Best indoor plants for people who suck at taking care of plants

“The fast-growing shoots actually produce little ‘babies’ which you can propagate giving you more spider plants to share with friends.”

In the 1970s, the humble spider plant was as trendy as bell bottom pants. But it’s also one of the easiest house plants to care for, especially if you pop it in a well-lit place. All you have to do is keep it well watered in the summer, then scale back its moisture in the winter. Misting the leaves every so often to increase humidity and keeping it above 45°F will ensure a happy plant and all you have to do is repot it if it thrives a bit too much.

Kirsty Wilson, Herbaceous Supervisor at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh says: 

An Instagram favorite, every trendy house needs a Monstera — just skim the hashtag #monsteramonday for inspiration. It’s an impressive plant with its large, glossy, heart-shaped leaves, which develop their distinctive perforations as they mature. The plant likes a bright position in the home — but not direct sun — as well as damp soil, but not too wet, so go easy with that watering can. 

Monstera comes from tropical rainforests where its roots help it climb into the tree canopy, so if you want yours to be a prime specimen, “gently push the aerial roots into a moss-covered pole,” Wilson says. And don’t forget to show off its progress on Insta, obviously.

If the snake plant (also known as mother-in-law's tongue) is good enough for NASA, it’s good enough for your home. The US space agency used the plant in its famous clean air study because of its natural capacity to convert poisonous substances into oxygen, and it’s a great choice for bedrooms because unlike other plants, this one gives off oxygen while you sleep. A snake plant needs a big pot because it’s a fast grower, likes a light spot shaded from the sun, and loves a bit of central heating. 

“This plant is originally from the desert so don’t give loads of water — allow the soil to dry out thoroughly between waterings,” Wilson says. “Better too little water than too much.”

Love is in the air with this unusual plant and its heart-shaped leaves. String of hearts plants are popular on Instagram and look great in a macramé hanging basket. The plant itself is fast growing but you can easily trim it back if it becomes too straggly to make it look good on a perfectly curated shelf. 

String of hearts love to be in bright light (but out of the direct sun) and away from drafts. Wilson says: “String of hearts is extremely easy to look after and very tolerant of neglect, but give it too much water and kiss it goodbye!”

Sadly, keeping a Chinese money plant won’t make you rich, but its coin-shaped leaves appear to stack on top of each other as they grow, which is cute. 

“It’s a quirky looking plant referred to by some as a friendship plant because it propagates so easily and quickly,” Wilson explains. The little plant will keep growing coins if it’s kept out of strong sunlight and drafts, and isn’t left sitting in water. So the best way to keep it alive is to let the soil dry out between waterings. Unlike with saving money, less is more here.

To propagate the babies, use a clean, sharp knife to cut out the offshoots, then pot in clean, moist soil. It should take root within a few days.

The stylish peace lily is native to the tropical rainforests of Colombia and Venezuela. It offers a full clump of soft, dark pointed leaves with elegant white bracts in between. “These are often thought to be flowers, but the actual flowers are small and on the spike (also called the ear),” Wilson says. 

As well as being pretty, the plant filters toxins from the air, so why not pop one on your desk and takes some deep breaths? Peace lily likes a bright spot (but not in full sun) as well as warmer rooms. A plant spray or mild shower will make the peace lily think it’s back in the rainforest and you should remove wilted flowers to encourage the plant to bloom for longer. It’s definitely a pretty pick.