20 Easy to Grow Houseplants
In the winter, it’s especially nice to have green plants around the house as an outlet for our “green thumbs”.
In my opinion, though, it’s a lot easier to grow plants in the garden than in the house. My houseplants often suffer in the winter because of the low light conditions, dry air from the heating vents and accumulations of dust. Not to mention that it’s a lot trickier to get the watering right in an indoor environment – I tend to err on the dry side.
Despite all this, it’s definitely worth the effort to grow houseplants. After all, they’ve been linked with lowering stress, purifying the air, and improving morale. They add interest and warmth to your decor, and may even serve as conversation starters. Most people who see my calamondin orange tree, above, with its flowers and tiny oranges, make some sort of comment!
Selecting the right plants for the environment makes all the difference. That’s why I like the Better Homes and Gardens list of 24 of the Easiest Houseplants You Can Grow. Each plant description shows a great picture of the plant growing indoors and contains complete growing information. I agree with almost all of the choices: these are plants that most people could easily grow!
- Pothos (shown at right)
- Philodendron
- Zeezee Plant
- Arrowhead Vine
- Grape Ivy
- Hoya (shown in the middle image with jade plant)
- Corn Plant, Green Dracaena, & Dracaena
- Ponytail Palm
- Rubber Tree
- Schefflera
- Fiddleleaf Fig
- Cast Iron Plant
- Chinese Evergreen
- Jade Plant (shown in the middle image with Hoya )
- Deiffenbachia
- Pepperomia
- Snake Plant (shown at the bottom with Boston fern)
Here are my exceptions to their list, and why:
- Croton – if you let it get too dry a single time, it’s toast! On the other hand, if you water too much, it loses leaves from the bottom up. But I love the colorful foliage!
- Boston Fern – starts shedding terribly part way through the winter. This is because it’s hard to get water into the dense root ball without taking the plant down from its hanging spot and submerging the entire pot in a sink full of water for 20 minutes or so; then letting it drain before returning it. Having said that, it does usually live through the winter, and perks up when cut back and set outdoors in spring.
- English Ivy – some years it does well for me. In other years, it either dries out or gets spider mites or both. Could go either way.
- Norfolk Island Pine – a great little tree. But this is a plant from a temperate climate – not a tropical plant. It wants a cool, moist winter and just isn’t entirely happy indoors. I treat it as a seasonal guest in my home.
Unless I can’t recognize the Latin name from your list, the spider plant deserves a nod. My spider came from your plant years ago. Thanks!
Yes, that is a great one! I like that you can start out with one plant and end up with many. The baby spiders – offsets. plantlets – are so easy to root, even in a glass of water!
[...] 20 Easy to Grow Houseplants [...]
My favorite plant to grow is the only plant I have ever grown in my life and that is a bonsai tree. I find them very interesting and self gratifying. I have had a bonsai tree now for 6 months and I tend to it everyday even though there isnt much to do besides watering and a little trimming here and there. It is truely a fascinating plant and suggest everyone to try and grow one!!
I have a rubbertree plant at my house in youngstown and it is so easy to take care! I just keep it by the window in the dining room. You have to water more when its in the growing season, but it barely needs water in the dormant season. I also spritz the leaves. I love this plant in my house, its so pretty!
This is the secret-infrequent but deep watering in the dormant season. Plants in larger pots don’t need as much water as you might think in the winter dormant season!
Sue,
Ive been big into indoor plants but recently have been looking at the best plans for produce pure oxygen. Hopefully soon we can discuss what household plans produce oxygen the best and are good for recirculating air throughout a house
Jason R
Jason, NASA did some research on this; here is a website for Clean Air Gardening that lists them!
I really enjoyed this post! I’m always looking for new plants to grow in my apartment! And I’ve been having that trouble with croton, I have two of them, and they’re both doing ok, but they do drop leaves frequently. Any tips on how to prevent this?
Yes Joshua, crotons are beautiful but a bit picky. They lose leaves from too much or too little water. If they are losing leaves from the bottom up, it could be overwatering. They also need bright light. Good luck with them!
I think I’m gonna get a golden pothos like in your picture above, It would go perfect hanging in the corning of my room, I’m going for the jungle safari look and feel.