Houseplants have always been a great way to breathe new life into homes. But over the pandemic, a feature on Courier Post reveals that plants have become more popular than ever.
In neighborhoods around the country, there are now more porches with plants, hydroponic gardens in basements, and flowers inside rooms. After all, as noted by Treehugger, plants can help clean the air, boost immunity, and improve productivity — among other benefits. As such, there is no better time than now to get into this hobby!
Now, one of the main things stopping people from getting houseplants is the fear of not being able to take care of them. This is understandable, as taking care of plants does require quite a bit of effort and attention. Luckily, there are plants that are more forgiving, so even beginners can successfully nurture them.
Our picks for the best house plant for beginners
Golden Pothos
Hanging plants can improve the overall aesthetics of your space. If you’re looking for a low-maintenance hanging plant, the Golden Pothos plant is a good choice.
They’re one of the fastest-growing houseplants. Even with minimal care and watering, these plants can grow to a decent size — especially if you give them more sunlight.
In the wild, you can even see some Golden Pothos cover entire trees with their enormous leaves.
Snake Plant
When talking about low-maintenance plants, the Snake Plant is always near the top of the list. The Snake Plant only needs to be watered occasionally to survive (approximately every two weeks, depending on the weather).
And while it needs to be in direct sunlight to thrive, Snake Plants can survive in spaces with low to medium light. This makes it perfect for beginners who may not have a lot of natural sunlight at home or have trouble remembering to water their plants.
ZZ Plant
ZZ Plants are one of the toughest houseplants on the market. They can survive in pretty much any condition. While the plant does thrive in well-lit spaces, it can survive pretty well in low light too and should continue to grow.
Like Snake Plants, they only need to be watered when they’re bone-dry. This plant doesn’t even need fertilizer, making it one of the more low-maintenance plants on this list.
Monstera Deliciosa
While it can be on the more expensive end, the trendy Monstera Deliciosa is actually a great beginner plant.
This plant only needs to be watered occasionally (approximately once a week). It even benefits from having the soil dry out a little in between watering sessions.
It can also survive in relatively low-light conditions but will greatly benefit when placed under indirect light.
Also, be sure to distinguish between Monstera & Split-leaf Philodendron.
Spider Plant
Spider Plants can look lush and intimidating, but it’s surprisingly very low-maintenance. Similar to the other plants on this list, the spider plant can survive in low-light and on very little water.
They can also be quite resilient, as spider plants are able to adapt to a variety of different climates. Plus, they are pretty hardy when it comes to common pests.
Peace Lily
The peace lily is easily one of the most beautiful looking plants you can buy.
They’re known for the way their leaves droop whenever they lack water — making it very easy to tell when it’s time for a good soaking. They can survive in medium to low-light conditions.
Succulents
Seeing as succulents can survive in the desert, it makes sense that they also make pretty good houseplants for beginners.
These plants can survive in harsh conditions and will thrive without regular watering. In fact, you should only ever water the soil when it has become completely dry.
What You’ll Need
Many plant sellers sell plants that already come in special pots and soil mixes, so there’s no need to re-pot them yourself. However, if your plant comes in a nursery bag, you’ll have to transfer it to a better home in 2-3 weeks (giving it time to adjust!).
As shared by HomeServe Living writer Laura Rudd, there are numerous household items you can easily turn into pots, like jars and colanders. Just make sure they have proper drainage holes, so water doesn’t gather at the bottom. You can also opt to line them with pebbles. By upcycling pots, you get to save money and the earth too.
Aside from pots, you’ll also want to get fertilizer. You have plenty of options when it comes to fertilizers. However, if you want more environmentally friendly options, use a natural houseplant fertilizer.
Jessica Roy of the Los Angeles Times explains that you can mix in dry eggshells into the soil as an alternative to store-bought fertilizer. The calcium carbonate in the cells can also help your plants grow, thanks to the nutritional boost.
