March 4, 2024

6 Easy-to-Care-For Indoor Plants

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A Brookdale resident watering her indoor flowers.

Plants are great. You can watch them grow, and they bring a little bit of green inside. But the best part about the following list of plants is they don’t care if you have a green thumb. These are some of the easier ones to care for, because they require minimal attention and watering—and some don’t need a lot of light.

1. Aloe Plant

Many of us have heard about the medicinal properties of these little guys, and they can also make great indoor plants if you know the right care techniques.

Care: Pick a cactus potting mix when you go to plant one of these. Aloe plants need a decent amount of light, so make sure the pot is close to a window that gets plenty of sun. Make sure the pot they are planted in has great drainage because they don’t do well in standing water. When you go to water, drench the soil, and then wait until the soil is completely dry before watering again.

Watch for: If the leaves are wilting in the summer, it means the plant is being under-watered, and yellowed leaves mean overwatering.

2. Snake Plant

There are around 70 different species of snake plants, but the most common is Sansevieria trifasciata, or as some people like to call it, “mother-in-law’s tongue.” They can grow anywhere from 8-inches to 12-feet high!

Care: They don’t need a lot of sun, so indirect light is best. These are also great for people who forget about watering, because is best to wait until the soil is completely dried out, and they need even less water in the winter months.

Watch for: Yellow, droopy leaves and a funny smell could mean it's being overwatered

3. Spider Plant

These fun plants are able to survive in a variety of light, but they do prefer direct sunlight. And you can tell when they are super happy, because they sprout little plant “babies”.

Care: For best growing conditions, place your spider plant near a window that gets bright, indirect sunlight. They will also tolerate low-light areas where other plants might not thrive. Water when the top two-inches are the soil are dry. Cut back watering in the winter, and make sure they aren’t exposed to cold drafts.

Watch for: Droopy leaves can be a sign of underwatering, and yellow or soft brown leaves can mean overwatering.

4. Pothos

Also called “devil’s ivy” because they are tough to kill, pothos make for great hanging pots, and they don’t need to be pruned — although they will continue to grow. And grow.

Care: They don’t need a ton of light and only need to be watered sparingly. If the soil is too moist between waterings, the roots can rot.

Watch for: Sad-looking leaves even after a watering can mean it’s time to repot, because the roots are too big for its current pot.

5. ZZ Plant

If you’re someone who claims to have no green thumb whatsoever, this plant is the perfect match for you. Also known as the Zanzibar Gem, Zamioculcas zamiifolia don’t require much attention at all and survive in a variety of environments.

Care: The ZZ plant loves low light, so make sure to keep them away from direct light. And they only need water when the soil is completely dried out.

Watch for: Yellow leaves mean the plant is getting too much water.

6. Air Plants

Recently, you’ve probably seen these popping up all over the place. Air plants are having a trendy moment right now, and there are all sorts of species and varieties. The cool thing about these is they don’t need soil to survive, but they do need a bit of attention to thrive.

Care: Place them in the sink with enough water to submerge them, and let them soak for about a half hour. When you take them out of the water, turn them upside down on a towel to let them drain. Once they’re dry, put them back in their home. You can also mist them every few days to keep them looking fresh, especially in the winter when the humidity is lower. They also prefer shady spots, so keep them out of the sun’s rays. You’ll know when you plan is getting what it needs, because it’ll send up flowers. Once the flower dries out, snip it off and it will eventually make more blooms.

Watch for: Allow air plants to dry out before returning to their homes. If the roots don’t have proper air flow, they will rot.

No matter what plants you pick, they’re bound to bring a bright spot to your home. Now the only question is, which one will you bring home first?