Not everybody has a "green thumb," but the good news is that there are many species of houseplants that are quite forgiving. Having living, green plants in the home not only helps improve indoor air quality but also brightens up your home as simple and affordable décor pieces.
If you've been searching for your perfect houseplant match – one that isn't too needy – then this article will tell you exactly which ones to choose.
Aloe
Everyone knows the healing benefits of aloe vera, but some people don't realize that this magical substance is found inside the thick, tough leaves of the amazing aloe plant.
Aloe plants are originally from the desert, so they're used to infrequent waterings. And depending on the humidity levels inside your house, you might get away with watering your aloe plant as infrequently as once every three weeks.
Snake Plant
Officially known as sanseviera, the snake plant is sometimes called "mother-in-law's tongue" or the ribbon plant. It has beautiful, long leaves that have a thick, waxy exterior that helps them retain moisture.
Snake plants thrive very well indoors in small pots and can easily last two or three weeks between waterings.
Cactus
There are a wide variety of cacti and succulents, but all of them do well indoors as long as they're not exposed to the cold. Cacti, like all desert plants, are very receptive to infrequent waterings.
Bromeliad
Technically, bromeliads are a class of plants rather than a single species. They come from the tropical jungle and are related to pineapples, but bromeliads are inedible plants with beautiful flowers.
Bromeliads require lots of sunlight, but they are very resistant to dry spells. And they're renowned for their beautiful, brightly coloured flowers.
Jade Plant
Officially known as crassula ovata, the jade plant has many nicknames such as "friendship tree," or "lucky plant". The jade plant is originally from southern Africa and is actually a shrub rather than a flowering plant, but it does very well in pots.
Jade plants are famous for their low-maintenance and ability to tolerate different lighting conditions. Jade plants are probably the single easiest houseplant to take care of, so choose a jade plant if you've had no luck at all with keeping indoor plants alive.
Golden Pothos
Sometimes known as "Devil's Ivy," Golden Pothos's official Latin name is epipremnum aureum.
Golden Pothos is a form of ivy, so they do great in elevated pots where they can allow their vines to fall freely. Another fantastic idea for Golden Pothos is to put it on a bookcase and allow the trailing vines to drape over the shelves.
Golden Pothos plants need a steady source of bright light, but they're very tolerant of infrequent waterings.
Rubber Tree Plant
The rubber plant is, indeed, the same one that grows to colossal size in the jungle and was the original source of rubber before chemists figured out how to synthesize it artificially.
Rubber plants make for great potted houseplants and thrive in very large pots where they're allowed to grow. Rubber plants have thick, waxy leaves that help them retain moisture and to allow for infrequent waterings.
Philodendron
Philodendrons are a class of plant species and come in many forms, but they're related to ivy in that they grow big, beautiful leaves along a growing vine. Some philodendrons are called "non-climbing" because they grow their leaves at their base as opposed to "climbing" varieties that grow leaves along the length of their vines.
If you've had no luck with houseplants, the climbing variety of philodendrons are incredibly easy to take care of. As long as they get a steady source of light, they can handle just about anything.
Please be aware, however, the leaves of philodendron plants are poisonous if eaten, so these plants are not suitable for homes with pets or small children.
Spider Plant
Another desert plant, the spider plant is extremely tolerant of infrequent waterings as long as it gets plenty of sunlight. Spider plants do extremely well in small pots.
The spider plant is unique in that it continuously produces small "pups" or mini-plants that can be separated and rooted in another pot, so you never need to buy more than one spider plant.
Cast Iron Plant
Sometimes known by their Latin name of aspidistra, the cast-iron plant is a popular choice for wedding bouquets. Cast iron plants do very well in Canada because they prefer ambient or weak light.
Cast iron plants grow extremely slowly, making them a great choice for indoor settings, and they're very forgiving of both infrequent waterings and irregularities in temperature.
Kalanchoe
Officially kalanchoe blossfeldiana, this cute little plant does great on a windowsill or shelf as long as it gets plenty of light. Kalanchoes are a great choice because they regularly produce beautiful flowers in shades of orange, pink, white, yellow, or red, and they're also very tolerant of infrequent waterings.
Air Plants
Air plants are a very popular choice for indoor houseplants due to their beautiful, "fluffy" leaves. Air plants are technically known as tillandsia tectorum.
In their native jungle habitat, air plants live high up on tree limbs or cliff faces, so they do great no matter where you put them. Air plants are unusual in that they do not need a pot to grow in, so many people keep them in glass bowls or decorative ceramic vases. In order to care for air plants, simply spray them with a mister once a week or keep them in a room with a humidifier.
Consider how many of these plants can fit into your home design. For example, nature is a core theme for rustic home design making plants a perfect choice and plants in your entry design can immediately impress your guests.
You may be far from a horticulturist but with these forgiving plants, you'll look the part and your home will look fresh and lively! We can't make any promises about how long it will last, but choosing the right plant can certainly set you up for success. Good luck and have fun with it!
