Welcome to one of my favorite topics. PLANTS!!! I started keeping indoor plants in my home around five to six years ago. They make a home seem soooooo alive and fresh. Not to mention, they are a huge topic for conversation anytime a guest is in my house (especially now that they take over half of the space in my humble abode.)
My first plant (Lucky Bamboo) was a gift from my grandma and I still have it to this day! From that point on, it has become a hobby of mine and it brings me a sense of peace to be able to care for all of them. Although the plant my gram bought did not make the list of easiest plants, there are five plants that REALLY stand out for a beginner plant connoisseur.
1. Snake Plant (Sansevieria or Dracaena Trifasciata)
This plant is SO flippin’ resilient, it blows my mind. Besides the bamboo plant that my gram bought, this was one of the first few plants I tried my hand at. Let me tell ya, they thrive on neglect. They can grow really tall (as tall as me at 5’3”) or stay smaller depending on the container you put them in. While they thrive in bright, indirect light, they can also get by in a duller corner of a room. This does not mean that they can live in a room without windows. It is near impossible for a plant to survive in those conditions unless there is a grow light.
Snake plants are also drought tolerant. HOORAY! There were definitely times in the beginning of my plant era where I completely forgot about watering my plants (whoops!). It happens. I lost a couple plants by letting them go a touch too long without water, but this plant has a mind of its own. It never lost its bounce or glow and even flowered for me!
2. Pothos (Epipremnum Aureum)
Have you ever been somewhere and seen a gorgeous, vining plant? Odds are that it was a pothos. This is one of my absolute favorites and I will tell you why. They aren’t super finicky on watering. I usually just keep an eye out to see if the soil is dry and I water when needed. However, I have forgotten about mine several times and they always seem to bounce back (even after looking like they were wilted and dead). They also LOVE bright lighting as it helps them retain their color.
They can chop and prop very easily (meaning you can make a ton of new baby plants). I have chopped several of my pothos before and they grow roots within a week! WE LOVE THAT. Not to mention that there are SO MANY varieties of them. My current favorite is my Silver Satin Pothos because she shimmers and shines in the sunlight! Her nickname is Edward Cullen because… THIS IS THE SKIN OF A KILLER BELLA… and she sparkles.
3. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia)
My second plant was a ZZ and she has been with me since the beginning. These remind me so much of Snake Plants, not in looks, but because of their care characteristics. ZZ plants can do well in low lit areas just like and are drought tolerant too! It’s actually quite fun to see, but if you ever repot a ZZ, you will see that their roots look like potatoes. LOL. This is so they can retain water for longer and not look like they are suffering. These babes are not a fan of excess moisture and overwatering can cause them to rot. WHICH IS WHYYYY they are the perfect plant to forget about! WOOHOO!
4. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum)
Spider plants are an oldie but a goodie for me! My mom actually used to have these in our big A-frame windows when I was growing up and they ALWAYS looked luscious. They like their soil slightly moist on a regular basis and love bright, indirect light. In the past, I have had issues with the moisture in the soil causing root rot, but I also didn’t have them in a well-draining pot (my bad)! The reason I still think these are easy is because they seem to produce mini spider plants whether they are happy or not. So, if you accidentally kill one, you most likely have 10 babies to plant in its place!
5. Philodendron (Araceae Family)
Ugh. These plants have my heart and soul. I have a slight obsession with them. OKAY. It is a massive obsession. They love well-draining soil and bright, indirect light! These plants are sensitive to overwatering but they have amazing features that make up for them being a little touchy on the water.
THERE ARE SO MANY VARIETIES. When I tell you that it feels like the possibilities are endless, it’s probably because they are. I have plants that are philodendrons that look NOTHING alike and it’s incredible. Some are multicolored, some solid, some sparkly, and some that vine. It blows my mind with the versatility of this plant. I have only ever had good luck with philodendrons and recommend them solely for the reason of variety!
Overall, indoor plants are relatively easy to take care of. Make sure you know what you are buying, as a lot of chain stores list them as “Assorted Indoor Plant” or “Plant Foliage”. So silly. Don’t be afraid to look up the proper care or ask questions! There’s most likely an actual plant store near you (not Lowes or Home Depot) and trust me, they LOVE helping others and beginners care for plants! HAPPY PLANTING!
With Love,
Talia