Looking to spruce up your home with a bit of greenery? Not only do indoor plants look great and add visual appeal to any living space, they can also help purify the air and boost your mood. But with so many different houseplants to choose from, it is an overwhelming place to start.
You don’t need to worry about researching, as we have already done it for you. We have created a list, along with care requirements, of the top 10 easy-to-maintain indoor plants that will enrich the environment and look of your home.
Keep reading to discover more.
Table of Contents
Best Indoor Plants
This selection of indoor plants are easy to maintain and will surely add life to any home. We have included a summary of the care requirements and light needs of each plant so you can choose the best one for your home.
| Exposure | Watering | USDA Hardiness Zone | |
| Spider Plant | Partial Sun to Partial Shade | Water when soil is dry, drought tolerant | 9-11 |
| Peace Lily | Partial Sun to Partial Shade | Water when soil is dry | 11-12 |
| Rubber Plant | Full Sun to Partial Sun | Water when 2-3 inches of soil is dry | 10-11 |
| Golden Pothos | Partial Shade | Water when the soil is dry | 10-12 |
| Ferns | Partial Sun to Partial Shade | Water when soil is dry | 4-8, 2-10 |
| Succulents and Cacti | Partial Sun to Partial Shade | Water every two weeks | 5 |
| Cast-Iron/Bar-Room Plant | Partial Shade | Water when 2-3 inches of soil is dry. Drought tolerant | 7-11 |
| Monstera Deliciosa / Swiss Cheese Plant | Partial Sun to Partial Shade | Water when top of the soil looks dry | 10-11 |
| Marantha | Partial Sun to Partial Shade | Water when 2-3 inches of soil is dry. Do not use tap water | 11-12 |
| Bromeliads | Full Sun to Partial Sun depending on type | Water when soil is visibly dry. Misting is required for aerial bromeliads | 9-10 |
Spider Plant
Whether in hanging planters or in pots, the long-leaved spider plant is a staple in a lot of homes. They work great in windows as the plant has air-purifying properties. It can also handle a little bit of neglect from its plant parents, as spider plants can live in partial sun to partial shade, and is drought tolerant too.
Peace Lily
Also known to be particularly hardy and for its air-purifying benefits, peace lilies are a staple for apartments or condominiums that occasionally have less access to natural light. Given the best conditions, the peace lily has white blooms: something to look forward to. Peace lilies can tolerate partial sun to partial shade, and water it when the soil looks dry, before you see its leaves droop due to thirst.
Rubber Plant
The rubber plant boasts large, oval-shaped leaves which are perfect in adorning corners. Place it beside windows that get a lot of morning sun or a room with lots of bright indirect light to keep it looking its best and water when the 2-3 inches of soil already feels dry.
Golden Pothos
Adorn your windows or planter baskets with the large, variegated leaves of the Golden Pothos or the Devil’s Ivy. This low-maintenance creeper is a shade lover, too much sunlight can make its variegation fade. Its watering needs are minimal too, it can also tolerate drought. Water when the soil looks dry. Shade-loving plants don’t mean they can survive without the sun, the room still needs to at least be bright for it to thrive. The pothos can clean the air too!
Ferns
Ferns are slow-growing and love humidity and moist soil, and their drooping leaves also look great in hanging planters. They also only require bright indirect to medium light. Pruning ferns to keep them in shape is also recommended. Since ferns love humidity, they need to be watered more frequently to keep up with their humidity requirements.
Succulents and Cacti
With their cute size and easy care, succulents have been a go-to plant for a lot of people who want to put a little bit of green in their small office or living space. Place them in areas that get plenty of bright light and water them thoroughly every two weeks to keep them looking their best. Growing them indoors? You can get grow lights to maximize their care.
Cast-Iron Plant
Here is a plant that can tolerate being indoors without requiring a lot of light: the cast-iron plant. With a lot of similarities to the peace lily, this plant has a lower light requirement and is safe for pets. Like the peace lily, the plant is hardy and can tolerate neglect even from new plant owners. The plant likes moist soil, but can go on with an irregular watering schedule.
Monstera Deliciosa
Coveted by plant enthusiasts, the majestic leaves of the monstera deliciosa, also known as the Swiss Cheese plant, can give almost any room in the home a tropical vibe. The plant and its leaves do grow big, which makes them excellent displays in living rooms and bathrooms. The variant, monstera adansonii is a smaller version of this plant, with leaves having holes instead of cuts or fenestrations. Place it in bright, indirect light (avoid having direct light touch its leaves, they tend to burn easily), and water when the soil looks dry.
Marantha (Prayer Plants)
Prayer plants boast its colorful and differently patterned leaves that move depending on the light. They grow best in partial sun to partial so they are perfect around windows. Just don’t put them in a window that is too bright as this can cause the leaves’ color to fade. Prayer plants also like moist, but not soggy soil so water them when 2-3 inches of their soil are already dry to the touch.
Bromeliads
Whether terrestrial (planted on the ground) or epiphytic (think orchids), bromeliads and their blooms offer an exotic look to any home garden. In the best conditions, their blooms are something to look forward to. Depending on the variety, they thrive in full sun to partial sun, and for terrestrial bromeliads, you can water their “cups” or wait until the soil looks visibly dry. Aerial bromeliads need regular misting to keep them happy.
Buying Guide
Here are some considerations when you’re shopping for houseplants:
- Light: When choosing indoor plants for the home, consider the amount of light that your chosen corner receives. Popular indoor plants are low maintenance, hardy, and can survive partial shade. You can always consider grow lights if you live in a condominium or a room that hardly has a window if you still love the idea of putting a bit of green in your humble abode. For south or east-facing windows, you can put most partial sun-loving plants closer to the window, but be wary of how hot the midday sun can be as it can also burn your plants even when placed indoors.
- Water: The frequency of watering indoor plants depends on their current location. Soil tends to dry slower the less sun exposure your plant gets, so play by touch and check the soil moisture with your fingers before watering your plants. If you travel often, consider automatic plant waterers for ease of care and mind.
- Hardiness Growing Zone: When you research the plants you’d like to purchase for your home, there usually is a Hardiness Growing Zone number included in the plant description. These numbers determine the temperature that each plant requires to grow the best. Hardiness numbers also determine how hot or cold the plant can tolerate. The higher the zone number, the hotter the temperature is. For example, tropical plants are around hardiness zones 9-11. It can also be your basis if caring for a certain plant can be feasible or not in your home.
- Pet or child friendly: Remember to also check if the plants you’d like are child/ pet-friendly. A lot of houseplants can cause skin irritation or worse, be poisonous for your pets when ingested.
Wrap Up
Indoor plants are a great way to add beauty to your home, but they also have health benefits, such as purifying the air. The top 10 plants we’ve recommended are beautiful, versatile, and easy to care for. Whether you have a green thumb or are just starting, these indoor plants will be a great addition to your home. Go ahead, liven up your living space and enjoy the beauty of indoor plants!
Happy Planting! 🙂