If you’re looking for a plant you can’t kill, we’ve got a list of low-maintenance houseplants that are very forgiving — plus, tips on how to address the signs of neglect.
When browsing social media, it quickly becomes clear how much we all love our houseplants. They add so much beauty, freshness, and life to our homes. But sometimes we can love our houseplants a little too much, especially when we overwater them. Even houseplants from the most humid parts of the world can struggle with the dry air in our homes. However, a few low-maintenance houseplants are very forgiving and undemanding about their growing conditions. While it may seem nearly impossible to kill the following houseplants, watch out for common signs of distress to help fix the problem and save your plant.
1. Pothos
One of the best indoor plants for low-light situations, pothos is an easy-care plant with heart-shaped leaves. It’s perfect for hanging in a basket at home, climbing a planter, or spilling over the edge of a table or shelf. The stems can reach dozens of feet long over the years. A common choice for office spaces, pothos is a plant you can’t kill. Well, I guess you could kill it if you really tried, but it’s one of the most forgiving houseplants. It can survive for a long time without water, it thrives in bright light or dim light, and it doesn’t wilt under low humidity.
2. Peace Lily
Another popular choice for office spaces, the peace lily is a low-maintenance indoor plant that tolerates low light, low humidity, and inconsistent watering. Its glossy, lanceolate leaves curl gracefully from a cluster of central stems and can be plain green or variegated. The white flowers are most common in summer, but can occur at any time of year.
3. Snake Plant
Sometimes called mother-in-law’s tongue or sansevieria, snake plant is a hardy succulent that grows well in almost any indoor space. Its upright, leathery, sword-shaped leaves are usually marbled with gray-green hues, and may have yellow or white edges. There is even a miniature version that is shorter and has thinner leaves. Snake plant thrives in low light, but it does best in medium to bright light.
4. Jade Plant
Another easy succulent to grow indoors is the jade plant, which has green, fleshy leaves and fleshy stems. This houseplant likes bright light but can handle some shade. It is very forgiving if you forget to water it for a while, but it does not like overwatering. Jade plants can grow quite large in their containers over time and can live for decades.
5. Dracaena
The Dracaena genus includes a large group of popular foliage plants. Most grow strongly upright with long, strap-like leaves that are variegated in white, cream, or red. Dracaenas, or corn plants, grow very tall (you may have seen them in office building lobbies, growing like a bare cane with green leaves on top). In low humidity, the tips of their leaves often turn brown and crunchy, but you can cut those areas off if you like.
6. Philodendron
Looking similar to a monstera, the split-leaf philodendron has become very popular in recent years. (Both of these plants have large green leaves, but monstera leaves can naturally form small holes, while philodendrons do not.) Philodendrons also have trailing/climbing varieties, and they are all beautiful, low-maintenance houseplants.
7. Money Plant
The shiny leaves of the money plant are similar to those of a schefflera or umbrella plant, adding a tropical touch to any room. The stem of this plant is thin, and it is often braided. In Asia, the money plant is considered to bring good luck and financial prosperity (you can find them near cash registers). This indoor tree is easy to grow, but it grows best with regular watering.
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