Last Updated on October 31, 2021 by Phil
Afraid you’ll kill your plant?
If that’s the case, check out the best houseplants for beginners.
Some are just about indestructible, while others are very tolerant of neglect.
Most importantly, all of them are easy to care for even if you’re just starting out with gardening or growing them.
This way, you don’t have to stress about missing their watering schedule. Or, lament that you’ve just killed another plant.
Snake Plant
We kick things off with the very popular snake plant.
While the word snake may instill a little fear in many people, I assure you that this plant isn’t harmful.
That said, it’s not a good idea for kids or pets to consume or ingest any part of them.
That’s because they contain saponins which are part of their protective mechanism against insects and other critters.
However, snake plants are great for beginners because they’re easy to care for.
They like indirect light. But, can tolerate both full and low light conditions as well.
They also don’t need a lot of watering since they trace their origins from the desert. More importantly, you don’t want to overwater them. And, you want to grow them in soil that drains well.
With more than 70 species to choose from you’ll be able to find one that’s perfect for your home.
Peperomia
Peperomia plants are another good choice when starting out.
Their beauty comes from their round-shaped leaves.
It’s worth noting that they come in over 1,000 varieties. As such, you’ll see a lot of differences in their leaves.
This includes their colors which include green, red, purple and gray.
They likewise have different markings depending on the species you get.
In any case, Peperomia plants are small which makes them good tabletop companions.
They enjoy bright light and prefer slightly acidic soil, as long is it drains well.
Air Plant
If you don’t have a lot of space or prefer something small, try the air plant.
Air plants are unique in that they’re very different from most plants you know.
They don’t require soil to grow.
Instead, they get most of their nutrients from the air.
However, that doesn’t mean they live on air alone. They still need sunlight and water.
Similarly, you’ll often see them clinging on to things like trees but, they’re not parasites. They just like to hang on to things.
In any case, air plants are very beautiful. They’re likewise ideal for beginners because they don’t require a lot of maintenance.
Ponytail Palm
While they’re called a palm, they’re not actually related to the palm trees that you and I are familiar with.
Instead, they’re more like other desert plants.
As such, this also means that it likes a lot of light. Although, it prefers indirect to direct light.
You’ll also want to watch the water.
Most plants that originate from the desert have adapted to low water conditions. As such, giving them too much water does more harm that good.
This is why you want to use fast draining soil and pots that allow excess moisture to get out. This makes clay pots a good idea since they absorb some water to help dry the soil faster.
Fittonia
Fittonia plants stand out because of their gorgeous leaves, which are filled with colorful veins.
The rich colors of the veins contrast the dark green leaves.
This makes the bright, thick red, pink, white lines very prominent and beautiful to look at.
Due to their size, they’re perfect for homes, offices and rooms where you don’t want the plant to be the center of attention.
You can likewise group a few of them in different colors together to produce a more striking effect.
Also called the nerve plant, fittonias thrive under low to medium light.
They also prefer filtered light since too much from the harsh afternoon sun can actually burn their wonderful looking leaves.
ZZ Plant
The ZZ plant (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia) is another popular houseplant because of its beauty.
Like the fittonia and peperomia, it’s the plant’s foliage that makes it attractive.
But this time, ou have spade-like shaped leaves are are solid green in color.
Additionally, they aren’t very fussy about light or water.
They’ll survive in low light conditions and can tolerate long periods of no watering.
As an added bonus, they’ve been shown to help purify the air.
This makes them a good addition to large spaces.
That said, be aware that they’re poisonous when ingested. This makes it very important to keep them out of reach of pets and very young children.
Yucca
The yucca is another unique looking plant you can grow as a beginner.
It’s very rugged in that besides a full sun, it practically doesn’t need any maintenance at all.
When it comes to yucca, it’s important to note that this plant is different from yuca, which is cassava. It’s easy to interchange the two because of how similar they’re spelled.
While beautiful to look at, they’re probably a little more intimidating to approach or touch. That’s because of sharp leaves that some varieties have.
In any case, it’s important to know yucca plants are toxic to dogs, cats and even humans.
Dragon Tree
The dragon tree, along with the rubber plant, are among out top choices if you’re looking some something bigger.
They’re good sized trees outdoors. But, don’t grow as big indoors.
This one for example gets up to 20 feet outside. But, is limited up to 6 feet inside your home.
This makes it an attractive “mini” tree.
You can likewise prune it further to keep it small as well.
That said, this is a lovely plant with amazing looking leaves.
They’re easy to tend to and don’t require a lot of extra care.
Watering isn’t a problem since they can tolerate drought. As long as you put them in bright indirect sunlight, they’ll be happy.
Lucky Bamboo
While its name suggests it, this plant isn’t actually a bamboo.
So, you don’t have the hard, wooden exterior that we’re mostly familiar with when you hear the work bamboo.
Instead, it’s a dracaena. And, it grows in water.
The reason why it’s called a bamboo is because it’s green stems look like the shape of the wooden bamboos.
That said, they’re very beautiful to look at.
And, they bring you good luck and fortune. At least If you believe the cultural traditions.
Lucky bamboo like bright light to grow at their best. Low light conditions will slow their growth, but they’ll be able to adjust to them.
Because they’re in water, all you need to do is change the water every few months.
Spider Plant
This is a particular houseplant that’s well know for its stunning leaves.
The bright, whit stripe that goes across the slim, curving green foliage is what makes it stand out.
It’s shape is likewise eye-catching because of the way it spreads outward and down.
This makes it very attractive to look at.
As for care, you’ll be happy to know that the plant is just as tough as its name. It adapts well to different conditions.
Although, if you can place it in location where it gets bright light for the best growth.
Prayer Plant
Prayer plants are well-known for the beauty of their foliage.
Their unique variegation makes them very attractive. Although, certain colors are more showy than others.
So, it’s a good idea to decide which species best matches the interior of your home.
Unlike many of the plants on this list, the prayer plant needs a little bit more monitoring. At least when it comes to watering.
It enjoys soil that’s constantly moist. As such, you’ll want to water it before the soil dries up.
Aloe
Aloe plants are a group of evergreen perennials. The most popular of which is the aloe vera, which is commonly used for skin treatment and care.
These plants are very closely related to cacti. They have the same thick, fleshy skin and spikes around their leaves.
But, they do differ in the shape of their foliage.
Aloe plants have longer, sharper leaves.
That said, much like the cactus, they like basking under the light. So, it’s a good idea to position them right under the window.
You also don’t want to get them too wet. In fact, they don’t need a lot of water to survive.
Pothos
The pothos is also known as the Devil’s ivy.
This plant is very different from the others on the list because it’s a vine.
As such, it climbs and trails.
This means its ideal to place them in wide containers or hanging baskets.
These conditions allow them to grow out of the pot or basket and dangle outwards.
That’s when they look their best.
However, like the others, it’s very easy to grow, making it a great option for beginners.
Cast Iron Plant
The cast iron plant is appropriately named for its toughness.
It can take a lot of abuse and neglect that most plants can’t.
But, like all plants, they do have their preferences. So, providing them with these conditions allow them to grow at their best.
For one, they like partial sun to partial shade. They don’t like direct sunlight.
Temperatures between 60-80 degrees give them the best results as well.
And, they enjoy moist, well-drained soil.
Due to their size, they often need to be placed in containers on the floor. As such, it’s a good thing they’re not toxic to pets.
Peace Lily
If you’re looking for a plant whose foliage is just as attractive as its flower, the peace lily is worth a look.
It’s dark green leaves complement its lovely white blossom to make it among the most beautiful looking houseplants around.
But, it doesn’t stop there.
People also love it because it’s very easy to tend to. It isn’t fussy about lighting conditions, being able to tolerate moderate amount of light.
And, it doesn’t require a lot of watering as well.
Succulents
Succulents are a group of plants that have thick, fleshy leaves.
That’s because they store water in their leaves.
This is a feature that it has adapted to because of its origins.
As such, succulents are perfect houseplants if you don’t want the hassle of watering your plants too often.
They’re likewise very beautiful to look at which makes them among the most popular, small plants to grow indoors.
Among the most well-known succulents include cacti, burro’s tail, crown of thorns and echeveria.
Rubber Plant
Rubber plants are trees. As such, they’re bigger than many of the others in this list.
But, they’re a good choice if you want to add a floor plant that looks attractive as well
Rubber plants are often grow to between 6 to 10 feet tall.
But, you can grown them in small plants if you want to restrict their growth.
This lets you control how big they get. At least to a degree.
Known for its lovely leaves, these trees enjoy bright, indirect sunlight. This prevents their leaves from burning when the sun gets too hot.
Conclusion
Hopefully, going through the list above makes you more confident about being able to start your own indoor garden.
Even if it’s just one plant.
Choose one from the many above and try them out.
I’m sure you’ll realize that they’ll make it easy for you to take care of plants at home.
Which one do you like the most?
Related Posts
17 Best Large Indoor Plants to Beautify Your Home
17 Best Plants to Repel Mosquitoes
19 Best Smelling Plants to Keep Your Home & Garden Fragrant All The Time
21 Best Plants for Container Gardening
21 Best Shade Loving Plants for Your Garden and Home
25 Best Small Plants for Indoor Spaces, Apartments and Homes
