Easy Houseplants: 6 Effortless Indoor Plants
Updated: Feb 16, 2021
If you love plants but don’t have the greenest thumb or don’t have all the time to give that extra care consider one of the following plants.
Spider Plant
Botanical name: Chorophytum Comosum
Light
Medium-light: bright indirect, low light tolerable but avoid direct sunlight.
Basically, this plant will be happy anywhere you place it.
It just may grow a little slower in low light.
Watering
Preferably the spider plant likes to stay on the moister side, but they will be if slightly dried out between waterings. I would avoid leaving it bone dry.
Environment
Spider plants aren't picky, normal humidity of 30%-50% is pretty good for them although they would hate a little higher. Same with temperature, an average of 18°C-25°C (64°F-77°F).
Toxicity
Non-toxic meaning you don't have to have a heart attack when you see your baby chewing on a leaf of your spider plant baby. Non-toxic to both humans and pets.
Pothos
Botanical Name: Epipermnum Aureum
Light
Medium-light: bright indirect lighting, low light tolerate
Pothos come in many different varieties, many variegated. That variegation will fade if not exposed to enough light. Keep that in mind if you bought that gorgeous Golden Pothos for those amazing golden specks, to make sure it gets plenty of bright light.
Watering
Pothos will not hate you if you forget it for a few days but it won't survive your three-week vacation to Mexico either. Your pothos will let you know when it thirsty, its leaves will droop down and curl up, or you can also stick your finger in the soil to see how dry the soil is.
Environment
Most pothos will do great in normal humidity, some with thrive in higher humidity like the marble queen. And normal house temperatures 18°C-25°C (64°F-77°F).
Toxicity
The one and only negative is yes, they are toxic to humans and pets if ingested. So if you do have a fur baby or a little toddler who loves to put everything in their mouth you might want to stay clear of this one or at least put it up high and away out of reach, because I mean who can say no to a Pearls and Jade!
Snake Plant
Botanicals name: Sansevieria/Dracaena
Light
Medium-light: bright indirect light, bright and low light tolerate.
Direct sunlight? Bring it on the sun. Oh, that window has blinds? All good! Bringing me to your office where you have a north-facing window blocked by buildings? I'll be chillin'.
Watering
These guys don't like to be wet at all, in fact, dry it out so it's done dry. Overwatering will be the death of your snake plant.
Environment
If you like a cooler house temperature this one probably be a perfect fit! Snake plant can tolerate as low as 15°C (59°F), but will also thrive in 30°C (77°F). They like it on the drier side but will do well in normal to high.
Toxicity
Although only low levels, the snake plant is toxic to your fur baby; not causing death but nausea, upset stomach and diarrhea.
Rubber Tree
Botanical name: Ficus Elastica
Light
Medium-light: Bright indirect light
You're catching the pattern, right? Just sticker her anywhere and watch her get taller and taller.
Watering
You can dry out your rubber tree all the way if you are worried about over watering but don't leave her bone dry for too long, if leaves start to fall off you've waited too long! You'll know when to water your rubber tree because the leaves will start to droop and will also get soft to touch. In the summer months, they do prefer to be on the moister side.
Environment
I wouldn't go lower than 15°C (59°F), avoid any rooms that are a bit cooler, a comfortable 18°C-30°C (64°F-77°F) is ideal. Normal humidity will do but we all wouldn't hate a little higher am I right?
Toxicity
There are very low toxic levels to humans but you may want to keep it away from your pets.
Chinese Evergreen
Botanical name: Aglaonema
Light
Medium-light: bright indirect
Chinese evergreens come in few different varieties, some may not be tolerant to direct sunlight and may burn so keep that in mind when finding the perfect spot.
Watering
These guys can go a long time without a drink of water, you can let her go bone dry but make sure you give her a good soak once it's time for watering. let all the water drain out of the drainage hole properly, they do not appreciate wet roots.
Environment
This is another one to get if you like your home on the cooler side, comfortable for them is 16°C - 22°C (60°F-71°F). Normal humidity for this guy no humidifier needed.
Toxicity
Keep this one on the top shelf because it is toxic to pets and humans.
Aloe Vera
Botanical name: Aloe
Light
Medium-light: bright indirect light
You can pretty much put this one anywhere and it will do fine just keep in mind that the more light is given to the plant the faster and thicker it will grow.
Watering
Aloe Veras do not like to be left wet, give this one a few weeks in between waterings then give it a good drink.
Environment
Another one that is chill with whatever you like. Comfortable can be anywhere from 15°C -30°C (59°F--77°F) and normal to dry humidity (30%50%).
Toxicity
Aloe vera is used in many medicinal and beauty products but it's not to be ingested and can make you sick. maybe just keep it on the top shelf away from the little troublemaker in your life.
Did I miss something? Have a trick up your sleeve o how to get rid of pets? Let us know! Comment below.