We all remember from biology classes that plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen, but did you know that they also remove other pollutants and toxins from the air too? Having house plants can improve the quality of the air in your living space, so they’re a great investment. Plus, they’re a quick way to spruce up any room and add an interesting feature to your windowsill or desk.
Peace Lily / Spathiphyllum Wallisii
This plant will need a bit more attention than the rest of the plants on this list, but it’s easy to get a peace lily to flower with the right care, so it’s worth the effort. It’s quite a forgiving plant and can bounce back from neglect if you give it a bit of TLC when it starts looking miserable. For instance, if the leaves droop, it needs more watering; if the leaves turn brown at the tips, it’s probably getting too much direct light. If you learn to respond correctly to these kinds of signs, you’ll have no problems. Peace lilies come in a few different sizes, so you can choose one to suit the space you have.
Devil’s Ivy / Pothos / Epipremnum aureum
This trailing plant will look great trailing down the side of a bookcase or cascading off a shelf. Alternatively, you can train it to climb an indoor trellis by encouraging the vines to grow up a support. Devil’s ivy is an easy-going plant that doesn’t need much fuss as long as it has a bit of light and you don’t forget to water it every now and then. Its ability to tolerate low-light conditions means you don’t have to worry too much about where you place your plant as it will still thrive even in shade. Cutting the stems back a couple times a year will cause it to branch out, giving you a fuller plant.
ZZ Plant / Zamioculcas zamiifolia
If you would prefer a plant with a bit of height, a ZZ plant is a good option. This is the hardiest plant on the list; it pretty much thrives off neglect! Also, since it’s slow growing you won’t have to worrying about repotting it at least for a few years. It will grow well in shade and will still be going strong even if you forget to water it for a week or so. Most ZZ plants are sold only once they’re already quite large, so it might cost a little more than a cactus or a peace lily. But seeing as they’re pretty much indestructible, they’re a great choice even for people with a bad track record of keeping plants alive.
Money Tree / Jade Plant / Crassula ovata
A money tree is another super low maintenance plant, and it can grow quite big (given plenty of time)! As it belongs to the succulent family, it won’t need much watering and will be quite happy to be left to do its own thing for the most part. However, it will need a lot of sun which is something you need to bear in mind when choosing where to put it – a bright windowsill is an ideal spot. The great thing about money trees is that they’re really easy to propagate, so if someone you know has one see if you can take a cutting and grow your own! Using the correct soil and cactus supplements will help the process along.
Mother-in-Law’s Tongue / Snake Plant / Sansevieria trifasciata
This plant is very forgiving and is one of the most carefree house plants out there. And not only does it look striking with its dramatic spike-like leaves, there are many different patterned varieties available. A mother-in-law’s tongue will be most happy in bright light, although it can tolerate shade. However, if the leaves begin to turn yellow this is an indication that the plant requires more light than it’s getting. This is another plant that won’t give up on you if you forget to water it for a couple of weeks. In fact, overwatering can cause root rot, so be sure to avoid soaking the soil. There are many different species of mother-in-law’s tongue, so you should be able to find one that suits your fancy at a local plant shop.
Cactus / Cactaceae family
Cacti come in so many different shapes and sizes, and there’s no denying that they are cute even when they are tiny. Whilst they’re famous for being low maintenance, they still need to have certain conditions met in order to survive. Cacti thrive in direct sunlight and many of them will flower if given enough light, so it’s good to find the right spot for them where they can soak up as much sun as possible. Despite being desert plants, they will need small amounts of water roughly once a week, especially during their growth season from spring through to the end of summer. So, although they’re tough little plants, they still need care.