We all love houseplants, but so many of us are also convinced that we “have a black thumb” or “just aren’t good with plants”. Even experienced gardeners often have a disconnect when it comes to caring for houseplants and helping our indoor plants thrive. We can’t speak to the psychology of that, but we can help by suggesting some hard-to-kill houseplants for both new and experienced gardeners in order to help you liven up indoor spaces while also ensuring that the plants you install stay alive. So if you’re struggling with houseplants or if you know someone who might need a bit of help getting started with houseplants, this might just be the article for you. Let’s dig in!
Gardzen Executive Summary:
· There’s no such thing as a “black thumb”, but for folks who are new to houseplants hardier or hard to kill species might help them get started.
· While no plant is truly “unkillable’, there are houseplants that are more tolerant of forgetfulness or challenging conditions, and these might be perfect for some indoor spaces or indoor gardens.
· This is only a partial list of “unkillable” houseplants; there are plenty of other options out there.
· Your local garden club, nursery, or master gardeners program might have more information specific to your part of the world.
· The right containers, temperature and humidity, and watering schedule can make a difference.
· Outdoors or indoors, gardening and plant care are always a learning process—and yes, you can learn to care for houseplants!
Unkillable Houseplants (For All Gardeners)
With most of these suggestions, we’ll assume that we’re talking about purchasing or acquiring mature plants rather than seeds or seedlings. While starting plants from seeds and working with seedlings is hugely rewarding and opens up many new options for gardeners, it’s also all a bit trickier and we want to keep this easy. So here are some suggestions for starter houseplants that are tolerant of a wide variety of conditions and can handle a bit of neglect when it comes to their care:
· Spear Plant, also known as African Spear Plant (Dracaena angolensis) is a succulent native to southern African and in particular, as the name suggests, Angola. While spear plant can grow up to 7 feet/~2 meters tall in the wild, it stays much smaller in containers and thrives as an indoor plant. They do like bright light but do not require much watering; once every other week is generally enough during their growth season. In fact over-watering is one of the biggest mistakes that spear plant owners make! The spike-shaped leaves are a wonderful variegated green. Spear plant provides vertical interest much like snake plant does, but it’s different enough to be novel as well.
· Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior) gives us a clue in its popular name—this plant is tolerant of neglect and will put up with a variety of light conditions, temperature conditions, and irregular watering. It does like good drainage to prevent root rot, so please keep that in mind. The reward is a lovely green plant with long, dark green leaves (12-20 inches/30-50cm) and striking lobed flowers that open to display a rich maroon interior.
· Chinese Evergreen (Anglaonema spp.) does have some varietals which are intolerant of cold temperatures, but if it has a roughly room temperature environment (above 59F/15C) it can and will grow in a wide range of other conditions. So for folks in warmer climates, this is a great choice as a difficult to kill houseplant and those in chillier places can select a cold-hardy varietal. Native to tropical and subtropical Asia, Anglaonema species have been cultivated for years for their lovely alternating silver-green leaf coloration and their reputation as a good luck charm. In an office space, the foliage is discreet enough to be tasteful but striking enough to bring interest and color. This makes it a great selection for an indoor plant!
· Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia spp.) is also known as “leopard lily”. This native of Mexico and the Caribbean is often confused with Chinese evergreen (Anglaonema spp.) which is part of why we’re listing it here. These are distinct plants, with complimentary appearances. Dumbcane features large, deep-green leaves which feature standout white stems or ribs and in some varietals white flecks throughout. It’s another tasteful-yet-engaging plant that stands out either on its own or as part of an indoor garden space. Some varietals are mildly toxic, so this may not be the best choice for households with children or pets.
· Baby Rubber Plant (Peperomia obtusifolia) is another tropical native to the Americas and is also known by the absolutely adorable name “pepperface” for reasons we’ve yet to discover. While it prefers bright indirect light, it will tolerate periods of low light; direct sun will burn the leaves however. It requires very little watering—let the soil dry out between watering sessions—and thrives in medium to low humidity. The multicolored leaves—green and yellow/white with red-pink edges—make this a beautiful plant for any indoor space!
Houseplants Are For Everyone!
Houseplants are a great place to start in gardening. We’re firmly of the opinion that indoor gardening is a wonderful way for apartment dwellers or mobility-limited folks to create and enjoy a garden space and we hope that this guide helps anyone interested in houseplants get started. Remember: no plant is actually unkillable, but these will tolerate minimal care and a variety of conditions such that they’ll feel hard to kill. If you have other suggestions for tough houseplants, let us know in the comments or via email. Gardzen is all about community and we love to hear from you!
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