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If you’re looking for a list of truly low-maintenance houseplants, you’ve found it!
If a houseplant’s care instructions include that the soil must remain moist, it’s not among the group of low-maintenance houseplants. If it requires a certain temperature or humidity level to thrive, it isn’t low maintenance.
You won’t find the divas of the plant world on this list of houseplants. Read on to learn which plants are easiest to live with.
Aloe — one of the lowest maintenance houseplants around
Looks like a cactus, doesn’t it? Aloe (Aloe vera) is, in fact, a succulent and a relative of asparagus.
The best part of growing aloe indoors is how little water it requires, leaving you free to tend to your more-picky plants. Allow the soil to dry to about 2 inches deep before going near it with the watering can.
Other than that, give it bright, indirect light and your aloe will love you.
Cast iron plant
The nickname for this plant says it all. The cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) is sturdy, reliable and, although you can’t cook on it, it serves up a cool vibe in the home.
Low light? Check. Forgot to water it and it’s not all diva-ish? Check. Garbage soil? Check. Never too hot or too cold, this is one chill plant.
Don’t hover over your cast iron plant – leave that for the divas.
Chinese evergreen
The Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum) is another plant that dislikes wet roots. Other than temperatures cooler than 59 degrees Fahrenheit (isn’t happy with that), this plant is a leave-it-and-forget-it winner. It especially thrives in indirect or diffuse sunlight.
If the pests come marching in (it happens), learn how to get rid of pests on the Chinese evergreen.
This one is toxic (as are some of the others) so keep it out of the reach of children and pets.
Corn plant
When you understand that dracaena is related to agave, you’ll realize that it’s a true low-maintenance houseplant.
The genus includes about 40 species, the most popular include D. fragrans, D. marginata, D. sanderiana (popularly known as lucky bamboo) and D. daraemensis.
The latter is particularly easy to grow. In fact, it thrives on neglect. Place it in a corner, water when you remember and it won’t die.
Sure, you can spoil it and water weekly with non-flouridated water and fertilize monthly during the growing season and it will do even better.
Learn how to fertilize your corn plant in our post “How and When to Fertilize the Corn Plant.”
Peace lily
Have a somewhat shady corner that needs a shot of life? Place a peace lily (Spathiphyllum cochlearispathum) there and wait for it to send you flowers.
We have one in our living room, about 8 feet from the nearest window, and it’s a monster and still growing. And it is truly a low-maintenance houseplant.
Here’s the best part: water only when the peace lily asks you to; the leaves will wilt when it’s thirsty.
When you do water, put it in the bathtub or sink and allow water from the faucet to slowly run through it. Even when water comes out of the bottom of the pot, give it a bit more just to ensure the root ball is completely saturated.
Learn how to germinate peace lily seeds here.
Ponytail palm
I don’t know why, but I love the scientific name for the ponytail palm — Beaucarnea recurvata. Rather sexy, isn’t it?
It belies, however, the somewhat odd appearance of this plant.
First, you need to know that it isn’t a true palm – not even related in fact. Instead, it’s related to asparagus.
That big bulge near the soil is called a caudex and its purpose is to store water. Ah, you say, another one I don’t need to remember to water.
It does require one thing: well-draining soil. So, about a week or two after you get it home from the nursery, repot into cactus mix with lots of perlite, water it, place it in its spot and forget about it.
When friends ask what kind of plant it is (and they will) tell them and casually add that it received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
Get more tips on how to grow a ponytail palm.
Snake plant
Since I’m a mother-in-law who adores her SIL and he me (I hope!) I cringe when I hear this plant’s nickname: “Mother-in-law’s tongue.”
You may know the snake plant by the scientific name Sansevieria trifasciata but that, my friend is SO 2017.
It’s now in the Dracaena genus, and known as Dracaena trifasciata.
Now that we have the introductions out of the way, let’s dive into just how low-maintenance this plant is.
Not only do they add mucho interest to your interior, but they’re not thirsty. Hardly ever.
Give them a drink every month or so, put it in a shadowy corner and it will look lovely. Give it a lighter spot (no direct sun) and it will grow quicker.
By the way, if you want a new snake plant, snip a leaf and stick it in soil. It’s a slow process, but you’ll get a new one.
Find out more about how to care for a snake plant.
Spider plant
Read anything about the spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) and you’ll most like hear the word “tough” or the phrase “thrives on neglect.”
Provide it with bright light, average temperatures and water only when the top inch of soil is dry and your spidey will pay you back with tons of pups. Snip them off and pass them on to your friends!
Keep in mind that this plant is sensitive to fluoridated water. Use rain or distilled water to keep those thin leaves from browning. Learn about other plants that share this sensitivity in our post “Which Houseplants are Sensitive to Fluoride?”
Spineless yucca
So, you’re searching for a low-maintenance houseplant for that sunny spot near the window? Grow spineless yucca (Yucca elephantipes)
Pot it up in a deep pot with cactus mix. The deeper the pot, the less chance it will have of tipping over.
Overwatering will kill your yucca so hold off until the soil is dry when you stick your finger into it. Typically, when it’s getting lots of sunlight and the temperatures are warm, watering once a week is sufficient.
ZZ plant
This one is native to Africa, where it grows under the canopies of tall trees. Provide the ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) with similar lighting in the home, and never overwater it and you’ll have one happy, indestructible and low maintenance house plant.
Note:
As with all houseplants, even the low-maintenance houseplants need a bit of babying when you first bring them home. Resist the urge to repot and/or fertilize for at least three to four weeks.
Both processes cause stress and right now, your plant doesn’t need stress. Then, ensure that the soil never dries completely while it’s acclimating. Be careful not to overwater, however.
Some houseplants are toxic to pets so check your choices against our Pet-Safe Houseplants list.
And, by the way — that stuff about houseplants cleaning the air inside our homes? Not true. Learn more about how the media and growers misinterpreted the NASA tests, here.
What I’m wondering is how people selling these plants and calling them “clean air” plants aren’t getting popped for false advertising.
