5 low-maintenance houseplants for first-time plant parents
Have you decided to spruce up your home with some greenery, but you’ve never bought (or cared for) a plant? Well, there are a ton of lovely houseplants to choose from, but some of them are a little temperamental and not ideal for beginners. With that in mind, here are 5 friendly plants ideal for first-time plant parents.
Peace Lily
The Peace Lily is a frivolous plant, full of life. It will light up any room and, with proper care, and if it really loves you, will grace your home with white lilies! This particular plant can grow up to 4 feet tall and enjoys indirect low light. If you want to take it up a level, after you pot your Lily (or simply purchase it), add some sphagnum moss to the top of the soil. This will help retain moisture.
Devil’s Ivy (Pothos)
Devil’s Ivy is a tough little customer and is widely regarded as impossible to kill! We don’t want to test that theory too rigorously, but it’s certainly a great houseplant for first-time plant parents, especially those who aren’t too confident in their abilities. This one does very well in low light and only needs water when the soil is half dry in summer, or completely dry in winter.
Philodendron
The Philodendron is one of the easiest houseplants to care for. Whether you opt for the vining Philodendron or the non-climbing version, both require water every one to two weeks. They’ll also need some light pruning from time to time. Our Prudy Planter goes particularly well with Philodendron and comes in either cloud or forest colours. It’s also made of 100% recycled paper!
Spider Plant
The Spider Plant likes to get comfortable, spreading its long, narrow leaves out of its pot and across whatever surface you’ve placed it on. It likes bright to moderate light, water roughly every one to two weeks and fertilizer once a month. If you follow those simple tips, your Spider Plant will thrive, and may even reward you with small plantlets from its longer leaves.
Aloe
Aloe vera is a magical plant, with a wide range of health benefits. Most of us know the soothing properties of aloe on sunburn, but aloe vera gel actually contains antioxidants and even has antibacterial properties. What makes this even better is that Aloe is incredibly easy to care for. As Aloe is a succulent, it requires very little water (only when the soil is completely dry) and prefers to be out of direct sunlight.
There are all sorts of plants for all comers, from newbies to veteran green thumbs. When picking your houseplants, it’s important you choose the right ones for your skill level. Don’t bite off more than you can chew!