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The care and keeping of house plants can be intimidating. However, the fear of failure shouldn’t keep you from trying. There are plenty of houseplants that are easy to maintain no matter your level of experience, climate or space in your home. There is a perfect plant for you, and it might be easier to find than you think.
Here are the three most popular types of houseplants for beginners:
Spider Plants
Spider Plants are extremely hardy and adaptable. They frequently top lists of plants that are “hard to kill” because of their ability to thrive in a variety of climates and levels of maintenance. The only requirements for a spider plant to live well are to plant it in well-draining soil and to place it somewhere with lots of indirect light. Spider plants do not need to be watered often—in fact, over-watering is a much more common problem than under-watering. Allowing the soil to dry completely in between waterings will help keep the plant healthy. If the tips of the leaves become brown, it doesn’t mean the plant is dried out or dying. Usually this is just a sign of mineral buildup in the soil from the fluoride content in your water. If you want to prevent brown tips, try watering with filtered water or rain water instead of from the tap.
Pothos
Pothos is another popular and beautiful beginner-friendly houseplant. It can grow potted in soil or in vases of water and can thrive in low light and indirect light. Pothos do not require any special soil and will continue to grow with vines that can reach lengths up to 30 feet if left untrimmed. Though they look like ivy, they do not cling to walls or trellises. However, since the vines are hardy and lightweight, it’s easy to support them with wall hooks or to train them around window frames. Similar to spider plants, pothos do well if left without water for a while. It’s perfectly fine to let the soil dry out completely in between waterings and only give it a drink when it looks droopy.
Succulents
Succulents are an excellent plant option for beginners with limited space. Succulents come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and can live happily in even tiny pots. The two most popular varieties are aloe and echeveria. The former grows long pointy leaves while the latter grows in a rosette shape. While echeveria loves sunny window sills, aloe can burn easily in direct sunlight, so place them in your home accordingly. All succulents share the beginner-friendly trait of being able to go long periods of time without watering. In terms of maintenance, all that most succulents require is removal of any dead leaves from the underside of the plant and making sure the soil drains completely after watering. While they love warmth, they can get root rot if exposed to too much humidity, so try a pothos instead if you’re looking for a bathroom plant.
These are just a few of the many low-maintenance houseplants beginners should try. As long as you know the specific preferences of the plant, caring for them is easy and rewarding.
