by Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener, Watters Garden Center
Houseplants add style, color and brightness, all while cleaning the air we breathe. Even if you’re not an experienced Plant Parent, these 10 houseplants thrive indoors with minimal care.
Aloe vera gel from cut leaves is widely used in first aid remedies and cosmetics, adding function to form as a houseplant. Like most succulents, it prefers dry sandy soil and bright light. Healthy plants produce pups to replace any leaves you harvest.
- Light: High
- Water: Dry
- Color varieties: Christmas Carol has red leaf edges; Walmsley’s Variegated has cream streaks
Croton, Codiaeum, produce a colorful “wow.” Bright light is essential for good leaf coloration and plant health. All varieties have stripes or splotched of yellow, red, orange and pink, all on the same plant.
- Light: High
- Water: Medium
- Color varieties: Orange, white, yellow, red, pink, purple
Dumb Cane plant (dieffenbachia) does not describe the elegance of the large speckled and splotched leaves when displayed in bright light. Provide moderate moisture, and keep the toxic leaves away from kids and pets.
- Light: Medium to bright
- Water: Medium
- Color varieties: Honeydew has gold leaves; Mary, splotches of cream; Snow, white speckles
Fiddle Leaf Fig, Ficus lyrata, provides a fresh, modern twist in their decor, even smaller spaces. Natural light is essential for the large leaves, so place it close to a south- or east-facing window.
- Light: Bright light
- Water: Dry between waterings
- Color varieties: A variegated cultivar with creamy leaf margins
Jade plant, Crassula ovata, you can’t go wrong for a bright room. It’s every bit as pretty as those trendy faux plants you see at the hobby store. Only fake plants don’t continue to grow and become more stately over time like a natural jade plant. Water sparingly; add supplemental lighting if leaf drop occurs.
- Light: High
- Water: Dry
- Color varieties: Calico Kitten has pink and cream leaves; Variegata, cream streaking
Peace Lily, Spathiphyllum wallisii, the graceful white spathes of the peace lily have long been rendered in silk plants. There is no reason to go fake when a living specimen is easy to grow. Peace lilies do well in dark rooms; they need regular moisture.
- Light: Low light
- Water: Moist
- Color varieties: Domino has white stippling on leaves
Philodendron thrives in any room with classic low care for any beginner. You might see the heart-shaped leaves grow to giant proportions outdoors in frost-free gardens, but it’s just as happy in your bedroom.
- Light: Low to high
- Water: Medium
- Color varieties: Brandi has silver variegation; Micans, purple-tinted leaves; Prince of Orange, orange-tinted leaves
Snake plant, Sansevieria trifasciata, is as close to plant and forget it as they come. It tolerates a wide range of moisture, soil and light conditions. The plants look great grown in metal or concrete containers for industrial chic.
- Light: Low to high
- Water: Low
- Color varieties: Bantel’s Sensation has cream leaves; Black Gold, thin gold edging; Gold Hahnii, wide gold bands.
Spider Plant, Chlorophytum comosum, is a top seller year after year for its super low maintenance needs and air purification qualities. The arching leaves make these plants great for pedestals or hanging baskets.
- Light: Indirect light
- Water: Average to dry
- Color varieties: Bonnie Variegated has white striping
Umbrella plant, Schefflera arboricola, can grow 10-feet tall in the jungles of Taiwan. You can check this growth in containers, especially with slow-growing variegated cultivars like Gold Capella or Sunburst.
- Light: High
- Water: Medium
- Color varieties: Sun Burst is a gold variegated type; Janine, a white variegated type
