The Best Low Maintenance House Plants

I love my house plants.  Not only do they make my rooms look lush, stylish and trendy, they also have the added benefit of being good for my health and the health of my home.   Indoor plants clean contaminants from the air and have a positive effect on my mental health. I think you can’t go past having some living green house plants in your home.  

But let’s be honest.  It’s not always as simple as grabbing some plants and putting them on the table.  If you are a beginner and don’t know what you are doing, you might have some very unhappy plants on your hands.  And let’s be frank, a dead or unhappy plant does not bring with it the same benefits as a lush healthy happy one.  Not everyone has a green thumb, nor the time or knowledge to dedicate to a high maintenance plant.  Nor does everyone have the perfect light filtering through the windows of their home or the exact ambient temperature required for every types of plant.  Luckily you don’t need a degree in horticulture to have plants in your home, you simply just need to know which plants are hard to kill. 

There are heaps of low maintenance easy house plants out there to choose from, but here are what I think are 3 of the best low maintenance easy care indoor house plants which also hard to kill.

1. Snake Plant (Sansevieria)

The snake plant, also known as mother-in-law’s tongue or ribbon plant, is a succulent with sword like, thick, waxy leaves. It is one tough plant that loves being in its pot. Plus it is a perfect choice for people who have found indoor plants difficult in the past; you can put it just about anywhere in your home.  This succulent is great because it stores water in its leaves which means if you forget to water it or go on holiday for a few weeks it will still be happy and providing you with all the benefits that houseplants have to offer. However, this plant is toxic to cats, dogs and people if ingested, so make sure to keep it out of reach.

2. Cast-iron Plant (Apidistra)

The cast iron plant got its name because it is one of those plants that can survive almost anywhere in your home.  It doesn’t like direct sun as it can scorch its leaves, but otherwise they can handle a variety of light conditions, including that corner which doesn’t get much light at all.  This plant can tolerate a wide range of temperatures and even low humidity.  They are pretty damn hard to kill and it grows from a rhizome, which is an underground stem that stores food and water.  Perfect for those of us who don’t have green thumbs and might unintentionally forget to water them.

The cast iron plants gorgeous rich green leaves are perfect for giving your home that natural  green healthy feel.  Keep in mind that this is a slow growing house plant, so make sure to buy one that will fill the space well.   Another reason to choose the cast iron plant for indoors is that it is non-toxic and safe for our pets and family.

3. Peace Lily (Sathiphyullum)

The peace lily is an easy low maintenance plant which produces gorgeous white flowers.  It can grow in a variety of light levels, including minimal light.  These plants also are very tolerant of fluorescent lighting, air-conditioning and heating, so are a great choice for your desk at work as well.  We all know plants can’t talk, but the peace lily is a great communicator, telling you when it needs a drink because its leaves will droop.  If you do forget to water it a couple of times, don’t’ stress too much as this plant is tough and will bounce back again with just a little bit of love. It’s a super star, making it onto NASA’s list of best plants to clean the air, so it is a great choice for your home or office.

Unfortunately, we can’t all be perfect, and neither is the peace lily.  It is toxic, so keep it out of reach of pets and toddlers.

I think having indoor plants in your home is something everyone should do, and knowing which plants are easy to look after and are low maintenance make this so much easier for everyone to get started on. 

Finally and most importantly, don’t forget that plants are great listeners, supportive and will never disagree with you.