Easy houseplants are a must when you’re a beginner or don’t have a green thumb. In my case, it’s a little bit of both. I only started gardening this year (check out my post Kitchen Garden 101)! Having greenery around uplifts your decor (and your mood!) in a way that other decor items can’t. Which is why I decided to invest some time in learning more about plants and how to care for them. Turns out, it doesn’t take that much effort to sustain multiple plants when you pick wisely. If you don’t have time to do your own research (I feel you) but want to spruce up your home with foliage, I’ve got you.
I’ve rounded up my favorite plants along with care tips and styling tips. They are beautiful and low-maintenance. Get ready to enjoy your own indoor little plant sanctuary!
5 Easy Houseplants for Your Home
Ferns
Did you know that ferns can be traced back to prehistoric times? They’ve been around for a while and with reason; they’re a highly adaptable group of plants. Picking a variety of ferns for your home means they will thrive without too much fuss needed.
Care Tips:
• Indirect light provided by a south or east-facing window is best
• Aim to keep temperature at a cool 70 degrees (Fahrenheit)
• Place ferns away from drafts and heat sources
• Use a liquid fertilizer diluted to one half strength weekly
• Keep the soil evenly moist with regular watering
How To Incorporate In Your Decor
Ferns grow their most green and lush foliage in environments with a high-level of humidity. As such the bathroom and kitchen are the best options if you want your ferns to thrive indoors. Since they do well in containers, having your ferns hanging to cascade on your wall is my personal favorite way to include them in decor.
Spider Plant
Spider plants are the forgiving kind. Not only do they grow in a wide range of conditions but they also rarely suffer from problems or diseases. They are a great candidate for newbie indoor gardeners like myself.
Care Tips:
• Make sure plants get a lot of indirect sunlight
• Ideal temperature range on the cooler side (80F max)
• Provide a well-drained soil and don’t overwater – spider plants prefer to dry out a little between watering so once a week is plenty
How To Incorporate In Your Decor
Spider plants act as a great focal point. Especially around an array of smaller plants and flowers. They will add texture and contrast for a more visually pleasing display. Plus, they’re easy to propagate if you want to fill your space with “baby spiders” along with “mother spider”.
Snake Plant
Snake plants, as their namesake suggests, are adaptable and can tolerate drier conditions. If you’re someone who goes out on vacation a lot or tend to forget to water your plants, these are for you.
Care Tips:
• Water when soil is nearly dry all the way through
• Keep in any light condition but avoid direct sunlight as it burns their leaves
• Aim for a loose soil that drains fast with a lot of air pockets
How To Incorporate In Your Decor
Apart from being easy houseplants, snake plants are also famous for being natural air purifiers. Placing them in the busiest living areas of your home or your bedroom are good options to take advantage of their effect on air quality. Since snake plants are not too fussy about heat or drafts in comparison to other plants, you can use them to camouflage radiators or put them on window sills for a pretty display.
Succulents
Succulents are delicate and pretty but don’t let their appearance fool you; they’re actually tough as nails. They get by and thrive under the lowest of maintenance, making them the perfect plant alternative for beginners.
Care Tips:
• Place your succulents in direct sunlight – lots of light is best so opt for a south or east facing window
• Let the potting mix dry out before watering (once a month is plenty)
• Fertilize every spring with all-purpose, water-soluble fertilizer to half strength
How To Incorporate In Your Decor
Succulents are the most versatile plants when it comes to integrating them to your decor. As they can soak up sunshine without damage, they make a great window sill decor piece. Perfect for your large windows in your living room or office. You can also build a DIY terrarium and have your succulents live on a blank counter in the kitchen or bathroom for an eye-catching arrangement. Simply fill a very large glass jar with a layer of gravel on the bottom, add a layer of charcoal, and lastly your layer of potting soil. Then plant your succulents of choice!
Cactii
Cactii are a type of succulent. As such they have similar needs. They are plants that can withstand quite a bit of neglect and still thrive. Good for beginners and people who don’t have patience to develop a green thumb!
Care Tips:
• More sun the better – an area that gets 6-8 hours of direct light each day is ideal
• Allow the soil to be completely dry before watering – since they grow only in spring and summer don’t bother watering during other seasons
• Make sure the soil drains really well
How To Incorporate In Your Decor
Cactii offer a lot of options to enhance your decor. You can play around with different types and sizes of cactii placed together in a cluster for a pleasing aesthetic. You can also invest in a few tall cactii to place in otherwise empty spots in your home to fill up your space and make a statement. Conversely, small cactii make great bookends and fit nicely on shelves. They also make a good addition to your home office or bedroom to liven up bland corners.
Which Easy Houseplants Are Your Favorites?
Although my top 5 is a good starting point, there are a lot of other great options out there. I’m curious to know which plants you gravitate towards? Is it one (or more) from my list? If not, let me know your favorite beginner-friendly plants in the comments below!
Don’t have the patience or time for taking care of plants? You can still liven up your decor. Check out How to Make a Gallery Wall to easily add a warm touch to your space.
What do you think?