Easy Care Plants

If you want a low-maintenance plant, you need a Snake Plant. It’s nearly impossible to kill. One of our customers discovered live Snake Plants in his office . . . after the office had been empty for over a year.

Snakey just kept thriving anyway. You can’t put her down. You could practically ignore this plant, and it will keep looking pretty and purifying the air.

If you’re the type who forgets to water, you can breathe easy here. The Yucca Cane, for example, originates from a desert, so it thrives in drier soil. It’s moderately drought resistant, so it’s ok if you forget about it.

That’s because the Yucca’s underground rhizomes (sort of like roots) store water, so they rarely whine about being thirsty.

Less is more for the Rubber Tree, too. You can wait till the top four inches of soil are dry (that’s a lot—for most plants, it’s 1 inch or maybe 2). Rubber Trees produce special chemicals that help them thrive even when they’re under stress (like going thirsty for too long).

If you have a dimmer house, look for the Dracaena Reflexa. She’s happy in indirect bright light or even a bit of shade. She’s also large and stunning, making a big statement even if she doesn’t get much sunshine.

We could talk about the snake plant again, but instead we’ll say the Bird of Paradise. He’s totally chill about lighting. Bright, indirect light is chill, but he’s ok with full sun too. He also blooms gorgeous, vibrant blossoms.

Not sure what kind of light you have? Check out our indoor lighting guide.

The Parlor Palm thrives in low lighting, like a shady corner or a room without much natural light. And it can grow 10 feet tall indoors! Plus, it’s been popular since the Victorians, who put it in their (dim?) parlors.

Every plant needs water, but some can survive a shockingly long time without it. The ZZ Plant stores water in his tuberous roots, known as rhizomes, so you don’t have to water him very often at all. Go ZZ!

Plenty of plants can go a week without watering. Many plants thrive on that schedule. If you want to have Watering Wednesdays so you don’t have to wonder, get a Philodendron. But really, check the soil before you water.

The exact timing depends on your weather (heat and humidity), the size of your plant, the size of the pot, and how thoroughly you watered it last time. If you water when the plant’s not ready, it could get root rot. If you wait too long, it might wilt.

Most plants don’t need daily water. But if you want to make it part of your routine, we get it. It’s comforting. Try a Begonia or an Umbrella Plant! They can tolerate some overwatering without getting root rot right away.

Try a ponytail palm if you want to water about once a month. Its thick trunk traps water and then slowly doles it out, so it can last impressively long. But check the soil: How many top inches are dry?

Peace lilies look dramatic, but they’re no drama queens. They’re resilient. They’re versatile with light and patient about watering. And they’ll droop when they really need a sip, so basically they’ll remind you when you need to hop to it.

The Cast Iron plant likes low lighting (never needs direct sunlight). She likes to dry out completely between waterings (a week, maybe two). People say the Cast Iron “thrives on negligence.” So go take a nap instead of watering her.

Spider Plants and Ferns like consistent moisture, so self-watering pots work super well for them. Philodendrons and Pothos are also good choices. If you want to set it and forget it, you can! (Well, remember to admire them!)

Hands down, that’s the snake plant—the most resilient houseplant on the planet. It can handle different light conditions and different watering schedules. All it needs is a general aura of love and it’ll grow just fine.

Succulents are pretty low maintenance. Depending on the season, they need to be watered weekly or monthly. Like most houseplants, they like bright indirect light. They like normal household temperatures (between 55°F and 80°F). You’ll get along just fine.

Succulents do need water, and the frequency depends on the time of year. If it’s hot, water weekly. If it’s cold, monthly is fine. (I live by the same rule.) Water well and let the soil dry out in between waterings.

Succulents need bright indirect light. If you have a bright window, move your succulent a bit away from the window, or put a sheer curtain in front of it, ideally one with polka dots because they’re cute.

Air Plants, also known as Tillandsia, do not need direct sun, but they do need bright indirect light (or dappled sunlight). They can handle a little more if it’s humid, or a little less if the air is dry.

Cacti are low maintenance if you put them somewhere sunny. They wont thrive in low lighting, but if they’re catching some rays, they’ll be happy campers. You don’t need to water often, and they like normal indoor temperatures and humidity.

A rainforest native, Calathea loves both heat and humidity. The heat doesn’t make her shrivel, and the humidity doesn’t make her melt. She just thrives, looking gorgeous. And in humid climates, you can get away with watering less frequently.

The Peruvian Apple Cactus comes from the high Andes Mountains, which are hot but dry. It also prefers dry soil, so you don’t have to water often. It can grow up to 8 feet or even taller indoors!

Don’t get a Fiddle Leaf Fig if you want a low-maintenance plant. She’s gorgeous, but a total diva. Extremely fussy about water, lighting, temperature, humidity, and the way you looked it yesterday. She prefers to be worshipped, not neglected.

Don’t call yourself a dummy—you cared enough to Google this! But the answer is complicated, because it completely depends on the specific plant. Water daily or monthly? Shade or full sun? Google “[plant name] care” to get specific instructions.