Adding some greenery to your living space is a simple and affordable way to liven things up a bit. But if you seem to be lacking in the green thumb department, you may be reluctant to spend time and money at the garden center.
Luckily, not all plants require careful attention. We've compiled a list of houseplants that just about anyone — even you! — can care for with even the bare minimum of attention.
The descriptive name "cast iron" is no exaggeration for this plant that can survive through just about anything. Cast iron plants are perfect houseplants for busy people or people with inconsistent schedules, as it can survive long periods of time without water and sunlight. However, it grows best indoors, with plenty of water away from direct sunlight.
The long, creeping vines of the hoya plant make for a beautiful addition to shelves and windowsills that receive plenty of indirect sunlight. The hoya really dislikes being overwatered and is a great plant for you if you're likely to only remember to water it once every several weeks. It will grow best in a brighter area of your home, as long as direct sunlight doesn't burn the leaves.
If your home lacks a good supply of sunlight, the parlor palm may be the perfect houseplant for you. The slow-growing plant grows best in low light (with a few hours of indirect sunlight daily) but will likely survive just fine with no sunlight at all.
Parlor palms are sensitive to sunburn if they're placed in direct sunlight, so they're better suited for only shady areas. Like the hoya plant, parlor palms will have no problem with long periods of time between waterings.
Asparagus ferns are fun, bright green perennials that are simple houseplants to care for. Asparagus ferns grow best indoors in warmer temperatures and indirect sunlight. While this plant does not need frequent watering, it does thrive in more humid climates.
If you live somewhere with a drier climate or your asparagus fern suffers from winter heating, misting the plant with water daily can help.
Considered a very adaptable houseplant, the spider plant is truly one that just about anyone can keep alive.
This interesting-looking houseplant flourishes in bright, indirect sunlight and well-draining soil. Spider plants do well when allowed time to dry out slightly between waterings and thrive in cooler temperatures.
A quintessential houseplant variety, pothos is truly an easy-to-care-for plant. Pothos is also very adaptable and does well in bright, indirect sunlight and shadier environments. If you're likely to never remember to pick up plant fertilizer, pothos is the plant for you, as it can survive healthily even in very nutrient-poor soil.
Just be careful to not place this plant in direct sunlight as it will sunburn. It's also a great plant for people who travel often or aren't home a lot, as it does fine with periods of no water.
This list is only a starting point for aspirational hands-off home gardeners. There are countless varieties of plants that will survive just fine with little care.
Doing some research online and talking to employees at your local garden center can help you choose plants that best fit in with your lifestyle. Happy gardening!
Lauren Maier entered the world of freelancing shortly after graduating from Florida State University with a degree in Editing, Writing, & Media in May 2018. Originally hailing from Fort Lauderdale, Lauren recently moved to Atlanta where she works in content creation and enjoys all the city has to offer in her spare time.