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I love my houseplants, and I have a lot of them. So I tend to gravitate towards easy houseplants that aren’t succulents. Why no succulents you ask? Because I love them to death with too much water every damn time! And while I may have some fussier plants (Calethias, cough….cough) I like to know I can keep a plant alive before I commit to bringing it home. There’s nothing sadder than a plant funeral brought on by good intentions. So how do I make sure my plants stay alive?
Step 1: Research!
If you want an easy plant, make sure you know what you are getting! For me I have a lot of natural light in my house, so medium light plants do really well. I know I like to overwater, so I’m careful about buying plants that either need lots to drink, or at least can bounce back. Know yourself and your house. Is it low light? Medium to high light? Cold and drafty, or humid?
Step 2: Pick a happy plant 🙂
We all know that feeling of wanting to rescue the poor plants at Canadian Tire where you know they aren’t getting the love they deserve. Try to resist. I always look for the happiest, healthiest plant possible. Healthy leaves, strong stems, and soil that’s not soaking wet are a couple of key indicators I look for. I also buy from the same local greenhouses and specialty stores as often as I can. Although Home Depot has really stepped up their game and can have good finds once in a while, I usually aim for places with knowledgeable staff and good conditions.
Step 3: Placement.
When you bring your plant home, put him in his pre designated spot, that you have already made sure meets his requirements. (Research! Then you don’t get home and have no place for him to live.) Then leave him alone for a while, to settle in and adjust without fussing. Plants need transition time and some of them go through a bit of shock. It’s fine, just don’t panic and drown your plant right away! Give him time.
Low light Plants:
- Peace lily – A beautiful plant, I love the foliage almost as much as the blooms!
- Snake Plants – I know these are the most commom beginner plant, but they have some really elegant and beautiful variations, and I have them all over my house. (Including in my bathroom with zero light.)
- Marantas – Also known as prayer plants, but VERY different from calethias, these guys are thriving in my low light basement where it’s a bit chilly. The only caveat is they like a bit of humidity.
- Pothos – Another common beginner suggestion for good reason, these guys are bulletproof and fast growing. They are super gratifying and come in fun variations.
- Dracena – I have a Dracena Marginata in my yoga space in the basement and he has been thriving. Key point here is to let them dry out a bit between waterings.
- Buddhist Pine – This cute little guy will very slowly grow into a proper tree. Probably not while you’re alive, but hey it’s cool. He also likes lower light and doesn’t mind more water than some.
- Muehlenbeckia – A beautiful vine that grows like crazy and has been thriving in the basement for years now! Very delicate and ethereal, it’s a lovely addition. Nothing I do ever kills it, but if you notice a lot of brown leaves check and see if you are over or under watering.
Medium Light Plants:
- Monstera Deliciosa – This one gets BIG! So make sure you have room. This plant likes to stay moist, and thrives in it’s spot with bright morning sun, and no direct afternoon light.
- Scindapsus Pictus – Is a pothos relative/variation, so very similar but not quite the same. I have mine in a spot with medium bright indirect light. He loves it there!
- Swedish Ivy – Super cool coloring on this one! Dark purple stems and under leaves. The top is a dark green, with an almost fuzzy texture to it. I even got mine to bloom indoors during the winter. It gets the most delicate little white flowers.
- Transcendentia – There’s like a hundred variations on this one as well, and most of them are very hardy. The reason I have them in the medium section is becase a lot of them are varigated, and they will lose their purple or pink color in low light.
- Philodendron Brasil – an eyecatching vine that is loving his spot in a very bright indirect type of light. Up on a shelf in a sunny room he is growing like a weed!
- German Ivy – If you want a rather unique type of foliage look at german ivy. With a thick waxy leaf and lots of variety in the colors on the leaves, it’s super fun.
Bright Light Plants:
- String of Hearts – He likes to dry out between waterings, and loves the sunshine. If you keep him happy, he grows stupid fast!
- Moonshine Snake plant – This is one variety that needs bright light to keep it’s silvery color.
- String of pearls – Full disclosure, this one is my moms. I killed 2 of these by overwatering, but hers is happy as a clam in bright light with a small amount of water.
- Mandarin Spider plant – Looking for a pop of color? The mandarin spider plant has a beautiful coral/orange color near the base and the leaves are a dark green. Very eye catching!
For more plant related inspiration, check out these posts: