Every plant collection starts with one plant. If you’re new to houseplants, choose forgiving plants first: ones that tolerate a missed watering and a less-than-perfect window. Here are five easy plants to start with.
1. Pothos
A trailing vine that grows in bright, indirect light and copes with lower light too. Water when the top inch or two of soil is dry. Its leaves droop slightly when it’s thirsty, so it tells you when it needs a drink.
2. Snake plant
Upright, architectural, and very drought-tolerant. Let the soil dry out completely between waterings; overwatering is the most common way to lose one.
3. ZZ plant
Glossy leaves and thick underground rhizomes that store water. Happy in medium to low light and with infrequent watering, which makes it a good choice for offices and darker rooms.
4. Spider plant
Arching striped leaves and baby plantlets that dangle from long stems. Those babies are easy to root in water or soil, which makes the spider plant a lovely first propagation project.
5. Peace lily
Dark green leaves and white blooms. It wilts dramatically when dry and perks up within hours of watering, so it’s a good teacher for learning a plant’s rhythm.
Three habits that keep plants happy
- Check the soil, not the calendar. Water when the soil tells you, not on a fixed day.
- Use pots with drainage holes. Standing water at the bottom of a pot rots roots.
- Know your light. Most houseplants prefer bright, indirect light: near a window, but out of hot direct sun.
A note on pets: several common houseplants, including pothos, snake plant, ZZ plant, and peace lily, can upset cats and dogs if chewed. Spider plant is generally considered pet-safe.
Watch it grow
A vlog walking through these plants is on the way. If you’d like to see plants grow from starter to full size, with care tips along the way, the Plant Club is where that happens.
