Did you know that having plants in your home can improve air quality, help reduce stress, and keep you focused?
We've identified 10 of the best types of low-maintenance house plants PLUS how to care for them!
Whether you're an advanced or novice gardener, these plants are perfect for creating a calm environment and bringing a little bit of nature inside.
1. Monstera Deliciosa
The Monstera Deliciosa is a plant from the Araceae family and is native to Southern Mexico's tropical forests. It's name is derived from Latin and means 'abnormal'.
How to care for Monstera: Keep the soil moderately damp but do not leave the roots standing in water.
Where to put Monstera: A light spot but not direct sunlight or where it can feel a draft.
Photo credit: Sara, https://indoorgardenook.com/monstera-borsigiana-ultimate-care-guide/
2. Epipremnum Aureum (Devil's Ivy)
Devil's Ivy is a tropical plant from the Araceae family and grows in south-east Asia, Indonesia and on the Solomon Islands. It's name comes from the Greek epi meaning 'upon' and premnon meaning 'a trunk' in reference to its growing on tree trunks.
How to care for Devil's Ivy: Water moderately and evenly, about once a week. Wait until the soil is fairly dry before watering again.
Where to put Devil's Ivy: A lot of space is required for Monstera to be healthy. Find a statement-making spot that is a balance between sun and shade.
3. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is a succulent species from the Aloe family. It originates from the Arabian Peninsula but grows wild in tropical and semi-tropical climates around the world. It's name is derived from the Arabic word Alloeh meaning 'shining bitter substance', while vera in Latin means 'true'.
How to care for Aloe: Water approximately every 3 weeks and even more sparingly during the winter
Where to put Aloe: On a window sill or in a bright spot near a window, but avoiding direct sunlight.
*Please note: The gel from aloe vera leaves can be used topically, but should not be ingested by people or pets.
4. Bromeliads
Bromeliads are flowering plants from the Poales family. They range from Chile and Argentina in South America, through Cental America and the Caribbean, and reach their northern limit near the state of Virginia. Their genus name is Bromelia after the Swedish botanist, Olaf Bromelius.
How to care for Bromeliads: Don't allow your bromeliad to sit in water. Water every 4-5 weeks in the winter and every 3-4 weeks in the summer, allowing adequate drainage.
Where to put Bromeliads: Provide your bromeliad with bright light and indirect sun exposure.
5. Crassula Ovata (Jade)
Jade is a succulent species from the Crassulacaea family. It is native to the KwaZulu-Natal province and Eastern Cape of South Africa and Mozambique. It's genus name is derived from the Latin words Crassula meaning 'thick', and 'Ovata' referring to the round shape of the leaves.
How to care for Jade: Water when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry and make sure to prune dead or shriveled branches.
Where to put Jade: Jades grow best when they receive 4+ hours of direct sunlight every day. In the winter months, make sure your Jade foliage doesn't touch windowpanes and is safe from drafts.
6. Chlorophytum Comosum (Spider Plant)
The Spider Plant is a flowering plant from the Asparagaceae family and is native to coastal areas of South Africa. It's name is derived from the Greek words chloros meaning 'yellow-green', phyton meaning 'plant', and coma meaning a tuft of hairs, and relates to the arrangement of the foliage.
How to care for Spider Plants: Water them well but do not allow the plant to become too soggy. Allow the soil to dry out a bit between waterings.
Where to put Spider Plants: Put your plant in a spot that allows it to have a mix of bright light and semi-shade/partial-direct sun.
7. Cacti
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae and are native to the Americas, ranging from Patagonia in the south to parts of western Canada in the north. The word cactus derives (through Latin) from the Ancient Greek kaktos, a name originally used by Theophrastus for a spiny plant whose identity is not certain.
How to care for cacti: Water your cactus weekly, allowing for adequate drainage. If your container has no drainage holes, water sparingly to moisten the soil. Allow soil to dry between waterings.
Where to put cacti: Place cactus in a brightly lit south-facing window.
8. Aspidistra (Cast Iron)
The Cast Iron plant is a flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae and is native to eastern and southeastern Asia, particularly China and Vietnam. The name originates from the ancient Greek word aspidion meaning 'shield'.
How to care for Cast Iron: Keep soil continuously moist throughout Spring and Summer, and reduce watering in the Winter.
Where to put Cast Iron: Place in semi-shade to bright area but keep your plant out of direct sun.
9. Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe is a flowering succulent plant of the Crassulaceae family and are native to Madagascar and tropical Africa. The name is derived from the Chinese word Kalan Chau, which means 'that which falls and grows'.
How to care for Kalanchoe: Keep soil continuously moist throughout Spring and Summer, and reduce watering in the Winter.
Where to put Kalanchoe: Water your kalanchoe when the soil feels dry, but avoid wetting the leaves. Allow some time between waterings as too much moisture is bad for the roots.
10. Tillandsia (Air Plants)
Air plants are a member of the Bromeliacaea family and are known as epiphytes; which means 'plants that grow without dirt'. Their genus was named by Carl Linnaeus after the Swedish physician and botanist, Dr. Elias Tillandz. Typically, air plants attach themselves to rocks, trees, or shrubs and are native to the southern United Sates, Mexico, Central America, and South America.
How to care for air plants: If the air inside your home is dryer, submerge the plant in water for 2-3 hours approximately every two weeks. If your house is shaded and typically cooler, mist the plants once or twice per week in the Summer, and once per month in the Winter.
Where to put air plants: Give them bright, filtered light and protect them from frost or drafts.
