Gardening can be a wonderful way to relax and create a beautiful area to enjoy and show off. Unfortunately, not everyone has the space for outdoor plants or the green thumb needed to keep them healthy and thriving. For those who want to try their hand at gardening but aren’t comfortable with plants that need a great deal of care, there are a few options to make this easier.
There are many unkillable plants that you can grow indoors, keeping them close at hand to keep an eye on without the constant maintenance and supervision required with more delicate specimens. If you’re interested in trying your hand at some houseplants that need minimal care, check out our top 5 options.
Cacti
One of the best unkillable plants is the cactus since they require little to no maintenance and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors to choose from to enhance your home. Cacti are found in desert areas, so they are used to surviving with minimal water and can store what they’re given to stay alive during droughts. Though you can water them once a month or so, it won’t hurt them if you forget now and then.
Cacti do need a lot of sun, so be sure to place them near a window. They also need a special potting mix with good drainage to prevent the plant from rotting. You can buy this mix with the cacti or make as much as you need at home.
Overall, cacti are an excellent choice for forgetful gardeners. They can sit for well over a month with little no care and still grow happily.
Devil’s Ivy
Another one of the best unkillable plants to grow in your home is Devil’s Ivy, also called pothos. It’s a climbing plant that can be started in a vase with water and then moved to soil after the mature roots have formed, so you can start new plants whenever you like and share them with friends. The soil should be a type that drains well, like cactus potting mix, to avoid too much moisture.
When it comes to watering the Devil’s Ivy, you can get away with doing so once each week.. If you happen to forget, don’t worry about killing this plant since it can handle a few weeks without moisture. It also shouldn’t be placed in direct sunlight, though a range of other light is fine.
Though it does require a bit more water than the cacti it’s sunlight needs are significantly less. This makes it a great choice for those growing in lower light areas.
Lucky Bamboo
Lucky bamboo, also called Dracaena, is one of the most unkillable plants there is since it can handle a great deal of neglect and still survive. You also don’t need any special soil or fertilizers for this one since it needs only a vase, a layer of pebbles to hold the stalks up, and a couple of inches of water. You can also stick a few of the stalks in one vase which can create some very interesting displays.
To care for this hardy plant, you only need to add a bit of water each week or so, though forgetting now and then won’t cause too much damage. You can also change the water now and then, though again, it will continue to grow if you forget for a few weeks.
Lucky bamboo also doesn’t like direct light, so be sure to keep it away from windows. Low light is best, so you can place the vase on a shelf, end table, or even in a bathroom if you like.
Snake Plant
Snake plants, or Sansevierias, are hardy and low maintenance, so even those with the blackest thumbs can have a thriving plant when choosing one of these. The leaves are individually rooted, growing straight up, with a unique look that resembles flames. The coloring is also unique, with varying leaf widths and interesting marbling along the length.
These plants are native to West Africa, so they are used to minimal moisture. They need infrequent watering, so you can add a bit every 2 to 8 weeks, depending on the dryness of your home. Check the soil to be sure it is bone dry before adding more to prevent overwatering. If the leaves begin to wilt, turn yellow, or soften around the base, you’re watering them too often.
The stunning Snake plants can be grown in cactus potting mix and require houseplant fertilizer a couple of times a year, making them extremely easy to maintain and very low maintenance. They also only need a bit of low light, so they can be placed almost anywhere in your home.
ZZ Plants
ZZ plants, also known as Zamioculcas or Zanzibar gems, are an elegant plant that comes from eastern Africa. The leaves are small, with a lovely glossy green color, and grow upwards off of the stem in a very organized pattern that is eye-catching without being overpowering.
These unkillable plants need very little water, so you should only need to add some moisture a couple of times each month during its growing season and even less when it’s gone dormant. ZZ plants are poisonous, though, so be sure to wash your hands well after touching them and keep them out of the reach of children and pets.
You don’t need any special soil for this little beauty, as long as it drains well. You may also want to add some liquid houseplant fertilizer each month to ensure it’s getting the nutrients it needs.
Indirect sunlight is best for the ZZ plants, so keep them away from the windows for the healthiest plants possible. Shady areas are best, so you can tuck this little plant into a corner out of the way.
Best Unkillable Plants
Though there are a few more hardy options available, the ones we’ve listed here are the best 5 unkillable plants you can grow indoors with minimal effort and care on your part. These are also good starter plants for those who have never attempted to care for a plant before and aren’t ready for the more high-maintenance or delicate plants.
