When I first moved to our apartment I knew that I wanted plants around me. I was skeptical, not knowing which one’s to bring home and if they would live and thrive in low light indoor setting. Over the years I have come to understand the care and conditions it needs in order to grow healthily. Even if you are not ready to be a full blown plant parent yet, these indoor plants mentioned below need very little care and occasional watering.
My first plant was an Aloe vera and I’m so proud to see that it is still alive and kicking! Since then I have added a few to my plant family and base on my experience with it, I have made a list of indoor plants you will find real hard to kill whether you have a green thumb or not!
Aloe Vera
Starting the list with my favorite. Aloe Vera is a succulent plant, meaning it can live in very dry conditions just like the cactus. You can place them in the balcony in bright light or a south facing window. I prefer to keep mine indoors where I get some indirect sunlight. When you water the aloe plant, the soil should be thoroughly drenched, but the water should be allowed to drain freely from the soil, so make sure that the pot has plenty of drainage holes. Aloe vera plants cannot tolerate standing water. Also it is important to make sure the soil is completely dry before your watering rounds. I insert my finger an inch or two into the pot to check the dryness of the soil. You can fertilize your aloe vera plant, but generally they don’t need to be fertilized. I fertilize mine once in three months. Growing aloe vera is not just easy but it can also provide you with a plant that can help you treat minor burns and rashes or just take care of your beauty needs.
Dracena
I’ve had this dracena for over 2 and a half years now. I always feel that it is the most neglected plant in my house since it hardly needs any attention and yet somehow it manages to look pretty!
A semi-shade spot is an ideal location to place your dracena. Don’t place your plant under direct sun as the rays will scorch its leaves and turn them brown. Dracaena require less water than most indoor plants. One good way to keep them hydrated is by misting the leaves with water and keeping the soil lightly misted with good drainage. Always allow the top soil to dry out before watering. Do not overwater, as it may cause root rot.
The leaves yellowing or drooping too much could indicate over-watering or poor drainage, but don’t worry if you notice the bottom leaves beginning to turn yellow and fall. It is normal for for these babies to shed leaves in order to grow new ones.
Peace lily
I saw this beautiful plant in Ikea and it instantly reminded me of my home back in India. I had this plant growing in our garden and I had to pick it up. They are called ‘peace lily’ because the white flowers look like white flags of peace although they aren’t actually lillies. These are tropical plants so don’t put the out in cold temeperatures. If can be placed in the darkest corner of the house and it will live however if you want to see the flowers bloom place them where they get some sunlight.
Peace lilies need consistently moist soil, but they like most plants don’t like to sit in standing water. Whenever the top inch of soil is dry, water the plant until the overflow starts to come out of the drainage holes and stop. I like to call this one a drama queen, when I came back from a trip of 5 days once it was all droopy and I thought it was too late foe me to save it. However I watered it instantly and in the morning it was all up and happy like nothing had happened! You can apply the plant food directly to the soil or mix it in when you water once a month.
Pothos/Money plant
Growing up I called this the money plant and it was a common sight in a lot of homes I visited. These plants enjoy a wide range of environments. They do well in bright indirect light as well as low light and can be grown in dry soil or in vases of water. Water your Pothos enough to keep the soil moist, but not wet or saturated. It’s best to water when the top inch of the soil is dry. Don’t worry if you forget to water them once in a while, it will occasionally tolerate a missed watering. If the leaves turn yellow you are watering it too much.
You can easily propagate your plant by placing the cuttings in water. You can either leave them in water, or when a substantial amount of roots grow you can transfer the cuttings to soil. If placed in indirect light make sure you rotate your plant periodically to ensure even growth on all sides and dust the leaves often so the plant can photosynthesize efficiently.
Jade
This one is a new addition to my family and oh what a beauty she is! They make an ideal gift and they can live for years if taken good care of.
It will thrive in bright light although it can tolerates low to medium light. I keep mine in a shady spot in my balcony and on occasional days when there’s a storm coming, I get it inside. It is not to be kept under intense direct sun. Keep the soil around your jade plants moist, as they tend to dry quickly in warm weather. However, it’s crucial that you let the soil dry out between waterings to prevent root rot in your plant. When you get a new plant wait for up to a week before you give it it’s first watering. Waiting to water provides the plant enough time to let the roots adjust to the soil. If your plant starts to develop brown spots on the foliage over the spring or summer, it’s a sign that you need to increase the amount of water you’re giving the jade.
So now that you know these babies need very little care, maybe it’s time to include a few of them to your home and hearts!
Most indoor plants are sensitive to the additives and salts in tap water. I recommend you water your plants with filtered or distilled water to keep them healthy. And when the inter rolls around, make sure you move your plants away from windows and balconies and areas of the home that experience cold drafts.
Happy planting 🙂
Sincerely Sonali 