Today, I am sharing with you a list of 5 house plants that are easy to care for, including instructions! Even if you don’t know the first thing about plant care, you will be able to start bringing plants home too since these are so low maintenance.
Friends will often reach out to me to ask for recommendations for easy to care for plants, especially if they don’t have a strong green thumb.
As a plant lover, I am always happy to give suggestions for those that want a little greenery in their life.
All references to temperature are in Fahrenheit.
The Pothos
Just about any list or article that features easy to care for plants will have the pothos listed, and there’s a reason why. The pothos is adaptable to different light, and it can even survive in places with little to no light. The pothos features a trailing vine and can be variegated in color.
Care
Soil: The pothos doesn’t require special soil, it just needs to be in a well draining pot so that water doesn’t collect and rot the roots. Look for pots with at least one, if not more, holes in the bottom so that excess water can drain out.
Sun: The pothos likes bright, indirect light the most. As previously mentioned, the pothos can still survive in minimal light conditions, but a variegated pothos can lose its color and revert to all green leaves if it doesn’t get enough sun.
Water: The pothos likes to have its soil dry out before watering. Overwatering your pothos will likely rot the roots and kill your plant. When the soil is dry, and the leaves start to slightly drop, it’s time to water your pothos! If you leave your pothos totally dried out for too long, you will likely lose some leaves.
Temps: Your pothos wants to be kept in places above 50 degrees. It’s ideal temp is between 65-75 degrees. The pothos loves high humidity, but it’s adaptable, and can do just fine even in low humidity environments.
The “ZZ” plant
The ZZ grows from stems and displays small, glossy leaves. The stems can grow quite high, up to 3 feet, as indoor plants.
Care
Soil: Most basic, well draining soil should be fine for your ZZ, but high amounts of perlite in the soil will help. You can look on the bag of soil to see if perlite is listed.
Sun: Like the pothos, your ZZ likes bright, indirect light. This plant can survive in low light conditions as well, but keep your ZZ out of direct sunlight.
Water: Wait until the top of your soil dries out before watering this plant. Your ZZ grows from rhizomes that are filled with water, which is good for dry climates, or new plant owners that may forget to water it from time to time. Do not over water your ZZ! Less is more!
Temp: No lower than 45 degrees, but 60-75 is this plant’s ideal temperature. The ZZ does not require any special humidity.
Peace Lily
I included the Peace Lily on this list for those of you that like a plant that shows you what it needs. They feature dark green leaves with white bracts. Some people mistake the bracts for flowers, but a bract is actually a specialized leaf. Not every Peace Lily will have the white bracts visible.
Care
Soil: Again, indoor potting mix is just fine for a Peace Lily. Make sure your pot has draining holes as the Peace Lily is susceptible to root rot.
Sun: This plant can thrive in low light environments, but getting some indirect sunlight can encourage growth of the white bracts. If you have a room that’s dark, or an office without a window, a Peace Lily could be a good plant for you!
Water: You guessed it- don’t overwater your Peace Lily! This plant will start to drop when it is ready to be watered, so it’s perfect if you need a visual of when it’s time. This plant is really resilient so even if you forget to water it for awhile, the Peace Lily can bounce back!
Temp: This plant loves temperatures between 65-80 degrees. It will be just fine in regular room humidity.
The Rubber Plant
The rubber plant is one of my personal favorites. Its leaves are large and rounded, and are deep green in color. The leaves are also very glossy and look quite sizable on its thin stems.
Care
Soil: A rubber plant likes well aerated soil as it does not like to sit in water. You could use a cactus soil mix as it is used for the same purpose.
Sun: The rubber plant thrives in bright, indirect light. Make sure you pay attention to your plant leaves. If they start to drop or lose their shine, your plant may need more sun.
Water: Watering your rubber plant depends on the season. In the hot, summer months your rubber plant should be watered regularly. When the top 2 inches of soil are dried out, it’s time to give your plant some water. If you notice your leaves are turning yellow or brown and falling off, you may be overwatering.
Temp: Rubber plants can survive in temperatures as low as 50 degrees, but they prefer 60-75. This is a plant that likes its humidity, but can survive in less humid environments. Lightly misting its leaves with water can help make your rubber plant happy.
A bonus tip for a rubber plant is gently wiping its leaves off from time to time. The large leaves collect dust easily, and this makes it more difficult for the sun to penetrate.
The Cactus
Cacti are such low maintenance plants that they had to earn the final spot on this list. They come in so many different shapes and sizes that really give each plant its own personality.
Care
Soil: The quickest way to kill a cactus is overwatering. Soil made specifically for cacti is best because it’s so aerated. You can also add rocks to the top of the soil to help water drain slowly. This is not required though.
Sun: Most cacti love bright light, but some cannot tolerate direct sun well. Bright, indirect light is the best bet for your cactus.
Water: I cannot stress this enough. Do not overwater your cactus. It will die. I tend to let my cacti soil dry out completely before watering again, and I always take a less is more approach.
Temp: Cacti love warm weather. They prefer 65-90 degrees, but can stay alive during the winter in as low as 45. Most cacti will be fine with the natural humidity inside your home.
That rounds out my top 5 plants that are low maintenance. You should have noticed that a common theme amongst all of them is not to overwater. Nothing kills plants faster than root rot, which is what happens when you drown your plant.
With these easy tips, everyone can have a happy plant!
Have a plant question? Drop it below!