Plants have been shown to reduce stress and boost productivity. Having a plant around your workspace can also lead to better productivity, alertness, memory retention, and attentiveness according to this study published in the Journal of Environmental Horticulture in 2019. This must be why people are naturally drawn to green spaces and why you’ve been trying to keep a plant alive somewhere in your home for years now.
They say people who are able to take care of plants well have green thumbs. Unfortunately, for some people, their thumbs are anything but green. If you’re one of those people but you’d really like to give growing plants another go, we have a few plant picks for you. These plants are low-maintenance which means you can simply pick a spot for them somewhere in your home and then forget about them. Of course, you’d still need to water them once in a while but they’ll thrive with minimal attention and, for some, minimal light.
ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) aka Welcome Plant The ZZ plant, also known as the Welcome Plant, is a great companion for forgetful plant moms/dads. They thrive in low light, are able to live with minimal attention, and only need to be watered at least once a month. In fact, they’re so low-maintenance that you need to make sure the soil is completely dry before watering again! If you have pets at home, just make sure to keep your ZZ plant away from areas that they can get into as ZZ plants can be toxic to pets.
Cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) - for people who want the benefits of having a plant at home but don’t want the full responsibility of keeping one alive, the Cast Iron Plant is perfect. Like the ZZ plant, you only need to water your cast iron plant once the soil is completely dry. It’s non-toxic to pets so it would make a great indoor plant as well.
Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) - want plants in your home but don’t want to bring soil in? Get yourself a Lucky Bamboo instead. These plants live in water so you don’t even have to worry about watering them at all! Just replace the water every other month or so and you’re good to go.
Philodendron - philodendrons are a step up from the plants mentioned above, but they’re still relatively low-maintenance compared to other plants like the Prayer Plant or the Norfolk Island Pine. The philodendron’s big leaves are also perfect for achieving that tropical look and feel in your home.
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) - pothos are extremely forgiving plants. You can stick them in rooms with little to no light, water them on a weekly or biweekly basis, and they’d still thrive. They grow quite quickly, too, so be ready to propagate when the leaves start trailing off.
Cactus - if they can survive in the desert, they can survive in your home! You can leave a cactus sitting in the corner for months at a time and they’d still grow beautifully. Cacti thrive in dry soil so you don’t have to worry about rushing home from a long trip to water them. Despite their prickly appearance, cacti are actually really easy to handle and care for.
Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) - snake plants are one of the best plants to have inside of your home because they’re powerful air purifiers. They’re pretty, too, which makes them even more desirable. What’s more, is that they’re super easy to take care of since all they really need is a bit of indirect sunlight and some water every now and then.