For those looking to spruce up the interior decor of their houses, verdant indoor plants are now a must-have. In recent years social media has driven a plant-filled revolution, and swathes of people are buying houseplants for instagrammable living spaces and the fulfilment associated with caring for living things.
As well as adding colour to any room, plants can have a huge impact on people’s mental wellbeing. Higher stress levels and anxiety are becoming common in a world where working from home has become the norm. According to the largest study to date by the UKRI, people who spent time gardening reported “better physical and mental health levels” and research has shown that “spending more time in nature has a beneficial impact on our mental health”.
Despite all these incredible benefits, some houseplants are really difficult to care for. For the less green-fingered plant-parents among us, it can sometimes seem like a tough task to prevent the short journey to the compost heap.
The following indestructible houseplants are easy to care for and will just about tolerate the neglect of even the most forgetful of gardeners. If you’ve already got a houseplant and are looking for an easy houseplant care guide, we’ve got you covered.
Top Three (Virtually) Indestructible Houseplants
These three plants are easy to care for and look great around the home.
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Zanzibar Gem (Zamioculas Zamiifolia)
The Zanzibar Gem is a hardy houseplant. It boasts attractive, all-year-round foliage. It’s the perfect plant for those wanting to add some colour to a space without the stress of a meticulous watering schedule. These are ideal plants for any room in your home as they will also grow in shade or sunlight.
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Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera plants only need to be thoroughly watered once a month, which makes them ideal for first-time indoor gardeners. They’re are easy to care for and require little attention. You could even extract Aloe gel from the leaves, which can help to soothe burns, calm acne and moisturise dry skin.
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Spider plant (Chlorophytum Comosum)
These long-leafed plants are a common houseplant, only requiring moist soil to remain a healthy green colour. If left without water spider plants are easily revived, making them a worthy contender for the hardiest houseplant.
Top Three Tolerant Houseplants
The following plants require a bit more care. Moderate watering or pruning helps to keep them looking healthy.
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Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema)
A Chinese evergreen requires a little more care than the previous houseplants. This plant should typically be watered every two weeks to remain looking fresh. If you have the time to provide consistent care, these can flower and produce inedible berries in the summer months.
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Corn plant (Dracaena Fragrans)
Like a Chinese evergreen houseplant, corn plants are more particular about the amount of water they receive. They may also grow slowly but if not pruned, Corn plants can grow to be six feet tall. On the whole this plant is very hardy and quite forgiving.
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Peace lily (Spathiphyllum Wallisii)
A common mistake when growing a peace lily is overwatering. Underwatering has much less impact on the plant than overwatering and can be easily fixed if it does become too dry. If you do want to be a better plant parent, simply watering when the soil is dry is an easy way to determine if it needs water. Peace lilies are a great plant for anyone hoping to get better at caring for houseplants.
Top Three Succulent houseplants
Succulents are happy to be left alone and thrive in dry environments
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Money tree (Crassula Ovata)
Despite its name, this money plant unfortunately won’t yield a cash crop but according to Feng Shui, it brings prosperity and wealth to those who care for it. With a unique twisting trunk, Money trees are a low maintenance way to add aesthetic value to the home, introducing a tropical feel to any room. In terms of care, it requires an infrequent soaking and will grow well in sunlit rooms.
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Panda plant (Kalanchoe Tomentosa)
Originating from Madagascar, this evergreen houseplant is suitable for sunny rooms. Like a money tree, it requires little water to survive. Panda Plants can add vibrant colour to a space, particularly in spring when they produce yellow flowers. The panda plant is a good choice for those who are new to caring for houseplants and want to start with a succulent that needs little attention
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Common Houseleek (Sempervivum Tectorum)
Common Houseleeks are perhaps the easiest, yet most rewarding succulent to care for. With an assortment of subtle colour variations to choose from, these evergreens add a splash of colour to any space despite needing very little water. Best placed in full sunlight, Common Houseleeks will continue to grow in a rosette formation up to 50cm in diameter, without needing to be pruned.
Calum Maddock, gardening expert at homehow.co.uk says:
All of these plants are tolerant of neglect and underwatering. These indestructible houseplants will not only add colour to any room but also have the potential to improve indoor air quality and reduce the symptoms of stress. So, whether you’re trying your hand at gardening for the first time or simply looking for houseplants that won’t take up all your time, these particular plants will make great additions to any space and won’t let you down.
Interested in houseplants? Shop the range at Primrose.co.uk!
Header Photo by Sanni Sahil on Unsplash
Zanzibar gem Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash
Aloe vera Photo by Ergita Sela on Unsplash
Spider plant Photo by Lucian Alexe on Unsplash
Chinese evergreen Photo by Severin Candrian on Unsplash
Corn plant Photo by Severin Candrian on Unsplash
Money tree Photo by Severin Candrian on Unsplash
Panda plant Photo by Elsa Noblet on Unsplash
Houseleek Photo by Lazar Gugleta on Unsplash