20 Indoor Plants That Are Easy To Care For
(Photo: Maksym Ponomarenko/iStock)
Plants are a great way to bring the outside in and add a pop of colour to your home. And while some indoor plants—like the notoriously finicky fiddle-leaf fig—are high-maintenance, others can thrive just about anywhere. From trendy cascading plants to sturdy succulents, we’ve rounded up 20 pretty indoor plants that are easy to care for.
Pilea peperomioides
Likes lots of light but no direct sun. Water when soil is slightly dry.
Senecio rowleyanus
Commonly known as String of Pearls, the Secencio roleyanus is a low-maintenance plant. It likes lots of light. Let soil dry out between waterings.
Polka-dot plant
Non-toxic for pets. Keep the soil moist and keep it in a sunny spot.
Desert rose
This plant needs lots of sun (leave it outside in the summer). With enough light, it will bloom in summer months. Water about once a week.
Calamondin
Requires several hours of direct sun. It loves humidity—during dry winter months, mist it often.
Grey pot, $8, Ikea.
Calathea roseopicta
Likes bright, indirect light (north, east or west-facing rooms are best). It’s non-toxic for pets. Let the soil dry out.
Pilea nummulariifolia (Creeping Charlie)
Pet-friendly. Keep the soil moist. This one is great for hanging pots and terrariums.
Colourful planter, $44, Night Shift Ceramics.
Iresine
Likes lots of indirect light. (If your plant becomes leggy or scraggly, try moving it to a sunnier spot.) Keep the soil moist.
Herringbone pot, $32, West Elm.
Crested Japanese Bird’s Nest Fern
Needs to be kept moist. Place in a north-facing room—it likes indirect light.
Sweetheart Hoya
Leaves often don’t grow beyond a single heart. As it does well in bright and indirect light, it’s a really easy plant to take care of. Let the soil dry out.
Calathea ornata
Safe for pets. Keep the soil moist and out of direct sun (sunlight will burn its distinctive leaves).
Tradescantia
Roots easily from cuttings. Water thoroughly, but let the soil dry out first.
Pineapple plant
Loves direct sun. Water when the soil is dry. Each plant will produce one sweet edible pineapple. Replant the pineapple top to grow a new one (eventually—it can take up to three years for it to produce fruit).
Sansevieria ‘Shark Fin’
Hard to kill. You can forget to water it for weeks and have it in a dim corner and it will still thrive. Let the soil dry out.
Dracaena
Easy to care for: Place in a sunny spot and simply water when the soil is dry.
Gem-shaped planter, $29, West Elm.
Sansevieria ‘Starfish’
Great for black thumbs. Water infrequently.
Neanthe Bella Palm
One of the most popular houseplants in the world. Water when soil becomes slightly dry. Not toxic to pets.
Calathea Rattlesnake
Be sure to pick a pot that has a drainage hole, as root rot can be problem. Place in indirect light and keep the soil evenly moist.
Grey pot, $4, Ikea.
Originally posted in 2019, updated in 2022.
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