There are two kinds of people in this world: some tend to their plants as though they were their literal children, and then there are those who are so neglectful they can barely keep a plant alive. Whether you're in the latter group or somewhere in between, we've got a tip for you: stop going for the plants that are hardest to keep alive, and get your houseplant journey going with some of these gorgeous greens that are easy to keep alive. Keep scrolling to get your green thumb going.
Licuala Orbicularis
Looking at this incredible houseplant, you'd be forgiven for thinking that this was one of the most high-maintenance houseplants on this list. After all, just look at those stunning and unique fan-shaped leaves! But you'll be happy to know that Licuala Orbicularis requires very little plant maintenance. As long as you water it once a week (topping up every time the top inch of soil dries out) and keep it in a lightly shaded area, it'll thrive.
If you want to maintain its beauty and strength, it's advisable to water this easy houseplant with lukewarm water that's also been distilled or filtered. But you can pick that up fairly easily from the store.
Snake Plant
Officially called Dracaena Trifasciata, this plant is also known as the snake plant - or mother-in-law's tongue. And while it may look incredibly high-maintenance (perhaps like your mother-in-law), you'll be happy to know that this is one of the easiest houseplants you can have in your home. That's because this houseplant is a succulent, which famously requires very little watering. To be more specific, you should only have to water this plant once a month.
But as it's a succulent and native to hotter regions of the world, a snake plant does require constant sunlight. That's why this easy houseplant is better suited to windowsills.
Caladium
Although this houseplant looks like something from Stranger Things, the Caladium plant is a tough cookie. It's extremely resilient and perfect for those who want to keep their plant maintenance to a minimum, but it also has the added bonus of being unique and beautiful. To keep this plant healthy, water it when the soil is slightly moist and give it a little bit of sunlight - but not too much.
As this easy houseplant is native to the rainforests of South America, it's used to living in a humid environment. So, if you live in a humid city, that's also a major bonus.
Amate Umbrella Tree
Native to the rainforests of New Guinea and Australia, the Schefflera Amate (or amate umbrella tree) is a tropical plant that is used to humid environments - but it can also go a few weeks without watering. The general rule of thumb when it comes to this easy houseplant is that you should just keep an eye on it and water it when the soil is dry. So, you don't have to have a specific watering schedule.
If you also place this easy houseplant away from direct light, it should thrive in no time. In fact, it can grow to huge heights and prove to be a real focal point in your home.
Floriana Dieffenbachia Dumbcane
While this plant may have one of the longest names we've ever seen, there's no denying the fact that it's also one of the most beautiful houseplants we've come across. It's also extremely easy to care for, as you only need to water it once every few weeks. But if you want to make sure that the leaves stay colourful and leathery, it's also a good idea to keep this plant in a warm and sunny location.
To truly see this houseplant shine, you might also want to consider fertilizing this plant every few months. This will keep it in tip-top shape, especially during the colder months.
Monstera Deliciosa
Everyone knows about the Swiss cheese plant, right? This houseplant is arguably the most popular houseplant in the world. But while many people assume that it's hard to care for this giant houseplant and its equally as giant leaves, we're here to tell you that it's not as difficult as you think. You just need to water it when the soil is dry and keep it in bright, but indirect sunlight.
In fact, the more sun a Swiss cheese plant gets, the more holes you'll get in the leaves. You just want to make sure that it's not being scorched in the process.
Alocasia Frydek
If you're looking for an exotic houseplant that requires very little plant maintenance, look no further than the Alocasia Frydek. This plant does require regular watering, but you don't need to worry about giving them a big drink. They just need a little top-up every few days to ensure that they have enough to keep them going. Plus, they hate direct sunlight - which means you can keep it anywhere in your home.
In fact, Alocasia Frydek hates direct sunlight as it will burn and scorch the leaves. And as the leaves are the most beautiful aspect of this easy houseplant, you definitely don't want to do that.
Gynura Aurantiaca
This easy houseplant is also called 'purple passion,' and you can probably see why. With its vivid purple color, this plant really does stand out from the crowd. To maintain its color, it's important to keep it watered, but you don't have to go overboard with a watering schedule. You should water once every 1-2 weeks to keep the soil moist and keep it away from bright light to avoid scorching.
If you forget to water this plant every so often, it's not the end of the world. The purple passion plant actually enjoys drying out once in a while, and thrives when it's watered again.
Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosum is more commonly known as the spider plant, and you probably don't need us to tell you why it's been given this moniker. This houseplant is perfect for novice gardeners, as it will maintain this level of foliage and pop of colour with very little plant maintenance. In fact, all you need to do is water a spider plant once a week and keep it in a relatively sunny area of your home.
What we love most about spider plants, however, is that you can easily have an unlimited supply. That's because spider plants grow their own spiderette "babies" that can just be repotted!
Devil's Ivy
Plants come with all kinds of mood-boosting benefits, but what you might not realize is that houseplants can also help to purify the air. That's exactly what this houseplant does, anyway. But while devil's ivy does a lot for you and your home, you'll be happy to know that you don't need to do a lot for it. You just need to water it once a week and give it a relatively bright place to live.
However, the devil's ivy is quite hardy, and you could get away with watering it less if you forget. But maybe put a reminder on your phone just in case you're prone to forgetfulness.
Prayer Plant
Known by its official name of Calathea, the prayer plant is a thing of beauty - but it's also perfect for those looking for a low-maintenance plant that's easy to care for. In fact, it's considered to be one of the best easy houseplants for beginners as it requires just a small amount of watering once a week. But it's not the end of the world if you don't remember a week or two.
But if you want to make sure that this prayer plant has the best plant parent around, you should also make sure that you keep this easy houseplant out of direct sunlight.
Dendrobium Lindleyi
Did you know that the Dendrobium Lindleyi is actually a type of orchid? You might not be able to tell by looking at it, but this houseplant is actually extremely easy to maintain. It requires very little plant maintenance - especially in the winter. In fact, you should water it around once a week during the summer months, but during the winter, you can take that down to once every 10-14 days.
If you want to encourage the growth of these beautiful, bright flowers, it's also a good idea to place this houseplant somewhere it can take advantage of partial sun. It likes to be warm, but not too warm.
Aloe Vera
There's a high chance that you're already familiar with aloe vera. You might even have it in some of your face creams or body lotions! But did you know that aloe vera is a very easy houseplant to grow at home? It doesn't require a huge amount of watering, but you do need to make sure that you water it when you notice that the soil is completely dry. Plus, it loves the sunlight.
Because of this, it's a good idea to place your aloe vera plant somewhere it can soak up as much sun as possible. Somewhere like a windowsill would be perfect for this houseplant.
Arrowhead Plant
Officially called Syngonium podophyllum, this houseplant looks more like a cabbage than a houseplant - but at least it's one of the easiest houseplants to look after, right? Although it prefers to live in a bright and sunny spot (although not so bright that it'll scorch the leaves), the arrowhead plant can still grow in low light if it really has to. You don't have to water it too much, either.
You don't have to stick to a watering schedule with this plant. You just need to feel the soil every week or so, and if it's dry, give it a water!
Areca Palm
Palm trees are famously very easy to care for, and they require very little plant maintenance - but they still look pretty awesome. This is the case with the areca palm, which is famed for its large, fan-like leaves and its care requirements. To help this easy houseplant thrive, you just need to water it every few days (ideally with low-salt water) and give it some bright, indirect sunlight to enjoy.
As this palm tree is native to tropical landscapes, it's also a good idea to mist the leaves with water every few days to maintain the high humidity it loves so much.
Jade Tree
A no-nonsense and easy-to-care-for houseplant that everyone will love is the jade tree. With its thick, luscious leaves and its delicate flowers, this plant will make a great addition to your home. But don't worry; you don't have to have a strict watering schedule for this houseplant. You just need to water it when you notice that the soil is fully dry, as you want to avoid waterlogging at all costs.
The jade tree is also perfect for those in low-light apartments or homes, as it's extremely adaptable. Sure, it would love a bit of indirect sunlight, but it won't grumble too much if it doesn't get that.
Brighamia Insignis
As you've probably already noticed, many of the easiest houseplants on this list have many different names - and this one is no different. The Brighamia insignia is also called the Hawaiian palm or the Alula, so it's up to you what you want to call it. It's also up to you to create your own plant maintenance schedule for this plant, as it needs to be watered every 7-10 days.
The aim is to only water this plant when the soil is dry, so it may even be that you can wait even longer than that. You should also aim to keep it in bright but indirect sunlight.
Rattail Cactus
Everyone knows that cacti are the easiest houseplants around, right? These plants are used to living in the desert, so you could get away with not watering the rattail cactus for weeks before it shows any signs of dryness. However, it's still a good idea to water it every so often, making sure you only water it again when the soil is fully dry. Of course, its desert history also means that the rattail cactus needs a very bright home.
But if you can give this easy houseplant a good home, it'll certainly thank you for it. The tendrils are super unique, and look really cool as they spill down the side of the pot.
Dracaena Fragrans
You may not have heard of Dracaena fragrans, but we're going to go out on a limb and say that you have heard of this plant's moniker, the corn plant. Although you might be disappointed to see that it doesn't look like corn on the cob, this easy houseplant is still beautiful to look at - and you don't have to water it very often. Once every two weeks should do the trick.
This plant is perfect for those who want to steer clear of strict plant maintenance, as it's very adaptable. It'll thrive in low light or bright light, so it all depends on what you can offer it.
Red Apple Plant
With its pop of red and stunning leaves, it should come as no surprise to learn that the red apple plant is a popular choice for those looking to add houseplants to their home. It's also one of the easiest houseplants, too. You don't need to stick to a strict watering schedule with this plant, as you should just water it when the soil is dry. It also loves full sun!
If you pop this houseplant in direct sunlight, you'll be greeted with these beautiful red flowers. But if you give it shade, the flowers won't have enough energy to grow.
String of Pearls
Many of the houseplants on this list are named after the thing or things they look like, and we think you'll agree with us when we say that's the case for the string of pearls plant. This plant quite literally looks like many strings of pearls - but you'll be happy to know that they're not as expensive to look after as real pearls. To keep this houseplant happy, you just need to water when the soil is dry.
This plant is very drought-tolerant, though, so you don't need to be too strict with this rule. Especially if you keep it somewhere it can have bright but indirect sunlight and a little bit of shade.
Vanda Orchid
While most of the easiest houseplants on this list prefer being planted in a pot, what's so intriguing about the vanda orchid is the fact that this plant prefers to expose its roots to the air. This means that you can hang it up rather than plant it in a pot - which is perfect for those with limited counter space. And while they're easy to look after, you need to make sure you water them frequently.
You can soak the plant in water on a weekly basis and keep it spritzed with a spray bottle filled with water. To keep it in top shape, it's also a good idea to prune it regularly.
Philodendron Grazielae
Philodendrons are very popular houseplants, and the Philodendron graziele is a firm favorite among those looking for easy houseplants. While it looks luscious and green, this houseplant can actually be left to its own devices for the most part. All you need to do is water it weekly and give it a home where it can have bright, indirect sunlight. If you can, it's a good idea to make its home fairly humid, too.
One of the easiest ways to do this is to spray it with water every so often. This means that you can up the humidity without making your home unbearable to live in.
Money Tree
Although it's officially called Pachira Aquatica, this houseplant is more commonly known as the money tree - but sadly, it doesn't grow money! Instead, it grows beautiful green leaves and a braided trunk that really makes it stand out from the crowd. It's also an extremely hardy and adaptable houseplant, requiring very little plant maintenance in the way of water and light. In fact, you just need to water it once a week.
You should make sure that the soil dries out in between watering, but keeping it in bright and indirect light should help with that. It likes the warmth, but not too much.
Yucca
If you've ever tried South American or Caribbean food, there's a high chance that you've tried yucca. But did you know that you can actually grow yucca as a houseplant? It requires very little plant maintenance, too. To grow this easy houseplant at home, you should place it somewhere it can get constant sunlight and keep it well-watered. About once a week should do the trick for the yucca plant.
However, it may be that you don't need to water as often as that. The trick is to water it when it's dry, so that might be a little longer depending on your conditions.
Lucky Bamboo
Most people are familiar with bamboo, but some people don't realize that you can actually buy smaller species of bamboo to grow as houseplants. This is the case with lucky bamboo, which offers twisted stems that can be bent in so many different directions and patterns. Like all bamboo, this houseplant is also very easy to care for and only needs watering once a week. It also thrives in bright sunlight.
However, you need to make sure that you don't give your lucky bamboo constant sunlight. Although it loves the bright rays and the warm temperatures, it needs a little break in the shade every now and then.
Bromeliad
Is this one of the coolest houseplants you've seen, or what? As you can probably tell by the thick leaves, the bromeliad holds a lot of water in its leaves, which means it's one of the easiest houseplants to care for in terms of watering. You only need to water it a little once a week, and if you find that it looks dry in-between waters you can simply give the leaves a mist with water.
This houseplant also tends to shy away from bright sunlight and high temperatures, which means that this plant will still thrive even if you have a low-light house or apartment.
Hen and Chicken Fern
You can probably tell by looking at this plant that it's a fern. And like all ferns, the hen and chicken fern is pretty adaptable - as long as it gets the humidity that it loves so much. This means that you should water it once a week but keep it misted and keep it in a little bit of shade. But what we love so much about this easy houseplant is how it actually propagates itself.
When they've grown around 2 inches, the plantlets from the hen and chicken fern actually drop down into the soil and start growing from there. So, you can have an unlimited supply in no time!
Fiddle Leaf Fig
The fiddle leaf fig is one of the easiest houseplants anyone can buy. It's extremely resilient and can take some neglect if you forget it every once in a while, but, of course, you should aim to keep to a schedule. Ideally, a fiddle leaf fig should be watered once a week and be given a bright home but still a little shaded. If you give it all that, you should be rewarded with a happy and healthy plant.
You should have a constant supply of beautiful leaves if you care for it this way, but just remember to allow the soil to dry out before watering to avoid waterlogging and root rot.
Albuca Frizzle Sizzle
And the award for the coolest houseplant name goes to the Albuca fizzle sizzle! This houseplant is just as unique as its name, and while many people don't know too much about it, you might be interested to know that it's perfect for beginners. All you need to do to keep this plant happy and healthy is water it when the soil is dry and keep it in the sunlight.
Plus, one of the things we love most about this easy houseplant is the fact that it actually smells like vanilla. This makes it a great and welcome addition to any home.
Peace Lily
With its long stems and delicate white flowers, the peace lily is one of the most majestic houseplants on this list. But while you may assume that it requires a lot of TLC, that's a common misconception. To keep the peace lily in tip-top condition, you just need to make sure that you water it once a week and keep it primarily in the shade. However, it does like a little bit of sunlight if it can get it.
Although the peace lily is one of the easiest houseplants you can buy, you need to be careful if you have a cat in the house as they are toxic to cats.
Red Edged Dragon Tree
If you're someone who struggles to maintain a watering schedule for your houseplants, the red edged dragon tree is for you. It's incredibly drought-tolerant, so it can go without water for a couple of weeks. However, if you want to maintain its red color and its vibrancy, it's a good idea to give it a spray of water twice a week and keep it in a bright yet slightly shaded location.
However, you should be careful if you have pets and choose to add this easy houseplant to your home. Although it looks beautiful, this houseplant can be deadly to animals.
Aloe Polyphylla
This plant is also called the spiral aloe - and you probably don't need us to tell you why. The spiral pattern of this aloe vera plant is unlike anything we've ever seen. And while it looks extremely high maintenance, the aloe polyphylla is suitable for beginners and novices alike. In the winter, you only need to water it once every 1-2 weeks. In the summer, it'll need a bit more.
As you can imagine from a desert plant, this houseplant also thrives in the sunlight. So, you'll be able to keep it happy and healthy if you give it a sunny place to live.
Christmas Cactus
As suggested by the name, the Christmas cactus is particularly popular during the festive period thanks to its red leaves and its unusual look. But you can still look after this houseplant year-round. As these plants are native to the mountains of Brazil, they prefer damp environments and shade - but that doesn't mean that you have to water them often. In fact, you only need to water them once ever 2-3 weeks.
You should stick to this sparse watering schedule, too, as the Christmas cactus can die when it's overwatered or given too much sunlight. So, keep it out of the way of windows.
Aglaonema Chinese Evergreen
The Aglaonema Chinese Evergreen is one of the easiest houseplants for those who can't quite get on the same page as their plant's watering schedule. It can deal with both overwatering and underwatering, but in an ideal world, you'll just water this houseplant when the soil is dry and it looks like it needs a drink. Of course, you should also try and keep it out of direct sunlight if you can.
As these plants also love humidity, you could also give them a little spritz of water in-between waterings if you're feeling generous. But they won't die if you forget to do it.
Chinese Money Plant
The Pilea Peperomioidesis a popular houseplant known as the Chinese money plant. And while we'd love to tell you that this easy houseplant grows $20 bills out of its leaves, that's not the case. However, there's no denying that the coin-shaped leaves are pretty impressive. It's also very easy to care for and requires watering once a week, but you should also spritz it with water every now and then to maintain the high humidity that it loves.
You should also pop this houseplant somewhere where it can get sunlight, but not all day. A windowsill that gets afternoon shade would be an ideal location for this particular plant.
Blue Moon Peace Lily
Peace lilies look luscious and robust, and that makes them a brilliant option for those who want to keep their plant maintenance to a minimum. And while they like being in the sunlight, it's important to keep them well-watered during this time in the sun. In the summer, you might even want to mist the leaves to maintain the high humidity that they like. But aside from that, you only have to water once a week.
If you keep your blue moon peace lily as healthy as possible, you also have the added bonus of this houseplant purifying the air in your home. So, you won't need to buy an air purifier!
Flamingo Flower
Most of the easy houseplants on this list are green and luscious, which makes the flamingo flower such a popular choice for those who want to add some color to their home. Yes, this plant looks the part - but you'll be happy to know that it doesn't require too much hard work. If you can, try and water it every three days, but it's not the end of the world if you don't do that.
You should be ok to water it just once a week, but keep your eyes peeled for yellowing leaves. If you spot any signs of yellow leaves, you're watering the plant too much.
Lady Palm
Palm trees are the perfect option for those who want a big houseplant without the big list of plant maintenance that can often go with it. This is also the case for the lady palm, which offers thick leaves that will make a real statement in your home and very few requirements. To see this palm grow to a huge size, you just need to make sure that you keep it in indirect sunlight.
During the summer months, you should also water it when you notice the top inch of soil seems dry. During the winter months, however, you can reduce that to the top two inches.
Air Plant
As you can probably tell by the name, the air plant only needs air to grow. This means that you don't have to pot them soil, and you can quite literally hang them from your ceiling if you want to. This is great for those who don't have a lot of space in their home, but also great for those who don't want plants with a lot of maintenance. In fact, all you have to do is soak an air plant in water every 10 days.
You should do this for around 2-3 hours at a time, and then you can put them back in their home. In an ideal world, this home offers bright but indirect sunlight.