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January 10th is National Houseplant Appreciation Day! What better way is there to celebrate than to bring home a brand new houseplant? Many of us either weren’t blessed with a green thumb or don’t have time to spend pruning and nurturing a plant, but that doesn’t mean that you’re out of luck or should only concern yourself with plastic flora. Fortunately, there are several resilient houseplants that are so easy to take care of, you would practically have to go out of your way to let it die. Whether you’re a busy professional or you just lack a green thumb, you too can come home to an inviting space lush with plants. Below we have listed the 10 easiest kinds of plants for the person who has no time to give.
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1. Norfolk Island Pine
The Norfolk Island Pine is a great houseplant that doesn’t require much of your effort to stay alive. A relative humidity of above 50% and bright light is all this plant needs to thrive. It thrives indoors, but if you insist on keeping it outdoors you should bring it inside if the temperature drops below 50°F. If the leaves and branches begin to turn brown, you know that the air is too dry in your home. Otherwise, it’s a rather simple plant to maintain.
The fact that this plant is an evergreen makes it a great looking plant all year long. During the holidays, you can even add Christmas decorations to it for a festive and no-fuss approach to the holidays. Once the Island Pine is fully mature, it will be about 6 feet tall.
Also Known As
- Araucaria heterophylla
- Star Pine
- Triangle Tree
*Warning* According to the ASPCA, the Norfolk Island Pine is toxic to dogs and cats. It can cause vomiting and depression if ingested.
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2. Chinese Evergreen
The Chinese Evergreen is a beautiful plant with lush green leaves. The leaves are thick and tough, making it a difficult plant to damage. The plant only needs low light and temperatures that stay between 60 and 75 degrees, making it perfect for just about any homeowner. You only need to water it once the soil dries out.
Once this plant matures, it may begin producing beautiful flowers that look sort of like peace lilies in the late spring. Occasionally check for leaf damage, as this can be a sign of an aphid or spider mite infestation.
Also Known As
- Aglaonema
*Warning* The Chinese Evergreen is extremely poisonous when ingested. If children or pets chew on the leaves, they will experience extreme irritation in their throat and on their lips and tongue.
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3. Corn Plant
The Corn Plant is a common houseplant that only requires normal indoor lighting and an occasional watering. The plant features a middle stalk with thick leaves that spider down from it. The leaves are a vibrant green with a beautiful yellow stripe in the center. It can grow up to 6 feet indoors, but they are easy to be kept short with just a little bit of pruning.
An added benefit of the Corn Plant is that it is known to purify your indoor air. NASA conducted a clean air study in which they observed the effects of certain plants on toxins in the air and found that plants like the Dracaena fragrans can help remove those toxins.
Also Known As
- Dracaena fragrans
- Cornstalk Dracaena
- Dragon Tree
*Warning* If you have pets, the Dracaena isn’t the best choice. If your dogs or cats chew on the leaves, the results can be fatal.
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4. Fiddle Leaf Fig
The Fiddle Leaf Fig is a house tree with unique leaves. The tree gets its name because the leaves are shaped like the body of a violin. Like the Dracaena, you can cut the tree back if it begins to grow too tall. If you want a massive houseplant for the corner of a room, this may be the plant for you as the Fiddle Leaf Fig grows to about 15 feet tall and 5 feet wide. Just make sure the plant has access to indirect sunlight, and wipe the leaves clean of dust every few weeks. The Fiddle Leaf Fig is a beautiful and easy plant for a busy homeowner.
Also Known As
- Ficus lyrata
*Warning* Fiddle Leaf Figs are toxic to pets, so it is best to avoid this plant if you have cats or dogs.
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5. Snake Plant
You have probably seen the Snake Plant around from time to time. This common houseplant features long, hard leaves that stick up out of the pot like charmed snakes. If you have trouble keeping plants alive or take frequent business trips, this is a plant that doesn’t need to be watered often. As long as it’s at least 60 degrees in your home, the plant will be just fine.
The plant grows vertical out of the pot so it will never grow wider than what it is planted in. The leaves usually max out at about four feet tall, making it the perfect plant for compact spaces. If you live in a warmer climate, you can also plant your Snake Plant outside and it will grow just fine.
As an added benefit, Snake Plants have been shown to improve the quality of indoor air. A study by NASA has shown that these plants can cleanse the air around them of toxins such as formaldehyde.
Also Known As
- Sansevieria trifasciata
- Viper’s Bowstring Hemp
- Mother-in-Law’s Tongue
- Saint George’s Sword
*Warning* The Snake Plant is toxic to dogs and cats. It can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
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6. Golden Pothos
The Pothos is probably one of the most popular houseplants a homeowner can buy. The plant has vine-like stems with large, heart-shaped green and yellow leaves growing off of them. To ensure that your Pothos stays alive, keep it out of drafty areas in your home and never over-water it.
This is a great plant because you can keep it small if you are lacking space. If you want to get some real style out of it, you can let the stems climb. Attaching a moss pole or small trellis to the back of the pot will cause the stems to climb upward and show off their beauty. This plant also looks great if you hang it from the ceiling and let the vines hang down. The body of the plant is small, allowing you to hang it in a corner and keep it out of the way.
Also Known As
- Epipremnum aureum
- Hunter’s Robe
- Silver Vine
- Solomon Islands Ivy
- Taro Vine
*Warning* Hanging the plant is the preferred method, because the Philodendron is poisonous to both humans and animals. Chewing on the leaves or stems will irritate their throat and mouth and could cause serious illness.
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7. ZZ Plant
The Zamiculcas zamiifolia, also known as the ZZ plant, is a great option for people who don’t want to put a lot of time into their plant. The stems grow vertical, much like the snake plant. However, this plant has regular stems with dozens of small leaves on them instead of just single, thick leaves. The plant has extremely low water requirements, so you aren’t required to stay home babysitting it as much. Even with regular neglect, this plant can live for a long time.
Also Known As
- Zamioculcas zamiifolia
- Aroid Palm
- Fat Boy
- Eternity Plant
*Warning* This plant is poisonous if eaten by pets or children.
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8. Spider Plant
The spider plant is a fun plant that is just about as common as the Philodendron. These great plants have thin, long leaves that spider out of the soil. The leaves are dark green around the edge with light green and cream stripes through the middle. It is worth noting that the Spider Plant is non-toxic to both dogs and cats, according to the ASPCA.
The best part about the Spider Plant is that they have “babies” after a while. After a while, you will notice smaller spider-like growths form at the end of the leaves. You can gently pull off the spidery growths and plant them separately into their own pots. One of your Spider Plants can create dozens more over time. Eventually your house will be full of plants for the price of one. Once you run out of room, give one to a friend! These plants only grow to be about a foot tall, and they can live for decades with low light and periodic water from the homeowner.
Also Known As
- Chlorophytum comosum
- St. Bernard’s Lily
- Airplane Plant
- Spider Ivy
- Ribbon Plant
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9. Rubber Tree
The Rubber Tree is another plant that you have probably seen around. The Rubber Tree has dark green, oval leaves branching off from its stems. The Rubber Tree only needs an occasional watering to live for several decades, maybe even longer. The tree gets its name because the leaves feel like rubber. The feeling comes from the milk sap it produces to defend itself. You can let it grow as large as eight feet tall or trim it into shrub.
Also Known As
- Hevea brasiliensis
- Pará Rubber Tree
- Sharinga Tree
*Warning* All parts of the Rubber Tree are poisonous to animals if ingested.
10. Succulents and Cacti
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Succulents are known for being super easy to care for. These plants are great for beginners because all they really require is a good amount of light. You only need to water them every once in a while, allowing the soil to dry completely in between. In fact, these plants often do better the less you fuss with them, so avoid repotting them or moving them around too often. Succulents are the perfect unique plant for someone who can’t be bothered to spend more than a minute or two caring for their plants.
Cacti are actually a kind of succulent, and they make great house plants as well. Cacti are used to challenging weather conditions, such as drastically changing temperatures, lack of moisture, and other conditions common to the desert. If you are looking for an easy and unique houseplant, consider bringing in a cactus plant.
Suggested Variations
- Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii)
- Bunny Ears (Opuntia microdasys)
- Golden Barrel Cactus (Echinocactus grusonii)
- Burro’s Tail (Sedum morganianum)
*Warning* While many kinds of cacti and succulents are non-toxic to cats and dogs, there are a few, such as the Pencil Cactus, which can harm your pets if they ingest it. On a similar note, if your plant has thorns it can harm both you and your pets. It is best to do research on your desired type of cactus or succulent before you bring one home.
Even if you were not blessed with a green thumb, you can still have a beautiful assortment of plants in your house. Celebrate National Houseplant Day the right way by picking up one or two (or more) new green additions to your home. If you have pets or small children running around your house, be sure to do plenty of research in order to prevent these family members from snacking where they shouldn’t.
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