Best Plants For Someone Lacking a Green Thumb
Houseplants don't choose to live in houses, so it takes extra care and attention to keep them alive and healthy in an indoor environment. Some houseplants require specific humidity levels, temperature, and a particular watering schedule. Others not so much. We realize starting your plant collection from the ground up can be daunting, especially if you're not known to be great with plants. So we've assembled a list of 5 easy-going, hard-to-kill houseplants to get you on the road to green living.
Snake Plant
Starting off our list with a significant contender. The Snake Plant is remarkably resilient and laid back. Snake plants prefer bright, indirect sunlight, typically great for an office environment. Be careful not to overwater this one to avoid root rot. The best thing you can do is let it completely dry out between watering. Get used to feeling the soil, you'll be doing this with most of your plants. Watering frequency varies from plant to plant, based on your environment, lighting, soil type, and so forth. But you likely won't need to water your snake plant more than every 2 weeks. Snake plants are rewarding, strong, and edgy. Looking for growth to pick up speed? Move your snake plant to slightly brighter lighting and watch it grow!
The ZZ plant (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia) is a tropical perennial native to Eastern Africa. The ZZ plant features shiny, bright green leaves and thick stems, and it typically doesn't bring pests with it. The care for a ZZ plant is similar to that of a snake plant. Keep it in bright indirect sunlight or even less, definitely not full sun. Be sure to allow the soil to dry out completely in between waterings. With all of your houseplants, you'll learn the feel of the soil and adjust watering frequency based on the season as well. You'll find in the winter when your ZZ plant is experiencing less sunlight, watering will become less frequent as well. Watering for the ZZ plant typically sits around every 2-3 weeks. Some things to look for: if your ZZ plant begins to wilt or wrinkle, you're not watering it enough. If it begins to yellow, you're watering it too much.
Golden Pothos
We love Golden Pothos for more than just its easy-going lifestyle. If you're looking for the feel of a green space quick, Golden Pothos is your guy. Style it as a hanging plant and guide its vines along the edges of your ceiling, pot it on the floor and lead it up the wall, leave it to drape itself over your kitchen counter. It's totally your call. Even NASA thinks you should raise Golden Pothos, for air-purification purposes. Golden Pothos is perfect for new plant caregivers or those who travel often. This houseplant prefers indirect low sunlight, perfect for the shadier parts of your home. Once again, allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Overwatering is its #1 enemy, so be sure to keep it in a well-drained pot.
Monstera Deliciosa
Decisions, decisions, cause this one can thrive in almost any room in your home. Monstera Deliciosa is an easy-to-care-for, dramatic decor piece you're going to love. It can handle low-light or reach for the sky in bright indirect lighting. Water once the soil feels totally dry, likely around 2-weeks between watering. It definitely likes humidity, but it won't be fussy. If your home is on the dry side, give it a mist every so often. Make sure any excess water is being emptied out of the dish under your Monstera, and you should have one happy addition to your home. Notice brown spots appearing on the leaves? Check out our blog on diagnosing and addressing your Monstera symptoms.
Dracaena Marginata
Last but certainly not least, the spikiest addition we'll be making to your home. Also referred to as "Madagascar Dragon Tree Plants" they make a contemporary and tropical statement in any home. Dracaena Marginata prefers medium light but is tolerant of low light conditions. Feed it with preferably tepid water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry (likely every other week to every couple weeks). If your cat or dog happen to love their greens, you'll want to avoid this one. Dracaena Marginata is not poisonous to humans, but it is extremely poisonous to pets.
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