Easy Houseplants for Beginner Plant Parents

Houseplants are amazing. A new generation of “plant parents” have now discovered the joy of growing plants indoors, and are enjoying their many benefits! Plants can soften a room and bring it to life, increasing oxygen levels, and helping to purify the air in our homes. Having plants indoors helps to uplift mood, and having houseplants present has even been shown to increase productivity in work spaces. With so many reasons to add plants to a home, there’s really only one barrier… having the skill and confidence to keep them alive! Whether you’re new to plant parenthood or just short on time, we’ve got you covered. Get comfortable with the basics of plant care, and try these EASY houseplants for beginners. You’ll be a houseplant pro before you know it!

Snake Plant

Sansevieria, or Snake Plant, is the ultimate easy care plant! This tough tropical is beautiful and easy to grow, with broad, upright foliage in varying shades of green and cream. It’s adaptable to various light conditions, but prefers bright, indirect light. Snake Plant wants to dry completely between waterings, making it ideal for those of us who forget to water regularly. In most situations, snake plants will prefer to be watered very sparingly, as little as just once every 6 weeks. In addition to being attractive and low maintenance, Snake Plants are also powerful air purifiers!

Spider Plant

A perfect houseplant for beginners, kids, and homes with pets! This charming plant is easy to grow, safe for pets, and helps to purify the air in your home. Spider Plant is best grown in bright, indirect light, and should dry somewhat between waterings, making it forgiving for newbies. The strappy, striped foliage of this plant is striking as a hanging plant. Try displaying in a plant hanger, or up high on a shelf where the cascading strings of baby “spiders” can be seen and enjoyed.

ZZ Plant

Zamioculcas zamiifolia, or the ZZ Plant, is easy to grow and offers many benefits. The stems of the plant are upright, with distinctive waxy leaves. It has very glossy foliage that varies in pretty shades of green. New growth is bright green, and very gratifying to watch as it emerges and unfurls. This tough plant can be grown in many conditions, including lower light! Add ZZ plant to almost any room to enhance air quality, and enjoy it’s unique appearance.

Peace Lily

The Peace Lily (or Spathiphyllum) is a beautiful, tropical plant that’s easy to grow at home. Its’ large, arching leaves are shiny and attractive. As a bonus, this plant will occasionally produce tall, white blooms that are mildly fragrant! Peace lily is one of the most recommended indoor plants to improve air quality. There may not be another houseplant that is as forgiving as the Peace Lily, and it certainly helps a new plant parent to get the hang of watering. When too dry, the plant will dramatically wilt, crying out for attention! When watered, the leaves lift back up into place as though nothing happened.

Pothos

The perfect houseplant for beginners? It’s Pothos vine! This hardy indoor plant features dark green leaves splashed and marbled in shades of yellow or cream, and can either cascade or climb with support. Plant in a standard potting mix, and for vigorous growth, keep in bright, indirect light. Pothos will also tolerate lower light conditions, and prefers to dry between waterings. Different varieties of Pothos will offer a range of colours and leaf styles, from deep green, to bright yellow, and marbled in any combination in between.

Anthurium

The flowers of the Anthurium are some of the longest-lasting on earth, which means that dazzling color will last in your home for months. The Anthurium symbolizes hospitality with its open heart-shaped flower and inspires happiness and abundance. To keep an Anthurium happy indoors, be sure it’s planted in a fast-draining potting mix, and allow it to dry between waterings.

Dracaena (of all kinds!)

Dracaena are a large family of tropical plants, and they’re among the most popular houseplants in the world! Find them in sizes from little desktop-friendly varieties like ‘Janet Craig’, or tall trees that you may remember growing in your grandmother’s living room. Place Dracaena in an area with bright light and try to occasionally water it – this plant will forgive you if you forget.

Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)

Named for it’s shiny, almost-too-good-to-be-real leaves, the Rubber Plant (or Ficus elastica) just might be the perfect houseplant. It’s bold and dramatic, making a statement in any space, and it’s only real requirement is plenty of bright light. So set it in a window, give it some water and plant food now and then, and enjoy the tropical vibes this beautiful plant brings to your life.

Orchids

Intimidated by Orchids? You’re not alone. But the reality is that Orchids are among the easiest plants to enjoy indoors! They’re beautiful, they’re pet-friendly, and their incredible blooms can last for MONTHS with proper care. Give them bright, indirect light and soak the bark once every 7-10 days… that’s really all they need! Read more detailed care information about Orchids here, in our guide, How to Grow Orchids at Home. All of the Orchids you’ll find at TERRA are locally grown at CosMic Plants in Beamsville, Ontario.