LIFESTYLE :: 10 EASY INDOOR HOUSE PLANTS TO ELEVATE YOUR SPACE
Hey there Meltys! Because most of us are still adjusting to more time spent at home, I wanted to share some of my easy low maintenance plants with you. Hope this inspires you to add some greenery in your space xx
FYI -All images are of my own indoor plants. Some plants may be toxic to pets so please check before you bring a plant home to them.
SNAKE PLANT
I was gifted my first indoor houseplant from my mum. She gave me a mixed bunch of odd looking Sansiveria aka Snake Plants. Over the past two years these guys have really straightened themselves out and have grown super tall. I’ve found them to be really easy to keep in all sorts of natural lighting. They tolerate low light, bright indirect light and even a bit of direct sun.
I water my plant once every couple or so months during winter and once a month or two in summer. The only realistic way you could kill it by accident is by overwatering it. Think of it as a cactus when it comes to watering.
2. PHILODENDRON
I purchased my first Philodendron about a year ago from Green Beanz. It was a Philodendron Cordatum Gold. To be honest I purchased a whole lot of plants during winter of last year. I think that’s when I really went a bit cray cray over indoor plants.
Though a very slow grower if not given alot of bright indirect light, it is still a striking plant and super easy to care for. I water it once every 10 days or so and it really is a joy to see such a bright pop of planty neon in a dark hallway.
This plant has a particular way that it likes to grow -it’s quite a unique trailing plant.
3. POTHOS
One of my very first plant purchases was a beautiful Golden Pothos from Bunnings Warehouse in Kirrawee. I was struck by its beautiful greenery with splashes of variegation. Especially by the way it looked in a decorative pot on its wooden stand and the way it vined up its earthy timber support.
Since then I have learned not to overwater this popular plant (once every week and a half) and not to repot it during the cold winter months. I now have so many new Pothos plants and varieties that I have successfully propagated myself. From water to spaghnum moss then into soil.
This one is great for vining up a support or trailing down. Though the leaves will grow bigger over time if you vine it up.
4. ZZ PLANT
Like the Sansiveria the Zanzibar Gem is also one of the easiest plants to care for. Keeping the same watering routine as the Snake plant it too tolerates low light and grows tall and compact.
When I first purchased my ZZ from Natures Colours it was exquisite. It arrived already set in its new decorative pot and exploding with many glossy leaves and thick healthful stems.
I made a rookie error of separating the plant assuming it would outgrow its pot in a couple of months. But this plant grows from bulbs and likes to be a little clumpy and smooshed together in the soil and even a little root bound. So make sure you leave it be and it will continue to thrive in its snug holding.
5. SYNGONIUM
Truly a lover of indirect low light this Arrowhead plant is a delicate leafy beauty. A few of these bunched together in a larger pot stole my heart at Bunnings. So easy to care for I water it every 10 days and it gives me life, that’s it. Considering the coloured nature of this variety you’d think it would be a diva but it’s surprisingly super low maintenance.
I’m excited to see this one continue to grow and shoot out larger leaves. And looking forward to when it climbs up my coco coir pole. I want it full and bushy in all its glory.
6. SCINDAPSUS PICTUS
I’ve found Scindapsus to root really easy in soil. They thrive in bright indirect light but can also tolerate low light. With a similar watering pattern of once every week and a half or so.
I now have a bunch of various Scindapsus in my collection. My favourite being the Silvery Anne and the Extoica variety. I’m also looking forward to the Exotica leaves getting humungous (known for that). My Silvery Anne will also look glorious as I bush it up with more cuttings and as it grows and begins to trail down.
I was thrilled to have won the Silvery Anne cutting off of an Ebay auction. Ebay has been my go-to for rare plants and cuttings, just be sure to do your own research on the seller before bidding.
7. AGLAONEMA
Highly underated is the Aglaonema aka Chinese Evergreen plant. With its low light tolerance and striking foliage in a variety or colours and patterns. Its watering needs tend to be the same as most here. I’m amazed at how Aglaonemas don’t get as many mentions as the rest of the plants in this list!
I truly adore this plant and have multiples in all different varieties with one of my larger ones purchased from More Plants. The Spitfire and Dalmation (pink ones) really stand out in a mixed planter of greenery and really elevate the overall look.
If you have any of the plants in this list you should definitely pick up an Aglaonema.
8. HOYA
Surprisingly so. Yes. Hoya. They can be a vigorous grower but what a statement they make with their hardy succulent-like leaves not to mention their cute little blooms. Some of which are strong in scent so do your research before selecting the one you like best. I picked my Hoyas up from sellers on eBay.
I’ve found Hoya to like a bit of morning sun directly on their leaves so try popping this one infront of an east facing window. Humidity encourages growth but it’s not a necessity. Water every 10 days or if in a dryer potting medium (cactus soil) perhaps weekly.
Make sure you have space for this one. Train it on a support or let it trail down! Hanging baskets work well with this one too.
9. ANTHURIUM
My favourite of the flowering indoor plants is definitely Anthurium. There are so many varieties to choose from and I love all of the flowering colours. To be fair I had to stick with the colours that would work within my space. Which was generally the pinky/purple ones. I gave my others to family with much struggle.
Anthurium do need bright indirect light to flower however will remain evergreen in medium/low light. I top water every week to ten days and make sure the roots are soaked through.
I have 3 larger Anthurium in a mixed planter. My goal is to have them flowering all at the same time. My most recent purchase was a beautiful pink/white/green flowering Anthurium from More Plants.
10. PEACE LILY
This plant was one of the first flowering varieties I bought. One thing I will recommend is to buy a Peace Lily from a smaller business as sometimes the bigger nurseries have ones with alot of soil disease and bugs that are really hard to see or notice until your plant is already on its last legs and you weren’t sure why (yes this happened to me - hah!). Initially I was watering this plant weekly however my Peace Lilies thrive when watered once every 10 or so days.
One of my favourites is the Spathiphyllum Platinum Mist which I sourced from Home of Houseplants. It has a beautiful blue/silver sheen to its foliage. Once you get a bloom from a Peace Lily it will stick around for at least a month. You can also up-plant to a bigger pot and over time it will grow into a giant plant. I keep my various Peace Lilies in mixed planters.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF HOUSE PLANTS
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