10 Common House Plants that Require Minimal Care and Effort to Grow:
With winter having fully presented itself these past few weeks, many of us will (and do) struggle with the cold, gray, dreary atmosphere that it brings along with it. I know that I am certainly guilty of having the winter weather affect me! One way that I have found to help battle the “meh” feeling that winter brings is by having lots of houseplants. Having houseplants adds life, serenity, and cheerfulness to your home. While growing and having houseplants is great and all, not all of us were born with a green thumb. Today I will be showing you 10 common houseplants that require minimal care and effort so that you can make your home lively, peaceful, and cheerful without having to worry about not having the greenest thumb.
African Violets
One of my personal favorite houseplants is the African Violet. These low-maintenance plants require minimal water and are not prone to diseases or pests. There are many different colors and varieties available, and all produce a mass of beautiful, bright-colored flowers.
African Violets do well in partial shade or a window that receives morning sun. They can also tolerate a bit of shade. But, bear in mind that you will only be able to get it to bloom if you keep it in a warm spot with lots of sunlight. The African Violet will grow to any sized pot that you keep it in and only requires watering about once per week. If you’re looking for a plant that will add some bright pops of color to your room- while having to do the bare minimum when it comes to planting care- the African Violet is the houseplant for you!
Jade
Imagine a tree has a baby with a succulent, and you would probably come up with something that resembles a Jade Plant. With thick, wooden stems and emerald green leaves, a typical Jade Plant will (if properly cared for) live for decades.
Jade Plants will tolerate partial shade- especially when if the plant is young. A south or west-facing window is well suited to these beautiful plants. They are a bit prone to root rot, so allowing the plant to dry out between waterings is important. A typical watering schedule for a Jade Plant should break down to about once or twice per week depending on the humidity of your home, and the material that your pot is made of. Keeping your Jade Plant in a clay pot will mean that you will probably have to water it more frequently. If you are a fan of succulents and trees, then the Jade Plant is an excellent houseplant choice for you.
Pothos
A vine-like plant with heart-shaped leaves, the Pothos Plant is well-suited to almost all home conditions. Pothos do well in indirect sunlight or shade, rich or poor soil, and dry or moist conditions. There basically is no wrong way to care for these lively plants. The only condition that they could potentially get damaged from is direct sunlight because the leaves burn easily. If you’re a beginner at growing houseplants, then the Pothos is a great first houseplant to add to your collection.
Ferns
With many different textures, sizes, and shades of green available, ferns make lovely houseplants. Although it largely depends on the type of fern that you get, most prefer indirect sunlight and high humidity. They can survive if dried out between waterings but often do better (and look healthier) if you keep the soil moist. A good way to accomplish keeping the soil moist (especially in the winter months) is to mist the leaves occasionally with a mister. If you are a fan of tropical plants or plants that add texture and greenery to a space, then ferns are a great option to consider.
Snake Plant
Despite its somewhat offsetting name, the snake plant is a beautiful, two-toned green plant that is characteristically upright. Each sword-like leaf is rich green and embossed with a somewhat yellow-green border.
A Snake Plant will do well in a darker spot in your home but will be happier if you are able to find a warm space that provides indirect sunlight. Similar to the Jade Plant, Snake Plants can be prone to root rot and do not like to sit in moist soil. One way to help prevent your Snake Plant from sitting in moist soil is to grow it in a clay pot with drainage holes. Clay pots help to absorb excess moisture in the soil. A solid watering once per week should suffice. If you live in a small apartment or have a small bedroom, the Snake Plant is a great way to freshen up the space and add a touch of green without taking up too much of the room.
Aloe Vera
A cactus-like plant with green leaves that have little spikes for a border, the aloe plant has been a widely-known houseplant for centuries. Similar to all cacti, it does not like to be overwatered and is perfectly content with drying out between waterings. It does well in either direct or indirect sunlight and warm conditions. Apart from the beauty, it adds to a room, it is also a very practical houseplant. Aloe Vera will naturally help filter the air around your home and can be used to heal your sunburns. They are amongst one the most low-maintenance houseplants out there and are a great addition to any home. If you love to add a bit of southwestern flair to your home design or need help with your air purification, aloe vera is a great houseplant to add to your home.
Philodendrons
Coming in a variety of different colored leaves, Philodendrons are excellent houseplants that will adapt to most of the conditions that are thrown at them. Although they do not flower, their leaves come in various color options depending on the species. One of my personal favorites is the Pink Princess Philodendron which has bubblegum pink leaves. It just amazes me how the leaves of a plant can be such an opaque shade of pink!
All Philodendrons have heart-shaped leaves and are super fast at growing. They often will have to be trimmed back or they will start to take over your room. Philodendrons, like most plants, do best in indirect sunlight or a spot that receives 6+ hours of sunlight a day. Watering Philodendrons is rather simple: allow them to dry out between waterings. As I do with my plants, watering once per week is a good guideline to follow. If the plant seems to dry out quicker in your house’s conditions, then increase to twice per week. If you love a plant that is quick to grow and easy to care for, then Philodendrons are great common houseplants to consider.
Christmas Cactus
One of the best parts of the Christmas (or Thanksgiving) season is getting to watch a Christmas Cactus bloom. With various flower coloring options, the Christmas Cactus is a beautiful cactus that produces bright, cheery flowers when the weather outside begins to turn for the worst. If it is properly cared for, a Christmas Cactus can live up to 100 years! So, it is a plant that will most likely be passed from generation to generation.
Like most cacti, the Christmas Cactus prefers indirect sunlight or a window that receives morning sun. Like all desert cacti, they do not like being overwatered and are perfectly fine with drying out between watering. Depending on the size of your plant, a good watering once every one to two weeks is ideal. But, bare in mind that they will need a bit more water around the holiday season when they begin to bloom. If you want to add color and greenery to space for around the holiday season and love the idea of passing a plant on for generations to come, the Christmas Cactus is a great houseplant to get!
Prayer Plant
Your first question probably is… Prayer Plant? Who came up with a name like that? This fascinating plant was named for its tendency to have flat leaves during the day that fold up at night. When the leaves are folded, they resemble hands that are in prayer.
The Prayer Plant has oval-shaped leaves that have striking red veins that run through them. They like warm, moist conditions, as they are considered somewhat tropical plants. Like all of the other common houseplants, they do best in indirect sunlight or a window that receives morning sun. Root rot is a common problem amongst Prayer Plants, and a cactus potting soil blend or potting mix with peat moss is fully recommended. Keep the Prayer Plant’s soil moist but not soaking. If you like unique plants that have fascinating features worthy of conversation, then Prayer Plants are must-have common houseplants to keep in your home.
Peace Lily
A dark green plant with pinnate-shaped leaves and (when in bloom) soft white flowers, the Peace Lily makes for the perfect houseplant. Unlike most plants mentioned above, the Peace Lily will be much happier if placed in a shaded spot around your home that receives minimal to moderate sun exposure. Although they prefer a shaded spot around your home, they still need to be kept warm and do not tolerate frost. As far as water is concerned, allow the Peace Lily to dry out between waterings. Watering once per week in the summer and once every two weeks in the winter is a good guideline to follow. If you have a spot lacking natural light around your home that you want to add a bright touch too, the Peace Lily is a great plant to help you out with that.
Apart from their many atmospheric beneficial factors, houseplants are a great way to help add a bright, lively aura around your home. Do not worry if your thumb isn’t super green. Mine certainly is not! That is why I added a variety of different common houseplants that all require minimal care and effort. I also tried to include a variety of different plants that have different growing needs. This will help you pick out the right houseplant for the right area. Whether it be the colorful African Violet or the lively green Pothos, I hope that this blog post helps inspire you to kick gray winter weather in the butt by including common houseplants around your home.
Want to learn more about caring for these 10 beautiful common houseplants?
- African Violet Care Guide
- Jade Plant Care Guide
- Pothos Care Guide
- Fern Care Guide
- Snake Plant Care Guide
- Aloe Vera Care Guide
- Philodendron Care Guide
- Christmas Cactus Care Guide
- Prayer Plant Care Guide
- Peace Lily Care Guide
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