10 easy houseplants that are hard to kill
New to houseplants? Start with these tough, good-looking plants that forgive the occasional missed watering.
Some houseplants are fussy. These ten aren't. They tolerate a range of light levels and bounce back if you forget them for a while.
The toughest of the tough
- Snake plant (sansevieria): low light, little water. Water every 2 to 4 weeks.
- ZZ plant: glossy leaves, survives in dim corners.
- Pothos: trailing vines; it droops dramatically when thirsty and perks up within hours of watering.
- Spider plant: produces baby plants you can pot up and give away.
Easy and striking
- Monstera deliciosa: big split leaves; give it bright, indirect light.
- Rubber plant (ficus elastica): dark glossy leaves, easy to grow tall.
- Peace lily: tells you when it needs water by wilting.
- Chinese money plant (pilea): round leaves, very fashionable.
For bright windows
- Aloe vera: a succulent that likes sun and little water.
- Jade plant: can live for decades.
Golden rules
Use pots with drainage holes. Water when the top few centimetres of compost are dry, not on a fixed schedule. And note that some of these plants, including pothos and peace lily, are toxic to pets if eaten, so keep them out of reach.
