A plant is a living being, and to thrive, it needs its own version of TLC—namely, water, light, and fertilizer. But even if you’re missing a green thumb, our guide to easy-to-maintain houseplants helps you create your own indoor jungle. To help you in your search, we researched the best indoor plants for your home, considering each plant based on its required amount of care, whether it flowers, and more. Our top pick is the Bloombox Club Dracaena ‘Limelight’, a beginner-friendly option that is easy to care for and adapts well to different environments and conditions. Ahead, our pick of the best indoor plants to add some greenery to your home. With a fountain of vibrant lime-hued leaves on a branchless stem, the Dracaena ‘Limelight’ is sometimes referred to as the corn plant, given its uncanny resemblance to the food as it grows. In the wild, it can grow nearly 50 feet tall, but don’t let that deter you: as a houseplant, it’s a slow-growing perennial that can extend to a little over 6 feet and stays happy with regular potting mix. Water this plant only when the soil is almost dry, as it does best when the soil is not soggy or overly moist. You can easily propagate a dracaena by taking a few cuttings from the plant and placing them in water until it develops roots. “This houseplant tolerates low light and can even adapt to fluorescent lighting if needed,” says Pangborn, but avoid placing it in direct sunlight. It’s a tough plant that requires little fussing around to flourish. Price at time of publish: $25 Keep the Silver Pothos away from drafty corners. Mist the plant occasionally, snip any dead leaves, and keep the soil moist, watering when around 2 inches of the top soil is dry. Keep it away from the direct sun, which can burn its leaves. To propagate a new plant, simply snip a few cuttings off and plant them in potting soil and water. While ordering from Soil & Clay, you can opt for a small or medium-sized grower pot. If it dies within two weeks, they will replace it for free. Price at time of publish: $42 What’s more, when you order from Bloomscape, it comes in a lovely 11.8 inches diameter ecopot with a detached drainage saucer. You can choose amongst five lovely earthy colors, namely Charcoal, Clay, Slate, Stone, and Indigo, that complement this heirloom plant. You can also order an optional wooden stand, keeping it out of reach of pets and toddlers. Price at time of publish: $149 Monstera Deliciosa needs space to spread out and thrive and does best in bright, indirect sunlight. Water this houseplant weekly when the soil is dry or if you see drooping leaves and stems. New plants can be grown from taking stem cuttings of the mature plant. The Léon & George Monstera is 2.5 feet high from the bottom of the pot, and you can opt for a mid-century or a nouvelle ceramic container. It is a pricey but delicious addition to your home. Price at time of publish: $329 for mid-century ceramic pot with dark wood stand To water the dwarf tree, as the name suggests, add six pieces of ice (3 tablespoons of water) once a week, enough to keep it well hydrated. These plants should be fertilized on a monthly basis and kept pruned to encourage new growth. We love that it comes in a simple 5-inch diameter ceramic white pot, making it the perfect gift. Price at time of publish: $34 It is perfect as a trailing plant or as a climber. Just place it on a mantle piece or a bookshelf and watch the vines tumble down. An extremely forgiving plant to neglect, it can be easily propagated with just a few snips. Place the cutting in water or damp soil, and voila! Soon enough, it will sprout roots, and you will have a brand-new plant baby. If nurtured properly, it can live for decades. Price at time of publish: $39 Easy to propagate, the new shoots or snake plant pups that cluster around the base of the main plant can be carefully separated and replanted. The snake plant is shipped in a plastic pot and comes with a wooden stand planter. Price at time of publish: $58 in plastic pot with wood stand planter The plant is ferried to you in a 6-inch container and is around 32 to 36 inches tall from the bottom of the pot. The cast-iron plant grows slowly. It thrives in summers and coasts through the winters, not succumbing to diseases or pests easily, making it an all-time brown-thumb favorite. Price at time of publish: $25 They thrive in bright indirect light, however, avoid direct sunshine as it will roast the leaves. The Peace Lily enjoys oodles of humidity. When the leaves start wilting, it needs watering. After a soak, it will perk up. This houseplant can easily be propagated by dividing it into separate plants and repotting. Leaf & Clay offers Peace Lily in a 4- or 6-inch plastic pot, a nifty addition to your home or office. Price at time of publish: $21 for 4 in pot Succulent Market, a third-generation owned cactus and succulent farm, delivers it in a 4-inch plastic grower’s pot from their greenhouse. While succulents have a reputation for being difficult to care for, remember that the Lace Aloe is a versatile plant that enjoys a shady, arid environment to look its best. Price at time of publish: $7
Water
A common mistake when caring for indoor plants is watering them too frequently, making the soil soggy and waterlogged. Pangborn says, “As a rule of thumb, indoor plants positioned in indirect or low light will need to be watered much less frequently than those in direct sunlight.” Also, during fall and winter, you need to adjust the schedule, watering less frequently, thanks to the shorter day length. “It’s important to know your specific plant’s watering preferences. For example, a snake plant prefers its soil volume to dry out completely between waterings,” she says.
Sun
Each plant has its own set of light requirements says Pangborn, with three main categories.
Direct sunlight: Direct sunlight is typically found close to the south- or west-facing windows without obstruction from trees, buildings, or window coverings. This means that sunlight is cast directly on the leaves of the plant for at least four hours per day. “A few plants that prefer this exposure include most cacti and succulents, along with bird of paradise, palms, and carnivorous plants,” says Pangborn.Indirect sunlight: Indirect sunlight is typically found close to east-facing windows or a few feet back from the south- or west-facing windows. Pangborn explains, “The plant may receive one to two hours of direct sunlight in the morning or late afternoon and spends most of the day in bright but indirect light.” Tropical plants such as philodendrons, monstera, prayer plants, and money trees prefer this exposure.Low light: “It’s a common misconception that there are plants that prefer low light—all plants require light in order to photosynthesize and thrive. However, there are some plants that can tolerate low light, like snake plants, ZZ plants, and dracaenas,” says Pangborn. Low-lit corners are generally towards a north-facing window or the center of a room. Plants placed here grow very slowly and need infrequent watering.
There are some plants that can be dangerous to kids and pets, especially if ingested. Other plants can cause rash or skin irritation simply from touching the leaves or sap. And, surprisingly, these plants don’t always come with a warning, so it’s best to do your own research before buying an indoor plant. Some varieties that parents and pet owners should avoid include Peace Lily, Oleander, Caladium, Poinsettia, and Mistletoe.
Flowering vs. Non-Flowering
Adding plants to your home looks and feels good. A flowering plant brings a dash of color to the sea of green. While some flowering plants require skillful managing, basic gardening skills will see African violets and peace lilies blooming. However, Johnston says it is not unusual for indoor plants to go dormant in the winter.
Sustainability
There are several steps you can take to ensure you are buying plants sustainably, such as buying from a local nursery. You can use cuttings to propagate plants and swap them with the community. Recycle plastic pots and opt for eco-friendly pots that contain recycled materials. Water plants as per their requirement, and you can also choose self-watering pots.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Neeti Mehra is a researcher and consultant and is committed to living mindfully. She has edited three magazines during her career, covering a broad range of topics. She is a recent plant mama, having acquired new gardening skills during the pandemic. Apart from having grown tomatoes and melons in her tiny apartment balcony, she is the proud owner of a respectably sized monstera, a Fiddle Leaf Fig, and nearly three dozen assorted plants. For this article, Neeti researched the most popular houseplants and explored The Spruce’s extensive gardening library. To gain insight on what houseplants to pick and how to look after them, she consulted Lindsay Pangborn, a gardening expert with a greenhouse-to-home online plant store, Bloomscape, and Anna Johnston, Owner and Creative Director of Washington DC-based plant store, Jungle & Loom.
