Indoor Plants You Just Can't Kill
These greens can up your decor game and refresh the indoor air but do not demand much in return
Do you hesitate bringing houseplants into your home because you think you have a black thumb? Do you have a history of your plants dying on you? The plants listed here are literally (okay, not literally … but, nearly) impossible to kill. It takes very severe neglect or – more likely – too much love expressed as watering, to kill them. All of these houseplants have beautiful green foliage that will brighten up your indoors. A few are flowering, some are exceptionally photogenic and others have air-purifying qualities. What more can you ask for? Invite them in right away and thank me later.
Lucky bamboo or Dracaena sanderiana
The lucky bamboo is not a real bamboo but a flowering plant from the Asparagaceae family. When grown indoors in water or moist soil and under indirect sunlight, lucky bamboo is unlikely to die. It is best to use only distilled water or rain water for watering and as a growing medium. If you are growing the houseplant in water, change the medium every couple of days for healthy growth.
Tip: Are your lucky bamboo’s leaves turning yellow or brown? For plants growing in water, clean the container and change the water. For plants growing in soil which is too dry, water it and keep it away from excess light. In both the cases, prune the affected leaves and use only distilled water.
The lucky bamboo is not a real bamboo but a flowering plant from the Asparagaceae family. When grown indoors in water or moist soil and under indirect sunlight, lucky bamboo is unlikely to die. It is best to use only distilled water or rain water for watering and as a growing medium. If you are growing the houseplant in water, change the medium every couple of days for healthy growth.
Tip: Are your lucky bamboo’s leaves turning yellow or brown? For plants growing in water, clean the container and change the water. For plants growing in soil which is too dry, water it and keep it away from excess light. In both the cases, prune the affected leaves and use only distilled water.
Snake plant or Sansevieria trifasciata
The snake plant is a forgiving, easy-to-grow succulent that thrives in bright light but can survive in darker areas, too. One possible way you can kill this houseplant is by over-watering. So if you ever forget to water once in a while, it is just fine. It needs to be watered only once or twice a week. Plus, studies show that snake plant is capable of absorbing many different varieties of toxins from the air, making the indoors healthier.
Tip: If your snake plant leaves are decaying, make sure your pot is well drained. Water only when the soil is dry.
Know more about the immortal companion: The Snake Plant
The snake plant is a forgiving, easy-to-grow succulent that thrives in bright light but can survive in darker areas, too. One possible way you can kill this houseplant is by over-watering. So if you ever forget to water once in a while, it is just fine. It needs to be watered only once or twice a week. Plus, studies show that snake plant is capable of absorbing many different varieties of toxins from the air, making the indoors healthier.
Tip: If your snake plant leaves are decaying, make sure your pot is well drained. Water only when the soil is dry.
Know more about the immortal companion: The Snake Plant
Peace lily plant or Spathiphyllum wallisii
This flowering perennial does not need a lot of water or sunlight to thrive. In addition to being a beautiful design element, peace lilies are proven to effectively arrest pollutants from the air. Keep your pets away from this plant to avoid possible allergic reactions.
Tip: If your peace lily leaves are browning, maybe you are watering too much or too little. Try and keep to a steady routine, or water only when the soil looks dry. Keep the plant away from direct sunlight.
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This flowering perennial does not need a lot of water or sunlight to thrive. In addition to being a beautiful design element, peace lilies are proven to effectively arrest pollutants from the air. Keep your pets away from this plant to avoid possible allergic reactions.
Tip: If your peace lily leaves are browning, maybe you are watering too much or too little. Try and keep to a steady routine, or water only when the soil looks dry. Keep the plant away from direct sunlight.
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Aloe vera or Aloe vera
This all-rounder among succulents is not only an easy-care houseplant, but also an active ingredient in medicines, dietary supplements and many cosmetics. This spiky plant performs best in indirect sunlight and moist soil. It does not need daily watering: after all, it is a succulent.
Tip: If you haven’t watered your aloe vera for a long time and its leaves are turning lifeless, water the soil slightly every day until the plant is all green again. The idea is to keep the soil gently moist to avoid rotting of the roots.
This all-rounder among succulents is not only an easy-care houseplant, but also an active ingredient in medicines, dietary supplements and many cosmetics. This spiky plant performs best in indirect sunlight and moist soil. It does not need daily watering: after all, it is a succulent.
Tip: If you haven’t watered your aloe vera for a long time and its leaves are turning lifeless, water the soil slightly every day until the plant is all green again. The idea is to keep the soil gently moist to avoid rotting of the roots.
Song of India or Dracaena reflexa
A native of India, this ornamental evergreen houseplant does not demand much of your attention to thrive. Just keep the soil gently moist and provide indirect light for best results. Over its life, it will up your decor and eliminate formaldehyde and trichlorotoluene from the indoor air. There is so much this houseplant can do!
Tip: If you observe the leaves wilting or dropping, the soil is likely to be the problem. If the soil is always wet, cut down your watering routine. If you haven’t watered for a long time, pour only till you have dampened the soil. Always go for well-draining pots to avoid root rot.
Expert Tips: How to Display & Style Indoor Plants
A native of India, this ornamental evergreen houseplant does not demand much of your attention to thrive. Just keep the soil gently moist and provide indirect light for best results. Over its life, it will up your decor and eliminate formaldehyde and trichlorotoluene from the indoor air. There is so much this houseplant can do!
Tip: If you observe the leaves wilting or dropping, the soil is likely to be the problem. If the soil is always wet, cut down your watering routine. If you haven’t watered for a long time, pour only till you have dampened the soil. Always go for well-draining pots to avoid root rot.
Expert Tips: How to Display & Style Indoor Plants
Areca palm or Dypsis lutescens
Areca palm is a hard-wearing plant that adapts well to most climates. With its sculptural shape and low light and water needs, this plant is a great choice for making an impact in any indoor space. Moreover, it absorbs toluene and xylene from the indoor air.
Tip: Much like any other indoor plant, over-watering tends to weaken the areca palm too, due to root rot. Under-water in such cases. If you see spots on the leaves, turn to distilled water and keep the plant away from direct sun.
Areca palm is a hard-wearing plant that adapts well to most climates. With its sculptural shape and low light and water needs, this plant is a great choice for making an impact in any indoor space. Moreover, it absorbs toluene and xylene from the indoor air.
Tip: Much like any other indoor plant, over-watering tends to weaken the areca palm too, due to root rot. Under-water in such cases. If you see spots on the leaves, turn to distilled water and keep the plant away from direct sun.
Picture by Mokkie via Wikimedia Commons
Holy basil or Ocimum tenuiflorum
This aromatic perennial (also called O. sanctum) prefers partial to full sunlight to thrive indoors. Although holy basil is slightly tolerant to under-watering, moist soil works best. In addition to having medicinal properties, the holy basil or tulsi is found to counter toxic stress from heavy metals, chemicals and radiation. Plus, it helps keeps mosquitoes away, too.
Tip: If your basil plant is dying indoors despite regular watering, it might be because it isn’t receiving enough sunlight. Expose the plant to direct sunlight and cut down watering.
Read more:
5 Plants Best Suited for Indian Homes
More:
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Tell us:
Which of these easy plants would you pick? Do you know of more hardy houseplants? Tell us in Comments below.
Holy basil or Ocimum tenuiflorum
This aromatic perennial (also called O. sanctum) prefers partial to full sunlight to thrive indoors. Although holy basil is slightly tolerant to under-watering, moist soil works best. In addition to having medicinal properties, the holy basil or tulsi is found to counter toxic stress from heavy metals, chemicals and radiation. Plus, it helps keeps mosquitoes away, too.
Tip: If your basil plant is dying indoors despite regular watering, it might be because it isn’t receiving enough sunlight. Expose the plant to direct sunlight and cut down watering.
Read more:
5 Plants Best Suited for Indian Homes
More:
Find a designer from the Houzz directory to design your home
Tell us:
Which of these easy plants would you pick? Do you know of more hardy houseplants? Tell us in Comments below.
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This evergreen tropical vine is also known as the devil’s vine or devil’s ivy because of its high tolerance to infrequent watering and unsuitable soil conditions. When indoors, the money plant grows best under indirect sunlight. Let this leafy plant climb over a trellis or trail down from a hanging pot in any light-filled room; water it a few times a month. But beware: the leaves of this vine can be toxic to your pet.
Tip: If you haven’t watered your money plant for a long time, prune the decaying leaves and keep the soil thoroughly wet until the plant is green again. If your plant is turning yellow, it is probably because the soil is getting too much water. Move the plant to a shady area and water only when the soil appears dry.
Learn how to live with a money plant