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The five easiest houseplants for beginners

In this plant care guide, you'll find out what the easiest houseplants are for beginners. I've taken care of these plants myself and think anyone, no matter the level of experience, will be able to take care of them.

Roelof Jan Elsinga - Plant care for Beginners Author

Written by Roelof Jan Elsinga

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"Plants in the ledge"

There are so many different houseplants out there, you can very easily get overwhelmed. Which one should you get? Which one is easy to take care of? In this post, I'm trying to answer the question "What are the easiest houseplants to take care of?". These are all aimed at beginners who are looking into taking care of plants but don't really know where to start. I'll only describe the plants I've personally taken care of because it allows me to get into detail about what the plant likes and doesn't like.

In this guide, we'll go over these plants:

  1. Sansevierias (snake plants)
  2. Chlorophytum comosum (Spider plants)
  3. Zamioculcas zamiifolia (ZZ Plant)
  4. Dracaena (any variety)
  5. Palms (Parlor palm or an Areca Palm)

Let's have a look at the easiest houseplants to take care of.

Sansevierias (snake plants)

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Snake plant Sansevierias or snake plants

One of the easiest and also one of the first plants I've taken care of is the Sansevieria. It's such an easy plant that you can forget about it for weeks and it will not die. You can place it in many different brightness levels as well, so you'll always be able to find a great spot for it. As an added benefit, besides looking beautiful, is that it purifies the air of the space it's in. So it's a great plant to put into any space that you are in a lot, like the bedroom or the living room.

Is this plant for me? Well I've created a set of questions you can ask yourself and if you answer yes on any of them, this plant is great for you:

  • Are you forgetting to water plants all the time?
  • Don't you know or don't you want to fertilize your plants?
  • Do you not have a lot of bright places in your home?
  • Do you have a lot of bright places in your home?

Propagating it is also very simple, just cut off part of a leaf and stick it in the soil.

If you'd like to learn more about taking care of a Sansevieria, have a look at How to care for Sansevierias.

Chlorophytum comosum (Spider plants)

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Spider plant Chlorophytum comosum or Spider plants

Spider plants are very easy to take care of because they let you know what they need. Are you giving them too much sunlight? They will turn a lighter color. Do you give them too little sunlight? They will turn yellow. Do you give them too little water? They will start to droop. Do you give them too much water? They will turn brown. This makes them perfect for the beginning plant owners. You won't really have to guess what the plant likes because it's very clear about that.

If you take good care of them for long enough, they'll also reward you with a lot of new spider plants. Who doesn't like free plants? These new plants will hang down, so you have the opportunity to hang this plant on your ceiling or let it hang down the side of a shelf. Spider plants, like the sansevieria's, purify the air. So place them in a space you are in a larger portion of your day.

If you'd like to learn more about taking care of a Chlorophytum, have a look at How to care for a spider plant.

Zamioculcas zamiifolia (ZZ Plant)

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ZZ Plant Zamioculcas zamiifolia or ZZ Plant

The ZZ plant is a beautiful looking plant with deep green leaves. It's a great plant in any environment and it doesn't take a lot of effort to keep them healthy. The ZZ plant can be placed in a wide variety of brightness levels, from shady to bright indirect light levels. Don't place them into direct sunlight, however. This will burn its leaves. You can, like the Sansevieria, forget to water it for weeks and it'll still be fine. Like the two previous plants, the ZZ plant also purifies the air, so it does well into often visited spaces in your home.

If you'd like to learn more about taking care of a ZZ plant, have a look at How to care for a ZZ plant.

Dracaena (any variety)

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Dracaena Marginata Dracaena Marginata

My first big plant was a Dracaena Marginata and wow, what an easy plant that is. It loves to dry out, so forgetting to water it is not a problem at all. It doesn't need a lot of fertilizer and can be placed in indirect sunlight, so it'll do well in most situations you put it through. You just have to remember to not overwater it, because it doesn't like that very much. It's not a great plant if you have pets that like to eat plants though, because it's quite toxic to them, unfortunately. So place it into a spot where your pets won't get to it, or select another plant. Like the others, this plant also purifies the air, so it's great for a living room or bedroom.

If you'd like to learn more about taking care of a Dracaena, have a look at How to care for a Dracaena.

Palms (Parlor palm or an Areca Palm)

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Parlor palm Parlor palm

Palms are great. There, I said it. Palms aren't very exotic to most people, but I love the way they look in all kinds of different places. They're quite easy to take care of as well. You can place them into bright indirect light and sometimes even full sunlight. They do need a lot more water than the other plants on this list, but that's easy to compensate for by getting soil that retains a lot of moisture. This soil will still allow you to forget about the plant for a week or 2, sometimes more. As you'd expect by now, this plant also purifies the air.

These are some of the easiest houseplants I've taken care of. All of them purify the air, so if you take care of the plant, it'll take care of you. They all require very little maintenance in the right circumstances, but creating these right circumstances isn't very difficult.

If you'd like to learn more about taking care of a Parlor palm or Areca Palm, have a look at How to take care of a Parlor Palm, or How to care for an Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens).

Thank you for reading this post! I hope it helps you to keep your plants healthy and beautiful! If you're looking for more guides on specific plants, you can always request a plant guide to get a guide for the plant you have trouble with.

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About the Author

Roelof Jan Elsinga - Plant care for Beginners Author

Meet Roelof Jan Elsinga, a passionate and knowledgeable plant care enthusiast. With 6 years of personal experience, Roelof Jan has gained a wealth of knowledge on indoor plant care. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced plant owner, Roelof Jan's practical advice and deep understanding of various plants and their needs can help you become a successful plant caretaker.

Although Roelof Jan may not have formal gardening credentials, his expertise has been cultivated through caring for many plants and providing valuable guidance to fellow plant lovers just like you.

Roelof Jan is always eager to expand his knowledge. He dives into many different sources to deepen his understanding, stay up-to-date with the latest findings and is always happy to receive feedback. He takes great care to ensure that the recommendations he provides are not only practical, but also accurate.

Roelof Jan's main focus is to offer reliable and easy-to-understand information and support to all plant lovers out there, helping them confidently navigate their plant care journeys with success.

Frequently asked questions

What are the easiest houseplants for beginners?
The five easiest houseplants for beginners are (insert plant names here). They are perfect for those who are just starting out with plant care.
Why are these houseplants considered easy for beginners?
These houseplants are considered easy for beginners because they require minimal maintenance and can tolerate a range of conditions, including low light and occasional neglect.
Do I need any previous experience with plants to care for these houseplants?
No, you don't need any previous experience with plants to care for these houseplants. They are specifically chosen for their ease of care and are suitable for beginners.
How often do I need to water these houseplants?
The watering frequency may vary depending on the specific plant, but generally, these houseplants require watering about once a week or when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Can these houseplants survive in low light conditions?
Yes, these houseplants can survive in low light conditions. While they prefer bright indirect light, they can tolerate and thrive in areas with lower light levels, making them ideal for indoor spaces with limited sunlight.
What kind of soil should I use for these houseplants?
These houseplants prefer well-draining soil. You can use a potting mix specifically formulated for indoor plants or create your own mix using a combination of peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite.
Do these houseplants require any special fertilizer?
These houseplants don't require any special fertilizers. A balanced, all-purpose indoor plant fertilizer applied according to the package instructions during the growing season should be sufficient for their nutritional needs.
How big do these houseplants usually grow?
The size of these houseplants can vary, but on average, they reach a height of around (insert average height) and have a compact growth habit, making them suitable for smaller spaces.
Can I propagate these houseplants to grow more?
Yes, you can propagate these houseplants to grow more. They can be propagated through methods such as stem or leaf cuttings, allowing you to expand your plant collection or share them with friends.
I have pets, are these houseplants safe for them?
These houseplants are considered pet-friendly and are generally safe for cats and dogs. However, it's always a good idea to research specific plant toxicity and keep them out of reach of curious pets.

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