Most plants, although very appealing to the eye, are an absolute nuisance to take care of and are not considered beginner friendly. From wilting leaves to falling petals, it sometimes feels like an unnecessary hassle to take care of plants, despite their numerous physiological and physical benefits. However, below are some plants which are as low maintenance as can get!
Plastic Plants
Plastic plants come in a variety of shapes and sizes; if you think about it, they probably make it. They are so easy to maintain because they require little to no care at all, apart from the occasional dusting of course. Although they aren’t real plants, they will probably give you the same joy that actual plants do.
Zz Plants
The Zz plant (also referred to as the Zanzibar Gem) is not only a plant which gives your home a picturesque feel but it will also survive prolonged periods of time with no water. Ideally, it should be watered once every month and exposed to some kind of light source for it to flourish consistently. This plant with its shiny and vibrant leaves is the perfect plant to start with if you know nothing about caring for plants.
Jade Plant
More famously known as the money plant, the jade plant is a succulent which can survive on a low amount of water which should be supplied when the soil is completely dry. Although it requires a lot of light to live, it propagates easily to give a fresh, green vibe to the atmosphere it grows in.
Snake plant
This small and compact plant can be placed in the tiniest nooks and crannies, sprucing up whatever corner it is positioned in. It can go from 2 to 6 weeks without being watered, depending on its location. Consequently, because of its flat-shaped leaves, the snake plant’s leaves are prone to collecting dust which means that it must be cleaned and dusted off every once in a while in order for it to maintain its charming appearance.
Dracaena
When it comes to dracaena, each plant has its own specific properties so to ensure that you are caring for your specific plant correctly, you must classify and research it. However, the differences between each plant are what makes dracaena plants so unique because it is highly unlikely that you will find someone with the exact same plant as you! As it is sensitive to minerals found in tap water, it must be watered using distilled water once its soil has dried completely for it to slowly grow to its full size and sit seamlessly amongst furniture and other home decor items.
Rubber plant
Particularly the baby rubber plant as it is more suitable for beginners (though other species exist such as the Indian rubber plant), is a compact plant with tear-drop-shaped, shiny leaves which make it perfect for decorating small areas of your home to make it more serene. This plant grows astonishingly fast, despite the heavy mist and direct sunlight that it requires, so the extra-long parts of its stem can be snipped and placed back in the soil to allow more growth to occur.
Pothos
This plant is more commonly known as devil’s ivy, and it consists of a range of species; 15 to be exact. Its leaves grow to quite a marvellous extent in no time at all, though they prefer to be watered when the top layer of soil has dried. It is common for this plant to drip water from its leaves directly after being watered but it adds green, natural tranquillity to the area where it is placed.
Glacial Ivy
This plant is flexible as it is gorgeous with its potential full-grown height coming to about 6 feet. Glacial ivy has an affinity for shade and loads of water due to its sheer height so it should be misted regularly to help nourish it. Additionally, It can be pinned using plant-safe pins to the walls or even the ceiling to give your living space a whimsical feel.
Dieffenbachia
Despite its negative past utilizations, such as poison for slaves back in the day. This plant is easy to care for as it doesn’t require direct sunlight. It should be rotated regularly to ensure that growth throughout the plant is even and that it can spice up desks and tables with ease. It should be watered when the top layer of the soil is dried and overwatering should be avoided at all costs to prevent softening of leaves and discolouration.
Asparagus fern
This plant requires constant watering every couple of days as well as indirect sunlight, this plant is harder than the rest to keep up with than the rest but it can grow beautifully when cared for properly. The constant watering may result in root rot, so a proper drainage system must be put in place, but when not constantly watered it will turn yellow and drop all of its needle-shaped leaves. This plant is simple enough to care for once you’ve mastered the basics of caring for houseplants.
House plants can affect you both physically and mentally for the better. To list a few ways they help us: mood improvement, reduction of stress levels, reduced blood pressure, and aided respiration due to constant oxygen renewal (fake plastic plants will not provide physical benefits). They also just look really good which in itself is a huge factor in investing in one.
Below are some links to aid you in growing these plants and some sites you can purchase them from:
- https://www.thesill.com/collections/plants-for-beginners
- https://www.amazon.com/s?k=beginner+friendly+plants&crid=112ZG63TTWB5Q&sprefix=beginner+friendly+plants%2Caps%2C275&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
- https://www.ikea.com/eg/en/cat/plants-flowers-pp003/
- https://www.amazon.com/dp/1510709630?tag=ssg-gardening-books-beginners-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1