Houseplants for Beginners
Like a small child squeezing a deeply uncomfortable cat, I love plants a little too much. I keep letting them hurt me over and over. Overwatering, underwatering, too much sun, not enough sun, I’ve subjected my bbs to it all. Despite the advice of horticulturists the world over, I have discovered that some so-called “picky” plants can be easier to keep alive than “easy” plants, because their needs are more obvious.
I’m somewhere past a beginner when it comes to plants, but I am certainly no expert. I live in a dry, high-altitude climate, keep an erratic watering schedule, and my home is filled with mostly medium, indirect light (with bright, indirect light in a few rooms). Here are the plants I can confidently recommend to other beginners.
Easiest Houseplants for Beginners
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Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)
Confession: I did kill my Chinese money plant when I forgot to water it before a vacation. But it was very, very small, and it had been growing beautifully before then! Chinese money plants are pretty tolerant to various light conditions (though brighter is better) and they’re harder to overwater than some other plants on this list. They’re so kooky looking, with their leaves like perfect green coins, that they add charm to any room.
Also called: UFO Plant, Pancake Plant
My corn plant and my rosemary plant
Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans)
Not to be confused with actual, ya know, corn, corn plants are beautiful variegated beauties that grow up and out. My corn plant struggled for life in my previously very dim space but never drooped, wilted, or looked otherwise sickly. It just lost a bit of variegation and the bottom leaves are darker. In the my south-facing laundry room, however - kapow! My corn plant has been very tolerant to both under- and over-watering and with enough light it thrives. Note: the big version of these beauties looks like a stunning, perfectly straight palm tree.
Also called: Dragon Tree
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Oxalis (Oxalis triangularis)
I bought my Oxalis on a whim for 99 c after St. Patrick’s day 2 years ago, and to my surprise, she’s still strong and kicking! Oxalis like lots of water, but take a while to die, which is GREAT for beginners. They tolerate overwatering well, and let you know when they’re too dry by folding up like little umbrellas. My oxalis did surprisingly well in very, very low light, but it explodes with white and purple flowers 2x per year in bright indirect light.
Also called: Wood sorrel, False shamrock
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Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
I’ll be honest - I’ve had a few false starts with this plant. They’re a little picky about light levels, and they don’t tolerate overwatering very well (see: child-squeezing-a-cat). My neon pothos have all been dismal failures, but my golden pothos on the other hand, have heartily indulged in the “where there’s a will there’s a way” mentality. Pothos love east-facing windows. With patience and paying attention, they grow into true show-stoppers.
Also called: Devil’s Ivy, Hunter’s Rove
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Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
Snake plants might be literally impossible to kill. In the apocalypse, there will be only cockroaches and snake plants. They need so little water they might as well be fake plants. They can tolerate literally any light conditions. I have never killed or even harmed one. A big snake plant can be spendy, because they grow veeeeeeeery slowly, but it’s worth it as their tall, sharp leaves are real showstoppers.
Also called: Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, St. George’s Sword
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Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
My spider plant is very special to me, as it’s a cutting from a plant tended by my great-grandmother since the 1950s. My spider plant is another one that I occasionally forget about, but it’s still kicking. Despite their spiky leaves, spider plants are actually quite delicate in feel, but not in character. I have yet to nail down what spider plants like - how much water? How much sun? Regardless of my tinkering, my spider plant keeps puttering along merrily. I’ll know I’ve gotten it right when my spider plant starts sprouting little mini spider plants at the end of its leaves.
Also called: Airplane plant
Houseplant Tools for Beginners
If you’ve ever been overwhelmed at the garden section of a hardware store, you know there’s a loooooot out there. It can be hard to pick from the myriad options available. But you don’t need a zillion dollars to get started tending your plant bbs. These are the cost-effective, and just plain effective, things I recommend.
TOMAT Spray Bottle (IKEA) $1.99 - This bad boy is only $2 and yet it is wildly better than spray bottles I have paid $20 for. They’re great for spritzing your plants with a little TLC.
Miracle Gro Plant Food Spikes $3.49 - Accept no imitations - these are the best way for beginners to fertilize indoor plants.
Room Essentials Plastic Plate (Target) $0.50 - You could spend $3.49 on a single, very flimsy plant tray (it catches overflow from watering so your plants roots don’t rot). Or you could spend 50c for a thicker, larger, more durable plastic plate. The same brand has a set of 6 smaller plates for $3.
There are a few plants that crop up on “easy care” lists all the time that I have unceremoniously butchered more than once (peace lily) and other finicky plants that, as of this writing, are going strong (monstera). The only true way to know is to dip your tool into the chlorophyllic pool. Trust me, you’ll love it here. 🌱
