9 easy care houseplants that are perfect for beginners

All products on this page have been selected by the editorial team, however Stylist may make commission on some products purchased through affiliate links in this article

Whether you’re a serial plant killer or a first-time plant owner, these low maintenance, easy-care plants are the perfect option.  

As fun as decorating your home with plants can be, looking after said plants – and keeping them alive – can be a lot more stressful. If you’ve ever found yourself with a limp-looking cactus or shrivelled succulent, you’ll know what we’re talking about; sometimes, despite the best of intentions, our plants’ needs can go above what we’re able to give them.

But just because you’ve killed a plant in the past, doesn’t mean you’re not cracked out to be a plant parent. All you need to do is set yourself up for success: and that’s where this article comes in.  

You may also like

Yellow leaves: 4 reasons why your plant’s leaves are turning yellow, and how to fix it

While there’s no such thing as a truly “unkillable” houseplant (they are living things, after all), there are plenty of low-maintenance plants out there which won’t require much work on your part to keep alive.

So, to help you get started, we’ve put together this list of nine plants that are famed for their laidback, easy-care nature: think straightforward amounts of light and water, plus the ability to withstand a little bit of neglect. Keep reading to check them all out.  

• Kentia Palm

  For a low-maintenance statement plant, look no further than the magnificent kentia palm. Not only is it really easy to take care of, it can also thrive in low light corners and looks fantastic too.

  To keep it happy, simply water when the top of its soil is dry and give it a mist if its leaves begin to turn brown. 

  Shop Kentia Palm at Beards & Daisies, £40

  BUY NOW

• Cylindrical Snake Plant

  There’s a reason why snake plants remain just as popular as they were in the 70s – besides the fact that they’re great to look at, they’re also able to withstand neglect and are happy with whatever you give them.

  The architectural appeal of this cylindrical snake plant makes it the perfect plant for anywhere in your home – it’ll thrive with very little watering and bright, indirect light.

  Shop Cylindrical Snake Plant at Bloombox Club, £19.95

  BUY NOW

• Mini Monstera

  The mini monstera is proof that low maintenance does not have to equal boring. Its adorable, eye-catching leaves, trailing vines and fast-growing nature make this plant a fun one to own.

  To keep your mini monstera happy, simply keep it in dappled or indirect sunlight (it can withstand a bit of shade) and water when the top part of the soil is dry.

  Shop Mini Monstera at Leaf Envy, £16

  BUY NOW

• Cast Iron Plant

  If you’re notorious for killing your houseplants, give the cast iron plant a go. This plant got its name for a reason, after all: they’re as close to an unkillable houseplant as you can get.

  Your cast iron plant will be happy with any kind of light level (as long as it’s not super bright sunlight) and only needs watering when the top two inches of soil are dry (although it won’t mind if the waterings are irregular, either).

  Shop Cast Iron Plant at Patch Plants, £40

  BUY NOW

• Spider Plant

  Spider plants really are the gift that keeps on giving. Alongside looking great and being super easy to care for (they grow insanely fast and thrive no matter what conditions you throw at them), they also produce small flowers which eventually turn into baby spider plants, so you’ll end up with loads of plants to share with friends!

  To keep your spider plant happy, simply position it in bright, indirect light and keep the soil moist if possible (the tips of their leaves go brown quite regularly, so that’s nothing to worry about).

  Shop Spider Plant at The Little Botanical, £18.50

  BUY NOW

• Aloe Vera

  On top of being incredibly easy to care for, aloe vera is a medicinal plant which can be used to soothe burns (the gel-like substance inside the leaves is easy to harvest whenever you need it).

  It also happens to grow incredibly fast and be tolerant of irregular watering, so it’s the perfect plant for the first-time plant owner looking to get started.

  Shop Aloe Vera at The Stem, £8

  BUY NOW

• Zebra Cactus

  Although not technically a cactus (it’s actually a succulent which is closely related to aloe vera), the zebra cactus is still just as hardy as its spiky cousins.

  It’s the perfect low maintenance desk plant – it’ll cope with all kinds of light conditions and only needs watering when the soil dries out. We love the little white details on its leaves which give the zebra cactus its name.  

  Shop Zebra Cactus at Patch Plants, £3

  BUY NOW

• Golden Pothos

  The golden pothos – also known as the devil’s ivy – is the perfect trailing plant for anyone who wants that indoor jungle aesthetic without all the fuss.

  It got its devilish nickname because of its low-maintenance nature: on top of being almost impossible to kill, it also stays green even when kept in the dark.

  Keep it happy by watering when the soil is dry and giving it indirect light.

  Shop Golden Pothos at Beards & Daisies, £12

  BUY NOW

• Chinese Money Plant

  Last but by no means least, the Chinese money plant is as eye-catching as it is easy to look after.

  Keep it happy by waiting for the top of the soil to dry out before watering and giving it indirect light, and not only will it thrive, but it’ll also produce lots of little baby plants that you can cut off and grow into full-sized ones to share with friends.

  Shop Chinese Money Plant at The Little Botanical, £28

  BUY NOW

Images: Courtesy of Suppliers

Source: Read Full Article