7 houseplants you can’t kill!

​If you have a black thumb—or are just starting to wrap your head around buying houseplants for the first time—this blog is for you! 

Houseplants can be tricky, right? There’s a lot to take in—proper light, water needs, soil types, fertilizing, best trimming practices, propagating, pest control—but some plants are less fussy than others. Today, we’ll look at seven plant babies for beginners or people who want easy houseplants.

Air Plant (a.k.a. Tillandsia app.)

This first plant is as easy as it gets! Air plants are epiphytes or plants that attach to trees and other natural elements in shaded spots and collect necessary nutrients through trichomes in their leaves. No soil is needed, hence the name Air Plant. This biological wonder takes much of what it needs from the air, and its needs are minimal.

Air plant. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021.

Many varieties only need to soak in water once a week (15-30 minutes) and maybe occasional misting to keep them from drying out. One piece of advice is to know which variety you have because the furry ones don’t like to be soaked in water. I made that mistake with one of my plants, causing the poor thing to rot and die. 

Place the air plant in bright light but not directly in the sun to prevent burning of the leaves. 

And that’s it! Air plants are resilient and self-sufficient with minimal care. Hang them up or stick them in with other plants and let them do their thing!

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a type of succulent, meaning it stores water in its leaves. This ability to store water means that aloe—like many succulents—tends to be drought-resistant, and that’s good news for forgetful plant parents. 

Aloe vera. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021.

​This plant thrives better when ignored--making it an easy plant for beginners. The one nemesis for aloe, though, is overwatering. Overwatering can lead to rot, which kills the plant, so the best practice is to wet thoroughly and then let the plant dry out in between waterings. 

As for other care, give your aloe well-draining soil and bright indirect light (direct light may burn the leaves). There’s no need to repot the plant until it gets too crowded in the pot.

Cactus

Like the aloe, cacti are succulents, which means they are drought tolerant and store water. These adaptable plants need water only when the soil is dry, so if you get a bit forgetful it’s okay! 

Image by apimook on Adobe Stock.

​Cacti are incredibly versatile as houseplants. They only need well-draining soil, bright indirect or direct sun (depending on the variety), and occasional watering.

Cast Iron Plant (a.k.a. Aspidistra spp.)

The hint is in the name! The Cast Iron Plant is very forgiving, even when neglected. Give this plant well-draining soil and bright light, and it will thrive. But this hardy houseplant also manages to live in low-light places as well…Just keep it out of direct light to prevent burned leaves. 

Image by K.A. on Adobe Stock.

Chinese Evergreen (a.k.a. Aglaonema sp.)

Sometimes called the “Ag” plant, the Chinese Evergreen is a versatile and easy-to-maintain houseplant. I’ve even seen them happily existing in the corners of doctor’s offices with no windows. This slow-growing plant thrives better in bright indirect light, but low-light conditions will suit it just fine if that’s your only option. As for care, keep it out of direct light and drafts and let it dry out between waterings.

Image by Firn on Adobe Stock.

Jade Plant (a.k.a. Crassula ovata)

This plant might be a little tricky because it can get bulky, but having said that, you don’t need to re-pot your jade plant very often unless you want it to grow in size. 

image by MindestensM on Adobe Stock.

​Like all succulents, this plant stores water in its leaves, which means you can let the soil dry out between waterings. Just use well-draining soil and place the plant in bright, indirect light. Some varieties can withstand a few hours of direct sunlight. 

This is one of those plants that can tell you what it needs just by looking at its foliage. If the leaves become shriveled, it's time to give the poor thing some water. If the leaves are dropping off, you may need to up the water intake. 

Peace Lily (a.k.a. Spathiphyllum sp.)

The peace lily is an incredibly hardy plant! I know from experience! My peace lilies have been through the wars! I have forgotten to water them for long periods, stuck them in drafty windows or gloomy spots, and over-watered them out of guilt (causing gnats)…And they still live! These hardy plants will survive a lot. Granted the poor things may not look the greatest, but they survive!

Image by Christine on Adobe Stock.

​If you want your peace lily to look its best, water the plant thoroughly and evenly, then leave it until the soil becomes somewhat dry. This plant literally tells you when it needs a drink because you’ll see the leaves begin to droop. The drooping leaves are the plant telling you to grab that watering can and give it a drink!

Peace lilies like well-draining soil and bright indirect light (not direct sun) but can tolerate low light conditions. If the plant gets the optimal amount of light it needs, it will reward you with elegant white flowers.




Next time you are in a doctor’s office or any office space with little to no natural light, look around and see what plants have made their home there. Chances are you will see one of these plants! 

Be sure to read part 2--“7 More Houseplants You Can’t Kill!”--for even more easy-to-care-for houseplants!

Related blogs you may want to read:

7 ways to kill a succulent
​7 more houseplants you can’t kill!
Eight tips for assessing natural light in your home
How to repot a bonsai ficus
How to repot a pothos plant
How to propagate bromeliad pups
Small houseplants that love bathroom humidity
Eight health benefits of decorating with plants
Let’s talk about houseplants

​This article may contain a few items or commercial mentions, but I only used them for demonstration purposes only. I am not endorsing any particular product or receiving any monetary gain for this blog.
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Sources:

https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/10-house-plants-you-cant-kill.html
https://www.bhg.com/gardening/houseplants/projects/houseplants-you-cant-kill/
https://balconygardenweb.com/houseplants-you-cant-kill-even-if-you-want/
https://smartgardenguide.com/hard-to-kill-houseplants/
https://youhadmeatgardening.com/best-hard-to-kill-houseplants/
https://blog.mytastefulspace.com/2021/07/24/impossible-to-kill-houseplant/
https://www.thespruce.com/easy-houseplants-hard-to-kill-4141665
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/hpgen/hard-to-kill-houseplants.htm
https://www.treehugger.com/houseplants-are-almost-impossible-kill-4863173