My Top 10 Low Maintenance House Plants
If you’re anything like me, you simply LOVE house plants but also don’t want to spend your whole time looking after them.
I once said to someone (slightly tongue in cheek!) that I like my plants like I like my friends “low maintenance!” Obviously a slightly flippant remark as I’d do anything for my friends, but I think you know what I mean!
A home without a few plants is a pretty unwelcoming place and the benefits of having a few botanical pets around the house is well documented.
House plants aren’t just great to look at they can also be a real mood elevator providing a feel-good factor without the need for wine (!)
Here are just a few points to back this up…
· Plants are mood boosters increasing creativity and productivity
· Certain plants will clean the air by taking in toxins, producing oxygen and increasing humidity
· Plants can help reduce stress and fatigue
· Plants will bring life to otherwise barren areas and offer great sound barriers
· Caring for plants can actually be quite therapeutic – they love being talked to as well (fact!)
So, what are the best house plants for the busy human in this hectic world?
Well, here is my personal top 10 and whilst not definitive its not a bad place to start!
10. The Sanseveria aka Snake Plant or Mother in Law’s Tongue (probably not so PC any more!)
Unbelievably easy to care for and the one I have at home probably gets a drink once a month if that. They are slow growing, robust and architectural. There are quite a few different variants but my favourite remains the more familiar Sanseveria trifasciata. They will grow to around 1m in height but generally you’ll find them around half that or smaller. They love good light, a dry atmosphere and a little bit of plant feed in the longer daylight time. Water once a month but don’t over soak the soil. If you’re lucky they’ll produce a delicate flower spike on occasion (mine has done this once in 9 years)
9. Euphorbia trigona aka African Milk Tree
This striking plant looks like a cactus – understandably so – but is actually a succulent from the enormous family of Euphorbia family. Its spiny 3-sided stems (hence trigona) can reach a height of around 15m but don’t let that put you off, it’s unlikely to flourish that much in a home environment! However, in the right conditions it will easily grow to 1m or more and provide years of statuesque enjoyment. As with all succulent type plants the moisture on which it thrives is stored within its fleshy stems, so watering is minimal – around once a month is ample. A nice light position – the Euphorbia trigona will tolerate some direct sun too, so ideal for a conservatory or summerhouse – and you’ll have this rugged beauty in your botanical family for years.
8. Monstera deliciosa aka Swiss Cheese Plant
The once much maligned Monstera is back in everyone’s good books! Its retro appeal may be one reason, its unbelievably easy-to-manage lifestyle another. Its big glossy leaves benefit from regular cleaning with a damp cloth and it will tolerate as much light as you can throw at it, although too much direct sunlight may scorch the leaves. A good drink every other week will be ample (maybe less in the darker months) and the relative warmth of the home is plenty good enough and they will love a bit of misting to replicate the tropical mist in the wild. Filtered water, or even water left out overnight, is particularly good for the Monstera but really isn’t essential. Just be aware, in the right location and conditions these tropical beauties can grow pretty quickly so be prepared to trim if necessary!
7. Zamioculcas zamiifolia aka the ZZ Plant!
Native to eastern Africa this elegant house plant is famed for its arching branches adorned with glossy leaves to the tips. The Zamioculcas will love being in a well lit position near a window but don’t need tons of sunlight to help it flourish. Watering is generally straightforward and as with so many plants its often better to neglect a little rather than spoil them rotten. Too much water will cause root rot and potential collapse of the stems (and we don’t want that!), so once every other week is plenty. They can also get quite pot bound but this is normal, so replanting is not always advised.
6. Crassula ovata aka Jade Tree or Money Plant
These succulent mainstays are commonly seen in the windows of Chinese Take Aways as they are meant to bring good luck and prosperity and the small round leaves resemble jade coins that symbolise wealth and success. All I know is that if you want one of the most reliable house plants out there then you can’t really go wrong with the Crassula ovata. Minimal watering, plenty of light – mature plants will withstand a bit of direct sunlight too – and a regular warm household temperate will result in a plant that will practically become a member of your family. There are loads of different Crassula and it is really worth checking some of the other varieties too – they are all as easy as this favourite.
5. Pilea peperomioides aka Chinese Money Plant
An absolute favourite with the younger generation and, although sometimes confused with the Crassula ovata, the Pilea peperomioides is the true Chinese Money Plant that hails from Southern China but has similar ‘mystical’ qualities of bringing good fortune to those who care for it. They are easy to propagate too and the practice of sharing cuttings of your plant has become quite a thing! They love to be in moist soil, but you can allow it to dry out for a couple of days in between. Like so many plants they don’t want to be soaked and this may turn the leaves yellow. If they are looking a bit droopy then this is usually a sign they need a drink. The Pilea peperomioides will grow to around 30cm in height however check out this Crazy Plant Guy on YouTube – he takes it to another level! https://youtu.be/rnrOjOcZGTA
4. Epipremnum aureum aka Pothos or Devil’s Ivy
No Top 10 plant list would be complete without the Epipremnum! An Instagram favourite and there is a large community of plant lovers out there sharing their stories of Pothos love. They are almost (I say almost!) indestructible. They are as happy growing up a pole or hanging from a high shelf. The Epipremnum is native to the French Polynesian area in the Pacific and as such enjoy a warm tropical atmosphere. Whilst they love a fair amount of light they can cope pretty well with lower light positions. As long as they don’t dry out too much,they will give you years of trailing (or climbing) happiness!
3. Seneccio rowleyanus aka String of Pearls
My top 3 was a hard choice… I love them all equally. However, I had to make a decision and this delicious little beauty comes in at number 3. The Senecio family is vast but the extremely cute rowleyanus will always have a place in my botanical collection. The are native to the drier regions of South Western Africa and are the perfect plant for those who may occasionally forget the watering regime! They hate being wet so the soil can be left to dry out in between watering and I always advise to water from underneath if possible. The Senecio rowleyanus looks divine placed on a high shelf in a funky pot or basket and produces long trail of fine bead-like leaves up to 90cm in length. Straggly trails can be removed and propagating is easy in well drained compost. They love plenty of light including a bit of sunlight. If you wish to encourage the plant to flower then leave it in a cooler spot (13-16C) during winter and cut back on the watering. This may boost its flowering potential and its definitely worth it, the flowers are pretty spectacular for such a small plant!
2. Hoya linearis aka Wax Plant
This stunner is one amazing trailing spectacle. They are not so easy to find but I always keep my eyes open! The Hoya linearis thrives in full light conditions and certainly doesn’t mind drying our in between watering. However, you do need to be mindful that unlike some of the other fleshier Hoya, the linearis fine needle shaped leaves won’t retain as much water. My advice would be a little watering each week – especially for well established plants. But don’t fret if it dries out a bit, they really won’t mind. Hoya are native to warmer climes, like most house plants, so won’t thank you for getting too cold but you can let your Hoya go a little dormant in the winter months by placing them in a cooler location. The ideal location though, would be a bathroom where there is plenty of humidity. If you are lucky the Hoya linearis will show off its tiny waxy white flowers with their sweet lemony scent. A truly beautiful plant that will always be a firm favourite of mine.
1. Ceropegia woodii aka String of Hearts
And so to my favourite little botanical gem! I remember years ago when I was competing in Floristry competitions I had my plant suppliers request from the grower the largest/longest Ceropegia woodii they had. As I had plenty of time – 6 months or so – the grower took one of his “crop” and grew it on as much as he could. I wasn’t disappointed! The trails were over 2m long and the pot was around 30cm in diameter – it was spectacular! Following the competition we split the plant and divided it in to several smaller pots; it was very cherished (I won the competition too!). If you’re looking for a plant that doesn’t take up too much space, is pretty simple to manage and will provide interest and verdant décor to any location in the home then the Ceropoegia woodii is hard to beat. Okay, sometimes they can get a bit straggly, but remove any of these trails and let the others flourish. It is a good idea to keep them relatively moist during the summer months but let them dry out a little in between. Like most plants the brighter and warmer the location the more water they crave. In the winter months you can cut the watering down to around twice a month although to be honest mine at home might be more like once a month! Propagation is simple and you can make many more plants from the one “mother” plant by taking a longer trail, snip it off and place it either into a small vessel with clean water until it roots (may take a while) and then transfer to a small pot of soil or similarly place a cutting into sand/soil mix (to help with drainage), spray with with water often and wait for the roots to appear. Further information can be found here
So there you have it…!
I could easily choose another selection on another day but these botanical buddies are often the varieties I turn to when suggesting low maintenance house plants.
Most house plants are absolutely fine with minimal care and attention - there are just a few that are more fickle, ferns for example that will prefer a more humid location, but even they are happy in the relative warmth and humidity of a bathroom for example.
I hope you enjoy whatever plants you have at home and remember, they don’t need to become members of the family and it is okay to “upgrade” to hardier specimens if you wish! Although they love being talked to I don’t think they have actual feelings!
For further information and inspiration on plants of all sorts visit The Joy of Plants to which many of the images here are credited.
Written by David Ragg November 2022