The 5 Easiest Houseplants for the Budding Houseplant Hobbyist

Houseplants. They’ve been around, well, likely as long as houses have been. But over the last year or two, they have been having a moment. That moment might be related to the global pandemic that has kept so many of us sheltered in place. (Seriously, Google “pandemic houseplant trends,” and see for yourself—off the charts growth in popularity.)

Plants allow us to nurture living beings, observe nature in our homes, refresh our environments, and share love.

But some people may still be reluctant to hop aboard the houseplant train. Maybe they’ve been burned before. Maybe their affection for a houseplant has gone unrequited. Perhaps they have even called mean names by their friends and family. Like Killer, Plant Murderer, or Black Thumb.

Raising and caring for houseplants can and should be relaxing and rewarding. If you’ve had issues in the, maybe it’s because you worked with the wrong plants. Or perhaps you were given bad advice on how to care for them.

The truth is that plenty of houseplants exist that are super-easy to care for and that will love you back as much as you love them.

Let’s talk about five of them—five common houseplants that, with just a little effort, you CANNOT kill.

The Shocking Truth about How Most People Kill Their Plants

Before we get into specifics, however, we need to talk about the No. 1 thing that kills most houseplants. And guess what? It’s not forgetting to water them. And it isn’t pests or bugs (which can be gross and super annoying, but your plants can almost always be saved).

The No. 1 killer of houseplants is OVERWATERING.

Sure, houseplants need both water and light to survive, but too much of either will likely damage a plant, sometimes to the point of no return.

Some people assign a watering day for themselves. “I’ll water my plants every Sunday,” for example. Don’t do that. Different plants have different needs when it comes to watering, and watering them all on the same day is a surefire recipe for disaster.

A better approach is to stick a finger in the dirt of each plant, up to the first knuckle. What do you feel? Is the soil wet, damp, or dry?

Is it dry? Cool. Time to water. Just don’t overdo it. Damp? Wait another day or two, and then try again. If it’s wet, let it be, and test the soil again in several days.

So which plants should you start with? In no particular order:

Snake Plant (scientific name, Sansevieria)

Easily identifiable by its typically long, leathery leaves, crisp architectural shape, and incredible tolerance for neglect, more than 70 varieties of snake plants exist. This plant’s unique leaves may be striped with various shades of green and yellow and may grow to lengths of 8 inches to 12 feet.

Snake plants prefer their soil to dry out quite a bit before watering, and they are an excellent choice for low–light spaces like corners and hallways. One fascinating fact about snake plants is that they are particularly good at cleaning your home’s air and removing toxic chemicals from the environment. Perhaps one of the most enjoyable aspects of the snake plant is the ease with which it can be shared or divided. As a healthy snake plant matures, it creates pups—baby snake plants. You’ll see them in the planter growing out of the soil next to the main plant. Dig them out or remove the entire plant from the pot, pull the pups away from the rest, and re–pot. Now you have two snake plants for the price of one—or share with a friend or your favorite social media plant group (there are tons, including many gifting and buy-sell-trade groups).

ZZ Plant (scientific name, Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

The ZZ is another tall architectural plant that will thrive in low water and low light conditions. ZZs are known for their smooth, shiny leaves in shades from bright lime to emerald green and even darker. Stems may grow to 28 inches or longer.

Experts suggest watering every two to three weeks, but you’re better off testing the soil and water accordingly, as discussed above.

ZZs, like snake plants, grow from bulb-like rhizomes. To propagate, cut a stem as close to the soil level as possible (use a sterile knife or shears!), place the cutting in a glass or jar of water. And wait (change the water every few weeks). It may take several months, but once your baby ZZ develops a bulb or rhizome and roots that are at least an inch long, it’s ready to be potted.

Pothos (scientific name, Epipremnum aureum)

Pothos are such pretty plants and completely different in appearance from snakes and ZZs. Pothos’ leaves are softer and much more tender, and this is a trailing vine plant that can reach lengths of 20 to 40 feet. They look great and do well in hanging planters near windows where they can receive several hours of indirect sunlight each day. Water as discussed above.

Pothos are known for their pointed, heart-shaped leaves, often variegated with white, yellow, or pale green stripes or splotches. There are dozens of pothos varieties.

To propagate, cut the end off of a vine just below a node (you’ll know it when you see it; it looks

like a bump on the stem). Strip off any leaves close to the node, and pop the cutting in a jar of water. That’s all there is to it! When the cutting has formed a few healthy roots, transplant it into a pot of soil.

Wandering Jew (scientific name Tradescantia)

The wandering Jew (or wandering dude, as many people prefer to call it) may be the original houseplant. And with more than 75 varieties, there’s at least one to make everyone happy.

The dude deserves the love it receives; it’s super easy to grow and propagate, and all feature unique variegated leaves and purple coloring. They crave bright but indirect sunlight and are so dependent on it that leaf patterns and coloring may fade without it. Direct sunlight, however, will burn the leaves. They also love water and should never completely dry out. Vining plants, dudes look great in hanging planters or baskets

The wandering dude may be the easiest of all plants to propagate. Cuttings in water will root in near–record time. Cuttings may also be planted directly into the soil of an existing dude and will root quickly.

*Important Information for Anyone with Pets or Small Children:

*All four of the above plants are toxic to pets and people, so they may not be *the optimal choices for homes with either. You should be fine, however, if you *place those plants where pets and children cannot reach them.

Hoya (Scientific name, Hoya carnosa)

Hoyas are sometimes called porcelain flowers or wax plants. There are more than 200 varieties of Hoya. Hoyas are easy to propagate and share with friends and family and are ideal for the beginner plant enthusiast.

Another beautiful vining plant, they prefer bright indirect light—but beware! Direct, peak-of-the-day sunlight is too much for a hoya. In spring and summer, the soil should be consistently moist. The plant needs less water in the winter, however; allow the top couple of inches to dry out before watering.

To propagate via cuttings, cut at least three nodes from where the vine meets the plant’s center. Root in water or a soil mix intended for propagation.

Hoyas are non-toxic and safe to grow around pets and children.