Did you know that houseplants can make you smarter? They can, as well as herbs increase your focus, productivity, and mood. These benefits for your mental and emotional well-being are bonuses to the aesthetic appeal of houseplants.
A large houseplant can be an accent piece, while smaller houseplants can be small touches of the natural world in a curated home environment. In addition, they’re an affordable hobby that’s easy to learn. This is why many people, from college students to homemakers, choose to adopt a few plants and become loving “plant parents.”
For the lazy plant parent, low-maintenance plants are perfect. They come with all the benefits of their high-maintenance brethren with half the work. If you want to know which beginner-friendly plants to pick to spruce up your room, read on for our guide!
1. The Pancake Plant
Their scientific name is Pilea Peperomioides, but they’re better known by their colloquial name, “pancake plants.” The pancake plant is so named for its round leaves that protrude on long, needle-thin stems. They have a sort of avant-garde look that can bring a trendy, modern touch to your room. And, they’re incredibly easy to take care of!
The pancake plant is also called the Chinese money plant, or the coin plant, and was a common plant in China before spreading worldwide. These plants were considered lucky and can help bring in prosperity and wealth. In addition, they’re one of the best low-maintenance indoor plants! They love lots of sunlight and are tolerant of most room temperatures (although they prefer temperatures warmer than 50 degrees). Essentially, all you have to do is put them in fertilizer and leave them in the sun. Water them only when the soil is completely dry. Other than that, you can leave them alone!
2. The Snake Plant
The snake plant is affectionately known as the “zero maintenance plant” which should give you an indication of how easy they are to take care of. They thrive both inside and outside, making them great low-maintenance outdoor plants. The snake plant is a medium-sized plant, with long, sharp leaves that stick straight up. Sometimes it will even bloom small white flowers. One benefit to these plants is that they give off oxygen at night, unlike most plants that give off carbon dioxide. For this reason, they’re great for the bedroom as they can promote a deeper, more restful state of sleep. All they need is bright sunlight and water when they’re completely dry (about every 10 days on average). They are also incredibly tolerant if you forget them, and can go a few weeks without water.
3. The ZZ Plant
The ZZ plant, or Zamioculcas Zamiifolia, is a classic among low-maintenance house plants. It’s drought resistant, meaning you only need to water it every few weeks. They can also tolerate almost any level of light. Their resilience enables them to survive neglect and many mistakes on the part of the plant owner. In addition, they are a lovely, tropical-looking houseplant with a relaxed aesthetic that matches their easygoing nature. When fully mature, they can reach two to four feet high. They can also produce small, pale flowers. However, their foliage is their most impressive feature. A word of caution, though, ZZ plants are toxic to both humans and animals. Make sure to keep it out of reach of grabbing hands and paws.
4. The Swiss Cheese Plant
If you’re looking for a bit of drama, the Swiss cheese plant, or Monstera Deliciosa, is right up your alley. Aptly named, these green monsters can grow to be six to eight feet tall, and one to three feet wide! This plant grows big, saucer-shaped leaves that have a pattern of holes in them. Generally a deep green, they can also have spots of white. They have an eye-catching exotic vibe and can make a great accent to your sitting room. The Swiss cheese plant does prefer damp soil, so you will have to water them when the soil feels almost dry. However, they’re pretty tolerant so they won’t keel over and die if you forget a few times. This is another toxic plant, so keep it away from your pets.
5. The Air Plant
The air plant is one of the best low-maintenance plants because it doesn’t even need soil! Air plants are small balls of leaves and branches, with tiny clusters of roots.
There are hundreds of kinds of air plants, some bloom, some look like sea urchins, and others look like round succulents. You can order plants online, and get a selection of these fascinating species. They make great low-maintenance plants for pots, especially decorative pots, due to their almost alien appearance. Water them weekly by submerging them in water for about 30 minutes. Then, gently dry them with a towel and drop them back in their pots.
6. The Cactus Plant
If you are always forgetting to water your plants, cacti are the perfect low-maintenance house plants for you. There are many different species to pick from. Some bloom, some are spikey while others appear fuzzy. You can pick the perfect cactus to match your aesthetic, leave it in the sun, and essentially forget about it! In summer, you should water it every 10 days. The rest of the year, you can forget to water it for four to six weeks without killing it. Be sure to check the watering recommendations of your specific cactus plant and avoid over and under watering it!
Pick Up a Few Low-Maintenance Plants Today
If you’ve ever wanted to have some foliage in your house but were put off by the amount of work it took, worry no more. A few low-maintenance plants can vitalize your space without requiring too much care. Becoming a plant parent is easy, rewarding, and fun, especially when you have one of these tolerant species.
If you enjoyed learning about how to incorporate beginner-friendly plants into your home, check out our blog for more tips on how to reconnect with Mother Nature!
