Houseplants That Even YOU Can’t Kill
For years I considered myself to have one of the biggest black thumbs. I would be gifted flowers or a small plant and no matter what I did, they were dead by the end of the week. It didn't matter if I left them alone, watered as instructed, or added plant food - I was cursed. My mom and sister were the same way, but my grandma always had beautiful indoor plants and a tended garden, so it couldn't have been "in my dna" as they say. As I started decorating my dorm, my own space, I found myself drawn to plants and the calming effect they seemed to add to a room. I really wanted to try to turn my "cursed" thumb around! So, I started with the plant that is supposed to be indestructible, a succulent. Sad to say that little guy lasted maybe a month (a record at the time!) and I swapped it out for many fake ones. It wasn't until quarantine began that I decided to give being a plant mama another try, but this time steering clear of succulents and taking time to learn. Like many people, I needed a new hobby to occupy my time and taking care of plants seemed like the perfect solution!
Months later, and I am proud to say that I now have 20 thriving houseplants! I started easy but I quickly grew in love with caring for my plants, watching them grow, and learning all about the different types and their needs. Why have so many? They make me happy, it’s fun to care for something, they add beautiful color, and they're great for your health!
Studies have shown that having indoor plants throughout your space can contribute to better air quality, reduce stress, increase productivity, and are therapeutic to care for. They help our overall wellbeing so much! We all have an innate need to connect with nature and other life forms. Ironically the average American spends about 90% of their time indoors - going against our human nature and often creating low mood, unease, etc. Think about it, how much time do you spend sitting in class or at work and the moment you get outside, get some fresh air, you start to be in a better mood? By having plants within our space we are constantly reminded of this calming effect of nature. We get a sense of tranquility and create a nice environment to be in.
Don’t let the fear of killing a plant keep you from trying to care for one, it kept me back for a while! I’ve created a list of plants that are PERFECT for beginners, even people with a "black thumb." These plants are low-maintenance and don't require much attention but still benefit your space!
A few things to keep in mind:
Start slow as you develop your green thumb. It's really easy to get it in your head that you're going to start with multiple plants and turn your home into a mini-jungle (I've been there). But if you haven't successfully cared for plants before, it's a good idea to start with one, maybe a smaller plant, and work with that for a bit until you become more confident.
The location of the plant should be based on its needs. When I first started looking for "beginner friendly" plants, I was looking at the spaces in my home that seemed empty and needed some color. I then just went to the nursery to get a plant that would look good - not one that was practical. It's fine to have a location in mind, but you need to make sure that your plant is a good fit. What I mean by that is, each plant has different light requirements. If you want to fill a space that has little to no light, but the plant you get needs direct light, don't put it in the space with no light for "aesthetics," you'll kill your plant. When buying a new plant, just be mindful of the lighting in your space and what plants can be supported with those conditions.
Learn to read the soil. Luckily, when you get new plants, they usually come with tags that show the recommended watering frequency. When I first started caring for my plants, I looked up what kind of light they needed and how often to water just to help get the ball rolling, but now I just look at the soil and water as needed! A good rule of thumb for most plants is to wait until the first inch of soil is dry or cracked before watering. Some plants, like succulents, don't need to be watered as often and can go for a couple of weeks. I typically water my plants every Sunday and some of my plants may need a little more throughout the week!
Keep in the nursery container. I'm guilty of putting my new plants in painted white pots as soon as I get them because they "look better" but it's actually best to leave your new babies in the pots they come in. You can put the plastic container into a new pot, but taking it out and repotting it can cause added stress to the plant. If you really want it to grow and adjust to new surroundings, let the plastic pot be!
Beginner Friendly Plants:
Snake Plant
The snake plant is one of my favorites because it's extremely low maintenance and is so pretty. Each leaf is designed with an irregular pattern so the whole plant really stands out. I love that it's also called the "mother in-law's tongue" because the leaves are sharp like a dagger. This one is great for air purifying! It prefers low light environments so it can be placed in rooms with very few windows or limited sunlight. It also doesn't need much watering, you do can do it every 2-3 weeks or once a month in the winter!
Learn more about how to care for your snake plant here.
Pothos
This plant was my very first plant baby and now I have multiple. They're so easy to care for, grow really quickly, and are beautiful vines! I love placing these in hanging baskets or on shelves because as it grows, gravity pulls on the leaves which help create the long vines. They're also really easy to propagate - just clip the stems when they get too long, transfer to a glass of water and let the roots grow. Once they grow a couple of inches you can transfer them to soil and you have ANOTHER pothos! These thrive in both low and moderate light and typically like to be watered once a week (when the top inch of soil is dry).
Learn more about how to care for your pothos here.
Philodendron
The philodendron is very similar to the pothos in both appearance and care. This one is also great for shelves or higher spaces because the leaves will fall and have a drape effect - SO pretty! It's one of the easiest plants to take care of and it grows so quickly. It can be placed in low or medium light, but will tend to grow faster in rooms with windows and indirect sun. These also should be watered when the top inch of soil is dry.
Learn more about how to care for your philodendron here.
ZZ plant
The ZZ plant is great because it loves all sorts of light (except direct sun) but also is ideal for low-light environments like a windowless room. It's tough and can survive months without watering so it's a good choice for those who are EXTREMELY new to plant care. They prefer the soil to be completely dried out, so it's best to water usually every 2 weeks.
Learn more about how to care for your ZZ plant here.
Hoya
Not only does this beauty have a fun name but it's little vines and bubble shaped leaves are so unique! Regardless of environment, these are slower to grow compared to some of the others mentioned above but are just as easy to care for. They do really well in medium to bright indirect light, so place in a room with a window or two! For watering, wait until the soil is completely dry and the leaves aren't as plump. Hoya's are air purifying and are non-toxic to pets (always check before you buy and plant.. just in case).
Learn more about how to care for your hoya here.
I hope this list gave you some ideas on where to start on your plant parent journey! If you have any questions about how to care for your plants, reach out to me - I'd love to hear from you! Let me know, do you have naturally have a green thumb or do you need to work on it?