Houseplants breathe energy and life into our homes; they’re also extremely healthy benefits as they’re able to clean the air. This is why coming home to a lackluster plant complete with shriveled, drooping leaves is the last thing you want!
There are a number of causes for this, many of which include a lack of care for the plant, which is often down to a hectic work schedule, traveling a lot or simply forgetting to water your plants. This is when forgiving houseplants come in handy, especially those that don’t require frequent watering to survive…
Top forgiving houseplants
A number of houseplants are extremely forgiving, and the most popular ones include:
- Snake Plant
- Bromeliads
- Jade
- Pothos
- Rubber Plant
- Dieffenbachia (or Dumb Cane)
- Philodendron
More about low-maintenance plants for your home
Forgiving houseplants are often deemed as such as they require extremely low levels of maintenance to survive. Here is a low-down on some of your best options, along with guidance on how to look after them.
The Snake Plant
Also known as mother-in-law’s tongue or the ribbon plant (botanical name Sansevieria), the snake plant is a succulent dressed with waxy, thick leaves. It’s equally as attractive as it is undemanding. It’s a great plant to place in a large room with high ceilings, as it is tall and elegant.
It can also survive for days without water – great news for the busy individual who still wishes to create a green oasis in their living or dining room.
In addition to its low maintenance qualities, it’s also a good choice for novice gardeners, as it requires little sunlight and can withstand temperature fluctuations. It’s a popular choice for the home environment because of its air-cleaning properties and aesthetic appearance.
Bromeliads
Bromeliads require little but bright light to flourish. Give them this and they’ll give you an abundance of colorful blooms and attractive looking foliage. They are native to the family of monocot flowering plants and boast 51 genera and an impressive 3,475 species that are currently known about.
They are native mainly to the tropical Americas, however, a few species can be found in the American subtropics. There is also one known variant in tropical West Africa, which goes by the name of Pitcairnia Feliciana.
The Jade Plant
This common houseplant – which also goes by the name of Crassula ovata, the lucky plant, money plant or money tree – comes in the shape of a succulent plant embellished with delicate pink or white flowers.
It’s native to the Eastern Cape of South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal province and Mozambique. Jade plant care is both hassle-free and simple, which is why many people worldwide enjoy growing these plants in their homes and offices.
Pothos
This is arguably the easiest of all houseplants to grow, even if you’re a very forgetful person who seldom remembers to water their plants. This trailing vine boasts cute heart-shaped leaves that are pointed and rich green shade. They are sometimes patterned with yellow, white and pale green hues.
Although this species of plant enjoys bright, indirect light, it is also renowned for excelling in areas that don’t get a lot of suns. It can even thrive in offices with fluorescent lighting.
One major advantage of growing pothos in your home is the fact it’s high on the list of air-purifying plants. It has been proven to rid the indoor air of harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde, trichloroethene, toluene, benzene, and xylene.
Rubber Plant
This easy-to-care-for indoor tree is another popular option for those who wish to inject their homes and offices with a little greenery, yet are quite simply too busy to give the plants they buy their full attention. It reaches an impressive height and boasts attractive, large glossy leaves.
The Rubber Plant is described as being the easiest of the ficus trifecta to preserve and keep alive. For best results, place this medium to a high houseplant in an east to south exposure, where is able to gain access to bright natural light all day long.
Don’t however let it have too much direct, sunlight, as it can burn.
Dieffenbachia (or Dumb Cane)
Dieffenbachia comes in the shape of a perennial herbaceous plant complete with a very straight stem, adorned with simple yet alternate leaves, some of which boast interesting flecks and white spots. This makes it a popular option for those wishing to add a little indoor, maintenance-free foliage to their homes.
Species in this genus are also extremely tolerant to shade. It is native to the West Indies, the New World Tropics from Mexico and Argentina. It is widely cultivated today as an ornamental plant.
Philodendron
This is no shy plant! In fact, if you watch for the signals, it will tell you exactly what it is lacking in. For many years, philodendrons have dominated interior gardens and they still do to this day.
Even the busiest individuals and the most inexperienced houseplant owners will have no trouble growing these plants, mainly because they are able to adapt readily to the home environment.
This houseplant is able to thrive indoors all year round and never complains. They also enjoy the odd trip outside and don’t get stressed when moved. Simply pop the shrub in a shady spot when the weather allows.
Taking the shrub outdoors will also give you a chance to flush the soil with plenty of clean water, which will, in turn, clean the leaves.
For best results, place this plant in an area that has bright, indirect sunlight. Close to a window is a great idea, but avoid allowing the sun’s rays to touch the foliage, as it can burn and the leaves will then change an unsightly shade of yellow.
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