9 Houseplants Even Beginners Can’t Kill, According to Plant Experts
Houseplants are great to have in your home. They can help to airkeep the temperature cool and offer extra herbs or flavor when to cook. What’s the catch? Sometimes they’re hard to care for. You can look at a plant the wrong way and it can shrivel up and suddenly die. So what’s a novice plant lover to do?
To become a true plant parent, you’ll increase your chances of success by choosing plants that are low-maintenance and hard to kill. Plus, you’ll save money. I asked plant experts Rebecca Sterling and Puneet Sabharwal to share some tips for the easiest houseplants to keep alive.
Sterling serves as the perennial expert for Easy planting The company makes self-watering planters that eliminate one of the leading causes of houseplant death: over- or under-watering. Sabharwal is the founder of Gardena plant subscription service that sends a different potted plant to you or someone at your address gift list every month with an entire section of her website dedicated to plants that are easy to care for and hard to kill.
Below, you’ll find their expert suggestions for hard-to-kill common plants that don’t mind low light, and others that don’t require constant watering. They also shared the most common reason houseplants die, so you can be a better plant owner in 2024.
For more information, see where to place houseplants for maximum growth and read this list of plants that keep insects away.
9 Easiest Houseplants to Care for
The ZZ plant is popular among houseplant enthusiasts because of its low maintenance. It is hardy and easy to care for. It has thick, leathery leaves and water-storing rhizomes, which allows it to be neglected.
The ZZ prefers soil that is consistently moist, but not wet or soggy. Depending on the size of the pot and the environment, you should water the plant about every seven to fourteen days.
Before watering, check the soil to make sure it is not too wet. exaggerated wet and allow the top few inches of soil to dry out before watering again. Also make sure the pot has good drainage, as standing water can cause root rot.
Care tips:
“Because the ZZ plant thrives in bright, indirect light, a spot near a window is ideal.”
-Sabharwal
“If you must prune it, avoid leaving a bare trunk. Prune it low or just above a leaf to give it a natural look.”
-Sterling
Parlor palms are great for beginners because they’re forgiving. The fronds of this palm grow in dense, feathery clumps, Sterling explains, so even when it’s time to remove a few fronds, your palm will still have a full, lush appearance.
Care tips:
“This plant appreciates a healthy amount of humidity, so if you find the air in your room is too dry for you, it’s too dry for your plant. Time to add a humidifier or pebble tray to increase the humidity near the plant.”
-Sterling
These iconic houseplants are resilient and hard to kill due to their adaptability. They have aerial roots, which allow them to cling to surfaces and draw moisture and nutrients from their surroundings. This means that the plant can survive in a wide range of conditions, including low light, high humidity, and even low water availability.
How do they do it? Monstera plants can store water in their thick, fuzzy leaves to help them stay hydrated in dry conditions. Finally, the plant has an extensive root system that helps keep it in place and also allows it to search for water and food sources from farther away.
Siltepecana plants have narrow green leaves with silver markings. They like bright, indirect light, but will also adapt well to lower light. Just avoid direct sunlight, as it can burn the leaves.
Care tips:
“Monstera siltepecana plants should be watered regularly, but allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. To avoid overwatering, check the moisture level of the soil before watering. If the top inch of soil is dry, it is time to water.”
-Sabharwal
Hoyas are great houseplants that last for decades and are the kind of plant that people pass down through generations. I love the graceful nature of Hoyas because the vines can be encouraged to grow bushy or compact. Their thicker, waxy leaves help Hoyas tolerate lower humidity than thin-leafed plants. You can create quite a collection of Hoyas with a variety of variegated colors.
Care tips:
“Hoyas can take years to bloom, especially if they don’t get enough light. After the flowers have fallen, don’t prune the part of the stem where the flowers formed, the Pendacule, because there is a good chance that the next round of flowers will appear in the same place.”
-Sterling
Also known as the Chinese evergreen, Aglaonema Siam Pink plants have unique patterns on each leaf and have been cultivated in Asia for centuries as ornamental plants known for their good luck mentality. In the summer, it can produce small flowers that eventually turn into berries.
This plant is hard to kill and can tolerate a wide range of conditions, including low-light environments. “They have a slow growth rate,” Sabharwal explains, “so they don’t need frequent pruning or maintenance.”
Care tips:
“These plants love indirect sunlight and can adapt to low-light spaces. If you use a humidifier in your bedroom to keep the air moist, place the Aglaonema Siam Pink there. It likes a slightly humid environment and will look great on your bedside table.”
-Sabharwal
Pothos are particularly good at cleaning the air in your home, and the vine variety is great for beginners. They have a matte texture and feel a bit velvety to the touch, hence the satin nickname.
It is considered one of the most indestructible houseplants due to its hardiness and ability to tolerate a variety of conditions including drought, low light, and even a little neglect. The Satin Pothos can survive in low to medium light, but its variegated colors (multicolors) look best in bright light.
Care tips:
“Satin pothos plants can grow quite large, so find a spot in your home where they can spread out and flourish. Also, don’t put them in direct sunlight.”
-Sabharwal
“If you notice that their newer leaves [have] changed in size, that’s just the way this plant adapts [the] lighting conditions you’ve chosen for them. Talk about resilience”
-Sterling
Read more: Want cleaner air? This houseplant filters it 30 times better than other
This popular species is familiar to both new and experienced plant parents. According to Sabharwal, the snake plant is known to be drought tolerant and can survive in both low light and direct sunlight. Sansevierias are succulents with strong, stiff, plastic-like leaves that store water.
Care tips:
“Although it’s rare to see it indoors, Sansevierias can flower. This can be exciting, but be sure to prune the flowering stem before the flowers start dripping a sticky nectar.”
-Sterling
“Treat the plant like a succulent when caring for it, as it has large root balls that store water for dry conditions.”
-Sabharwal
Sabharwal praises this versatile plant for its ability to withstand abuse. Baby rubber plants have semi-succulent properties, meaning they can store moisture in their fleshy stems or leaves, which act as reserve reservoirs. These are “easy-care” plants and can be easily propagated by cutting a stem or leaf and submerging it in water until roots develop.
Care tips:
“Overwatering can lead to root rot, so it’s important to let the soil dry out before watering again. This charming plant thrives in moderate to bright indirect light, but can tolerate lower light. Too much direct light can scorch the leaves.”
-Sabharwal
This heart-shaped philodendron is native to South America. Its leaves, colored in yellow and green stripes, resemble the flag of Brazil — hence the name. The Brazil is a climbing vine and grows quite tall, up to 10 feet if left unpruned. It makes a popular hanging plant, but can also be trained to climb a moss pole or trellis.
Philodendron Brasil does well in medium to bright indirect light, according to Sabharwal. It can tolerate low light, but the variegated color will become more pronounced and vibrant with more light exposure. Direct sunlight should be avoided, as it can burn the leaves.
Care tips:
“Water this philodendron when the top inch of soil feels dry. It is important to avoid overwatering, as the plant is susceptible to root rot. Make sure the pot has good drainage to prevent water from pooling at the bottom and harming the plant.”
-Sabharwal
What is the number one reason houseplants die?
Both plant experts cite overwatering as the main cause of plant death.
Both Sabharwal and Sterling cite overwatering as the most common mistake people make that kills houseplants.
As a protection against overwatering, Sabharwal recommends pots with drainage, especially if you’ve just planted a plant. “Excess water often gets trapped at the bottom of pots without drainage, and it can cause the plant’s roots to rot. With drainage holes, you should water your plants generously each time until water starts to drip out of the bottom. Let the plant absorb what’s in the drain pan, and then discard the rest after a few hours.”
Sterling praises EasyPlant’s signature self-watering pot system as a natural solution. “Customers don’t have to worry about overwatering.” Sterling also points out a bad habit people have: depriving plants of light.
“Many people think that their plant will thrive and continue to grow if it gets low light, even if it only gets an hour or two of light per day,” she explains, “In reality, most tropical houseplants can adapt to less than ideal natural light conditions, but they still need a consistent light source.”
