs, and children.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is one of the most widely used medicinal plants in the world. As luck would have it, it’s also a fairly easy plant to grow. Aloe is part of the succulent family and prefers bright, indirect light along with dry conditions. It is important to remember that these multi purpose houseplants cannot handle sustained direct light; it will cause them to dry out too much and begin to yellow.
