Since arriving at college, I have realized that there are a lot of things I miss about home. Number one on that list is my sunroom. The sunroom was a place where my parents chose to retire all of their houseplants, large pieces of stained glass, oversized art books, and a seven-foot-tall cactus, which I lovingly nicknamed Jeff. I have incredible memories of lying on the hardwood floors and making myself open to the sunlight and the crisp air the plants provided. This room was always a respite from the outside world.
In a desperate attempt to recreate that feeling, I have become somewhat of a houseplant aficionado in my own apartment. For that reason, I only see it fit that I give advice on the subject. Here is my comprehensive list of the best houseplants, ranging from low maintenance to those that require extra attention and care.
- Snake Plant
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The snake plant, otherwise known as Dracaena Trifasciata, holds a special place in my heart because it was the first plant gifted to me following my departure to college. The snake plant is perfect for beginner plant parents as it needs very little attention. In other words, it would require an extreme amount of negligence to cause any irreparable harm to the plant. I water mine once a week to once every other week, depending on the dryness of the soil. I keep it in a generally sunny area on my desk, but it has done okay in more shaded areas. However, I wouldn’t recommend keeping it in a dark area for an extended period of time. Snake plants can be easily propagated, and it’s fascinating to see them constantly sprouting new leaves.
Care Level: Easy
- Pothos
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The Pothos’s long sprawling stems drape my kitchen countertops with deep green leaves. The size of the pothos makes it a little bit more difficult to take care of. I choose to water mine a significant amount each week. I keep it near windows, but out of direct sunlight. In addition, I use a food growth supplement and regularly trim off dead leaves. My roommates and I have successfully propagated our large pothos into two smaller plants. These long stems require a lot of room to grow and are constantly getting tangled. I wouldn’t recommend a pothos if you are limited on space.
Care Level: Medium
- Hawaiian Schefflera
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I bought this plant without any prior knowledge of the care it was meant to receive, and I am so grateful I did. My Hawaiian Schefflera, which I have since named Chef, is the perfect addition to my desk. Chef is low maintenance when it comes to watering, but this plant does require a lot of sunlight. Not enough sunlight will result in the death of certain areas of the plant. Luckily, I have been able to revive Chef from any discolored or decaying leaves with just a few days on a sunny window sill.
Care Level: Easy
- Fiddle Leaf Fig
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If you are a beginner plant parent, the fiddle leaf fig may not be for you. This low-to-the-ground, tree-like houseplant requires the perfect amount of sunlight. Either too much or too little sunlight will result in the discoloration of its leaves. When my roommates and I first got a fiddle leaf fig, we went through a lot of trial and error trying to find the best place for it in our home. I would recommend somewhere that receives a lot of sun during some parts of the day and little to none during others. This may require moving your plant’s location daily.
Care Level: Difficult