These Eight Houseplants Are Perfect for Beginners
For a long time, despite my experience with outdoor gardening, I avoided indoor plants. I felt that houseplants rely too much on you. They don’t bear fruit and kind of… sit there. But due to the pandemic, I decided my living room needed more life and built a plant wall . This was the beginning of a love affair with indoor plants. The key is to start with plants that are easy for beginners to grow. I recommend starting with large leafy plants rather than succulents, as new leaves have a higher payoff. Here are the plants I would consider.
Pothos
I love walking into someone’s house and seeing a pothos vying for the spot. Do you see those long trailing plants crawling up someone’s walls and shelves? They are most likely pothos, and they come in a wide variety of patterns and colors . Although there are solid green pothos plants, the variety of possible leaf varieties is astonishing. There are also yellow varieties such as Golden Pothos. This is a light and difficult to destroy plant. Little is required – use a relatively shallow planter, water once a week and give a little plant food from time to time. Support trailing vines as they begin to grow by using plant clamps along the wall. Pothos can easily fill a large space and will grow with you over time.
Monstera
Monsteras appeared a few years ago and remain very popular. There are varieties of Monstera that can cost thousands of dollars, but the basic Monstera deliciosa is simple and cheap. (If your friend has one, you can easily propagate it.) Monsteras are a split-leaved variety of philodendron. Some varieties develop holes (these varieties are called cheese varieties). One of the beauties of monsteras is that they can be left in water rather than planted in soil, which is what I do.
Spider plant
Spider plants were extremely popular in the 70s and have become a staple ever since. Spider plants get their name because they easily form branches, much like strawberry plants; Each “baby” spider can be cut off and turned into a separate plant. Spider plants grow larger, so your main concern will be to ensure the pot the plant is in is large enough. Otherwise, spiders are easy to care for: hang them and wait for the spiders to “jump” out of the pot.
bamboo plant
Outdoor gardeners tend to avoid bamboo because of its tendency to spread. Indoors, bamboo is popular and a common gift item. Bamboo doesn’t require much light, prefers low to medium light, and doesn’t even require soil. You can plant it in rocks or glass pebbles; you just need to keep the roots submerged in water. Bamboo can be given a light fertilizer once or twice a year.
Iron plant
If you’re looking for a larger plant that’s safe for pets, consider cast iron . With tall, long, graceful leaves on tiny but strong stems, cast iron is plant passive. Of all my plants, it requires the least attention. Once a year it produces several new leaves, some of which stick straight up and some of which hang over the edge of the pot. Like other plants, cast iron has varieties that are more interesting than the standard green variety, with variegation and color changes.
Ferns
There are more ferns than you can imagine, and they come in all different shapes and textures. I’m constantly excited about new varieties that I fall in love with. Most people are familiar with asparagus ferns , which in my opinion are the most resilient. They send out branches with tiny spiky leaves that can become quite fluffy. Aitian ferns have tiny, delicate leaves that look like you want to pet them. I’m obsessed with cotton candy ferns , they’re so fluffy and soft and grow to giant pillow size. Bird’s nest ferns produce hand-like leaves with finger-like tips. Finally, there are some majestic ferns, such as the Antler Fern , which can be hung on a wall but can also live in a flower pot. Ferns love indoors and don’t need as much sunlight as other plants. They like moist but not wet soil. What’s great about ferns is that they tell you how they’re feeling. You can tell if they need more water if they become saggy.
Philodendron
If you like monsteras, philodendrons are for you. There are many varieties available and they do well indoors in pots. Whether hanging or in a standing pot, philodendrons want to grow. They will send out giant, leaf-reaching leaves on thin stems, and if necessary, they will also send out aerial roots. You need to make sure there is enough room in the pot for the root ball, and this may mean increasing the size of the pot from year to year. Philodendrons require the same amount of water as ferns and require occasional light feeding.
Aloe
I make an exception to my avoidance of succulents because of aloe for obvious reasons: its benefits. Aloe has a long history of use to soothe burns and rashes. Aloe plants require a decent amount of indirect sunlight, so unless you place this plant near a window, it will need some light. Aloe doesn’t like wet feet, so don’t over-water, but if the leaves turn yellow, it’s a sign that it’s not being watered enough. A succulent soil mixture will do.
Where to find indoor plants
There will inevitably be plenty of nurseries near you with houseplants, but also consider finding friends who have plants you like. Most houseplants are easy to propagate. Also pay attention to online sources. Over the past few years, I’ve purchased most of my plants from sites like Etsy and the Palmstreet app.