29 Easy Houseplants for People Who Kill Things
A bit of greenery goes a long way in making your personal space feel welcoming, homey and fresh. But, if you’re anything like me, keeping your plant babies alive can be tough. For as many plants as I’ve managed to sustain, there are five times as many who met a grim end. In our home, you have to be a “sturdy plant”; straightforward in the care you require and totally alive if you’re forgotten for 6 weeks. Over the years, I’ve identified several plants that are fit for you potential human herbicides out there.
1. Snake Plant
Also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, a snake plant is perfect for beginners. It pretty much grows itself and does well in all different types of light. Though, I will say that mine grew one gigantic baby when I first got it as a pup, and then stopped. It’s definitely still alive, it just decided it to wanted to look weird.
2. Spider Plant
Spider plants are super fun. They get the name by the shape of their pups when they’re growing — they look like little spiders going everywhere. Who doesn’t just love that! They do well in all sorts of light and it’s easy to tell when they need watering. They also look dope hanging in baskets.
3. Money Tree
The money tree is supposed to bring good luck, but you won’t need it when taking care of this little beauty. When they’re saplings, the trunks are braided together and this is where they hide your good fortune. Fun fact: each of leaves are said to represent the five elements: earth, fire, water, wind and metal.
4. Aloe
Not only is aloe easy to maintain, but it’s useful too. If you’ve got a sunburn, just rip off one of its arms and smear its guts on the afflicted area. Don’t worry though, they’ve got plenty of arms to spare and they’ll be sure to grow a new one in no time. In fact, aloe pups make lovely, affordable gifts.
5. Air Plant
Honestly, I’m not sure how these suckers stay alive. They don’t require dirt or water — they suck everything they need out of the, well, air. I keep mine in a tiny ceramic watering can.
6. Cat Grass
My cat loves to go outside and eat grass but I’m not always available to supervise. So, I brought the grass inside to her. It’s specifically grown to be eaten by cats, so it’s safe and gentle on their furry little tummies. It’s not too attractive to look at though. I mean, it’s grass.
7. Catnip
Speaking of things I grow for my cat to eat, we can’t forget catnip. Lest you think they only like the dry stuff, just wait until they get a whiff of it fresh off the stalk. It’s genetically related to the oregano plant, which I do find pretty funny.
8. Dieffenbachia
Easy houseplants tend to keep themselves pretty small, but not the dieffenbachia. These bad boys can grow to be up to six feet tall! They do well in low-light. It’s easy to tell by their leaves when they need watered and they can go weeks without needing a single drop. Be careful though! They’re nicknamed “dumb cane” because they contain enzymes that, if ingested or exposed to skin, can cause severe pain as well as a host of other issues.
9. Pothos
While I don’t personally own a pothos, I have plant-sat one. It was… uneventful. They protect themselves against over- and under-watering, they do well even in pitch black and they rarely drop leaves. They’ll keep growing until the end of time. I’ve seen some that are nearly six feet long! Great for hanging.
10. Christmas Cactus
This little lady is sure to get you into the holiday spirit no matter what time of year it is. As with most cacti, the Christmas cactus requires little water and just a bit of sun. The cacti come in all sorts of colors if you’re worried about a rogue jewel tone ruining your neutral and earth-tones only aesthetic.
11. African Violet
This perennial houseplant will produce purple (probably violet, now that I think about it) flowers all year long. They require little watering, as the stems of the leaves act as reservoir. They can get pretty big — mine is about a foot in diameter. Their fuzzy leaves are also fun to pet!
12. Bromeliad
The bromeliad is another species that will keep flowering until kingdom come. They don’t get very big and have a finite size, so they’re a good option for those of you with limited space. They also come in a wide range of colors, making them a good option to include as part of your décor no matter what look you’re going for.
13. String of Pearls
This is one of my favorite plants. They’re considered a succulent and the pearls themselves hold water for the plant. They have shallow roots, perfect for a cute pot. They don’t have a finite length, so you could theoretically pass on a 10 foot long string of pearl plant to your grandchild. Oh, and they’re stupid easy to propagate, so make that grandchildren, plural.
14. Toothfairy Plant
This plant is one of my favorites just in name alone. It’s a succulent, so it requires little attention and can go without water for many, many weeks. Careful though! Those teeth are sharp.
15. Asparagus Fern
This plant is neither asparagus or a true fern. But, it’s so darn soft, cute and fuzzy that we’re willing to let it slide. They’re great as a hanging indoor plant to help filter the air. The electric green color is surely a crowd pleaser and if you’ve done a good enough job of keeping it alive, it’ll even give you little berries and flower. Not bad for a liar.
16. Rubber Tree
Rubber trees get their name from their sap which can be used to make rubber. While they can grow to be upwards of 6 feet tall, you can keep them shrubby with some creative pruning. In my opinion, that’s no fun. Let them be giants!
17. Cat Palm
And you thought we were done with the cat content. “Cat palm” is short for chamaedorea cataractarum, so unfortunately, no, you won’t find any actual felines hanging from this plant. Unless you’re my cat, who loves to eat the stringy fronds, which can grow to be up to 6 feet long. That’s why I got her the cat grass!
18. ZZ Plant
The ZZ plant is very similar in form and function to the snake plant. It does well in low-light and doesn’t need a ton of watering. Their leaves are waxy and highly resistant to pests and root rot. They’re kind of perfect. A little too perfect, because they can easily be misidentified as fake!
19. Swiss Cheese Plant
I mean, come on. It’s called a swiss cheese plant! What’s not to love? Appropriately named Monstera Deliciosa, the swiss cheese plant can grow to be of monstrous size and, usually when grown outdoors, produce a delicious fruit. I wish it produced cheese.
20. Heartleaf Philodendron
These little cuties have heart-shaped leaves and can adapt to pretty much any environment. While they’re often confused with the pothos, they actually prefer climbing instead of hanging. Make sure you provide your philodendron with a supporting structure so it can reach self-actualization and enlightenment.
21. Rex Begonia
Not to be confused with the begonia flower, the rex begonia is known for the fantastic colors of its leaves. Various shades include green, red, silver, purple and pink. During the winter, they’ll go into dormancy, but fear not! They are perennial, so they’ll return in the spring brighter and more vibrant than ever. I mean, their coloring probably won’t actually change. But they’ll be back.
22. Baby Tears
The name alone is incentive enough to pick up one of these. Just imagine being able to tell your coworkers that you have a room full of baby tears at home. They look great in hanging baskets or you can use them as a bedding for other potted plants.
23. Mint
That’s right, you can grow edible houseplants! Mint is stupid easy to grow. In fact, it grows so well, that you should give it its own space. Otherwise, it’ll choke out whatever neighbors it has. Keep a planter of it in your kitchen for organic, easy-access minty freshness.
24. Ficus
These popular houseplants are especially good for city-dwellers. They’ve very talented at purifying the air and their beautiful appearance is a welcome contrast against a city-scape. They also don’t like to be moved, so set it and forget it!
25. English Ivy
English ivy is another great hanging plant option, but you can also simply put it in a regular planter. They’re also extremely easy to propagate, so grab a pair of scissors and you’ve got party favors for all your guests. This is probably the type of ivy you have growing up that tree in your front yard, so you know it’s pretty good at standing up to whatever nature has to throw at it, including you.
26. Peace Lily
If you’re need a houseplant with a bit more curb appeal, look no further. The peace lily sports beautiful white flowers, but don’t let its delicate appearance fool you. It’s a great plant for air purification and is tough as nails against household toxins like carbon monoxide. Thanks, little buddy!
27. Bunny Ear Plant
Also known as the rabbit’s ear or lamb’s ear plant, the bunny ear plant is sure to add some whimsy to your home. Their leaves are thick and fuzzy and definitely fun to pet. They spread easily, so they’re also great for creating a soft bed for your other houseplants to grow.
28. Jade
A member of the succulent community, these babies are basically mini trees. They live forever, adapting well to most environments, and can grow up to 3 feet if cared for properly. It, appropriately, gets its name from the rich green shade of its leaves.
29. Literally Any Succulent
As my coworker Jane says, succulents are really good at pretending to be alive. Meaning, even if you kill it, a succulent probably won’t look any different. So who cares! Perfect.
So there you go! You now have 29 low-maintenance, easy to care for, hard to murder houseplants to choose from. While you can purchase your new friends from Home Depot, I truly recommend visiting your local greenhouse or nursery, especially if you’re a beginner. Plants sold by big box stores often aren’t cared for and already have root rot, are root bound and are pretty expensive, setting you up for failure and sadness. If you’re in the Lancaster area, I recommend visiting Ken’s Gardens, Shenk’s Greenhouse or Fisher’s Greenhouse. The staff is very friendly and will hook you up with the plant that is a good fit for you. Good luck and happy planting!
