Best Low-Maintenance Plants that Love to be Ignored

You love plants and their greenery but are afraid and don’t know how to take care of them.

Or do you just want to go with the trend of using plants as interior design to make your home a tropical oasis but are anxious to start?

Indoor plants can add life to any room of any home when carefully selected. Horticultural writer and author Veronica Peerless says there is a garden saying ‘Right plant, right place’ and that applies also to plants.

These low-maintenance plants are perfect for beginner gardeners. They are durable and require minimal care, yet provide clean air and beautiful decor that will impress you and your guests. The plants are easy to grow but look great, so you’ll enjoy them for years while becoming an expert gardener along the way.

12 Best Low-Maintenance Indoor Plants

Snake plants ( Sansevieria trifasciata, Dracaena trifasciata )

potted snake plant in the bedroom

Dracaena trifasciata formerly known as Sansevieria trifasciata is classic and always present in any indoor garden set-up and interior design. This is a succulent plant that can withstand long periods of drought. It can store water in its stems as reserves when the soil has completely dried out.

While these plants thrive in bright, direct sunlight, they are also quite adaptable to lower light conditions. They can tolerate low to medium light, making them perfect for spots that don’t get as much sun. Their versatility and durability when it comes to light and watering make them a go-to choice for landscapers and interior designers alike.

Snake plants are extremely forgiving and thrive with neglect. Not to mention its beautiful columnar structure that has been used for landscaping and indoor living decoration.

Peace Lily ( Spathiphyllum )

peace lily

Peace lily is a popular indoor plant known for its dark green foliage and elegant white flowers. They’re great for adding a touch of greenery to any room and are also believed to help purify the air by removing harmful toxins.

Peace lilies are easy to care for and can thrive in low-light conditions and neglect making them a popular choice for offices and homes. They prefer moist soil but can tolerate occasional dryness, and should be watered when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.


Aloe Vera ( Aloe barbadensis miller )

aloe vera plant

Aloes are drought-tolerant succulent plants perfect for your table counter or on a bookshelf. This is not just an ordinary houseplant but has health benefits as well, especially to your skin and scalp. Just like the snake plant, it thrives in bright, indirect light and is a drought-tolerant plant.

Overwatering is usually a killer for succulents for it can lead to root rot. Only water this plant when the soil has gone dry and the pot is already light. That’s your clue.

Cactus (Cactaceae)

potted cacti

Cacti are a diverse group of plants that come in a range of shapes, sizes, and colors. They’re known for their unique ability to store water in their stems, allowing them to survive in dry environments.

Cacti are low-maintenance plants that are easy to care for and can be great for beginners or those with busy schedules. They prefer well-draining soil and only need to be watered once a week or less, depending on the humidity and temperature.

ZZ Plant ( Zamioculcas zamiifolia )

zz plant in a white pot

This indoor plant is native to Africa. Another low-maintenance plant with thick succulent stems and leaves. This plant thrives in bright, indirect light and a well-draining mix. Let the soil dry out between watering, and place them near a sunny window to get enough light.

Feng Shui experts believe that this plant brings good fortune and luck if placed near a window or a door. ZZ plant has become a famous indoor plant not only for its attractive foliage but also for what it brings to your home.

Spider plant ( Chlorophytum comosum )

spider plant in a pot

Spider plants have lovely foliage and can clean toxins in the home. This famous indoor plant flourishes in bright, indirect light but tolerates low light set-up too. If your home doesn’t have natural light coming in, you can invest in artificial light to aid its healthy growth.

Spider plant is considered to be easy plants since they thrive with neglect and don’t require a lot of TLC.

Pothos

pothos plant in a golden pot

Pothos is a popular low-maintenance houseplant. There are different pothos plant varieties with beautiful foliage and all of them are easy to care for.

These plants are drought-tolerant and don’t need nor require too much attention. Pothos are trailing plants that you can grow and climb on a pole or hang in a hanging basket or even its pot.

You can use pothos as fillers when you’re trying to make a living wall garden in your home for they can fill tiny gaps and fix irregularities in your plant structure.

Pothos plant is also an air purifier and brings beauty and charm to any living area or balcony.

Scindapsus

scindapsus plant

With their trailing vines, variegated leaves, and elongated, kidney-shaped leaves, scindapsus are often mistaken for pothos plants. Their visual similarities have led to scindapsus being dubbed “satin pothos” or “silver pothos.” However, while both are members of the Araceae family, scindapsus and pothos belong to different genuses – Scindapsus and Epipremnum, respectively.

What sets scindapsus apart is the attractive white spots dotting their leaves, except for the popular Scindapsus moonlight treubii variety with its solid gray-green coloring.

Like pothos, scindapsus are extremely low-maintenance plants. They tolerate drought, low light levels, and even some neglect as long as their soil is allowed to fully dry out between waterings. Their hardy nature allows them to thrive when other plants would wilt.

Philodendrons

heart shaped philodendron vines in the kitchen

Philodendrons are highly adaptable to various light levels and environments. They only need infrequent watering once the topsoil has dried out. If neglected, philodendrons tolerate missed waterings quite well.

These plants have few nutrient requirements and are easy to propagate from cuttings. Their resilience to pests, disease, and irregular care make philodendrons ideal low-maintenance houseplants.

Money Tree ( Pachira aquatica )

money tree plant

With its ability to thrive in a variety of light conditions, adapt to inconsistent watering, and withstand the occasionally missed care routine, the money tree is known as an easy-to-care-for and extremely forgiving houseplant. Money tree’s resilience allows beginner plant owners to enjoy its unique braided trunk and lush palm-like leaves without worry, as it will tolerate some neglect.

Even experienced houseplant enthusiasts appreciate Money tree’s unfussy nature and straightforward needs, making it a stress-free, low-maintenance way to add bold, tropical style to any indoor space. Thanks to its easygoing and forgiving personality, Money tree has earned its reputation as a highly adaptable and simple-to-maintain houseplant.

Lucky Bamboo Plant ( Dracaena sanderiana )

lucky bamboo

Dracaena sanderiana is a popular indoor plant that’s known for its easy maintenance and attractive appearance with its upright stems. It’s a great choice for those who want to add a touch of greenery to their home or office without spending too much time or effort on sustenance.

With just a little bit of water and occasional fertilizer, lucky bamboo can thrive for years, and its elegant stems and leaves are sure to brighten up any space. Plus, it’s believed to bring good luck and positive energy, making it a thoughtful gift for any occasion.

Succulents

potted succulent plants

Succulents are small plants known for their thick stems and visually appealing leaves that come in diverse shapes and sizes. Particularly easy to care for are beautiful succulents like the string of dolphins, string of pearls, string of bananas, and varieties from the Echeveria and Haworthia families. Their attractive foliage and adaptability make them perfect for small spaces.

Succulents don’t need much room thanks to their compact size. Plus, they are extremely drought tolerant, which requires very little maintenance overall.

Frequently Asked Questions

The snake plant is considered to be a bedroom type of plant since it also performs photosynthesis by converting carbon dioxide into oxygen even at night. So while the plant is working you can have a good night’s sleep with clean air.

Aloe vera, snake plants, pothos, and spider plants are the best plants that you can get oxygen from. Most of these plants are already mentioned in the section above as easy maintenance types of plants too.

Pothos. Whether you plant them in soil or put it in a glass vase with water, they will grow. This climbing plant can grow up to 65 feet tall when fully mature.

All plants need sunlight for photosynthesis. Light is the plant’s primary source of food. However, there are plants that can tolerate low-light conditions such as pothos, calatheas, aglaonema, peace lily, snake plants, and philodendrons. Remember, not all low-light plants are also easy to care for.

You can get these plants are your local nurseries, online or here at Plantly.

Whether you want to buy, sell or simply reach out to other plant enthusiasts, Plantly is the right place to be!

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