If there’s one thing most people and when it comes to houseplants it’s ones that don’t need much care. We all want the beauty of having plants in our homes but without having to put in the hard work.
And often that’s fair. It could be you’re a busy professional, someone who has to travel a lot or just someone who’s, well, lazy. Whatever it is there’s lots of houseplants that do well even with very little attention.
So I’m going to bring you some of the toughest and yet undemanding houseplants. They will all be easy to care for but still have their own charm.
Snake Plant
Also known as Mother in Law’s Tongue, snake plants are tough and hard to kill. They don’t mind all sorts of light, from low to bright indirect light, and doesn’t need much watering (usually once every two or three weeks). They even make the air in your home better by taking the toxins out of it.
ZZ Plant
ZZ plants are pretty much indestructible. They do well without much light and can go for more than a month without being watered as they can store water.
The fact that it needs very little in the way of care along with how striking it looks has made it very popular with those wanting a houseplant but are also busy.
Pothos
Pothos is a great looking plant that’s also very adaptable to different light and watering. Low light or more it can do well and doesn’t mind being neglected.
Watering it once every one or two weeks is enough but let the soil dry out between each watering.
Pothos looks great on your shelves or in a hanging basket.
Spider Plant
Spider plants are one of the best know houseplants for being easy to care for. While they like bright, indirect light they can happily grow in lower light too.
Water them fairly often but let the soil dry out in between. They also grow “spiderettes” or baby plants that are very easy to propagate and mean you get even more plants!
Peace Lily
Peace lilies have beautiful white flowers that will bloom even when you give them a little attention. They like low to medium light and prefer to be kept moist but don’t like getting waterlogged.
Aside from looking so good peace lilies also help to make your home less humid and can also fight against mold, so they’re a great choice for bathrooms.
Jade Plant
Jade plants are succulents that have leaves that will store water which means you can go for a long time without watering them. They like bright light and do still need watering from time to time, more so in the winter.
Rubber Plant
Rubber plants have large shiny leaves and so well in lots of different light (although they do prefer bright, indirect light). They only need a moderate amount of watering and as with many others like the soil to dry out between each time. They grow tall so are good as floor plants.
Cast Iron Plant
The cast iron plants name is fitting as it’s basically impossible to kill. It doesn’t mind very little light, can deal with the temperature fluctuating and being watered randomly.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is another succulent but is widely known for having medicinal properties. It likes bright, indirect light and doesn’t need a lot of watering. Again let the soil to dry out completely between each watering. The gel inside its leaves are used to soothe minor burns and skin irritations.
Philodendron
Philodendrons come in different types, both vining and ones that don’t climb. They don’t do well in little light and like the soil to be dry between each water.
Chinese Evergreen
One of the best plants for putting up with bad light and neglect. Water it occasionally and let the soil dry out between.
Chinese Evergreen has lovely patterned leaves and comes in green, silver or even red and pink varieties. It also filters the air for pollutants so is great for putting in you bedroom or office.
Parlor Palm
Parlor palm does well in low or medium light and only needs to be watered every few weeks. It also doesn’t need to be repotted very often. It grows slowly and is a good option for smaller homes.
Dracaena Marginata
Dracaena Marginata is one of the most easy going plants. It is happy with must types of light and only needs watering when the soil dries out. It grows tall and looks spiky and dramatic which is a great addition to any of your rooms.
Cactus
Succulents like jade and aloe vera get all the attention but classic cacti definitely deserve a spot on this list. They’re as low maintenance as can be, and grow happily in bright light while only needing to be watered about once a month, if that. You can pick from many different types, shapes and sizes of cacti that will fit in with your home.
Calathea
Calathea have amazing leaves that fold up at night and do very well without much light. They like the humidity to be a bit higher b it other than that are relatively easy to care for.
Fiddle Leaf Fig
Fiddle leaf figs can be a little dramatic but if you give it the right care it will be pretty low key and undemanding. It likes bright, indirect light and to be watered once a week. It’s a stylish and bold plant that looks great.
Lucky Bamboo
Lucky bamboo like water, which makes it unique different from other houseplants. So you’ll need to put it’s in a vase with pebbles and water making sure to change the water every few weeks. It’s also doesn’t mind little light.
Hoya
Hoya’s have thick leaves and can grow flowers that are shaped like stars. It’s a cracking plant. It likes bright, indirect light but can survive with less. Water it when the soil is dry and you’ll have a gorgeous plant.
Dumb Cane
Does well in medium light and doesn’t need constant care. Just water it occasionally and make sure its pot has enough drainage holes as it hates to be sat in soggy soil.
Bird’s Nest Fern
More unique and different from most other plants. But it’s easier to care for than most other ferns. It likes indirect light and slightly moist soil. It’s looks good in bathrooms or kitchens with some humidity.
Pilea Peperomioides
A quirky plant that has leaves that are shaped like coins. It does well with indirect light and only needs watering when the soil feels dry. Bonus: It gives you baby plants so you can propagate and share with friends.
Crown of Thorns
if you want a houseplant that blooms then the Crown of Thorns is the one for you. It’s a succulent so it doesn’t mind not being watered and its stems have spikes that when grown with flowers make for a real good contrast.
Care Tips for Low-Maintenance Houseplants
These plants are forgiving it’s helpful to understand and stick with the basics when caring for them to make sure they’ll be happy and grow well.
- Light: Understand what each plant likes in terms of light. While many don’t mind low light, some, like the jade plant and aloe vera, prefer brighter conditions.
- Watering: Overwatering is a common mistake. It’s ideally better to underwater than overwater. A good way to avoid this is by making sure your pots have enough drainage holes so the roots don’t rot.
- Soil: Use soil mixes that drain well and are appropriate for each plant type. Succulents, for example, grow better with sandy soil, but others like peat based mixes.
- Humidity and Temperature: Most houseplants like the temperature and humidity to stay stable. However, many on this list can adapt to most indoor conditions.
- Fertilization: During the spring and summer it helps to feed all your plants with some fertilizer as it can boost growth.
Final Thoughts
Houseplants are a great way to enjoy some green life and a bit of personality. And the plants here are all great because they don’t involve any of the stress that comes with complicated care.
They’re perfect if you’ve got a busy life or you’re new to gardening. So pick a few that suit your style and enjoy the benefits of houseplants with very little effort.
