Are you looking for houseplants that don’t take a lot of care and maintenance? Here is a list of 3 low-maintenance houseplants that will survive even the brownest of thumbs, proving that anyone really can raise plants.
Snake Plant
AKA: Mother-in-law’s tongue, This plant is the easiest to take care of. The snake plant uses very little water and can adapt to most lighting situations, including low light. We have one at the nursery office that has been here since 1989.
If you purchase a snake plant, the only thing you can do to kill it is to overwater it. Snake plants will suffer root rot if their soil stays too wet or they are left in standing water.
One downside to this easy-care plant is that they are extremely toxic to most pets. However, their ability to clean the air is a definite plus! Some varieties of these plants can grow to be 8 feet tall, with proper care that is. Depending on the plant size to pot ratio, your plant will thrive with watering every week to two weeks during warmer months and about two weeks to once a month during the cooler days. You may fertilize your plant with slow-release or liquid fertilizer, but stop fertilizing before winter gets here and resume in the spring.
Spider plant
The spider plant is sometimes called the airplane plant and is another carefree plant. As long as it has ample light and slightly moist soil, it will be as happy as a bug in a rug. Overwatering will cause root rot. Watering your spider plant once every week or two weeks should be sufficient if you water it thoroughly. Let it drain and pour off any excess water. This keeps the tips from turning brown. If the temps get high you may need to water a little more often. A good rule of thumb is to feel the soil. If the soil is dry to the touch give it a drink of water.
Eventually, the plant will put out babies. When these babies form roots, you may cut them off and put the babies in a pot with soil. Give them as gifts.
The most common problem with spider plants is the leaves turning brown. This generally means it is being over-watered or under-watered. So, always remember to be mindful of the soil and how it feels to the touch.
Since indoor winter heat drys out the air inside the house, keeping a spray bottle filled with water to mist your spider plant occasionally will increase humidity. Your spider plant will love you for it.
Spider plants are non-toxic to pets and humans!
Jade Plant
Through the ’70s the jade plant, or money plant could be found in a great number of homes as it was believed to be good luck and often given as a housewarming gift because people believed that joy and prosperity would also soon move in.
Jade makes a great choice for a houseplant with its glossy, thick green leaves and woody stems it looks complicated. However, don’t be put off by how it looks. Jade is a succulent. Therefore, you do not have to remember to water as often. As for light, they are tolerant of most lighting conditions except for direct sunlight or very low light such as you would have in a room with no windows or no windows that ever get sunshine.
Jade can prove to be toxic to pets and humans. The leaves will irritate the stomach lining and cause distress and vomiting, though they rarely cause death, the toxicity level seems to be higher for pets.
So, there you have it, a short list of some of the easiest plants to grow in your home, even if you don’t have a green thumb. Stop fearing the plants, just get them! You will be happy you did.
HAPPY HOUSEPLANTING!
—DELORES
Check out this informative article about pothos.
