Houseplants are more than just decor. They turn your living space into a lush jungle of greenery, and they liven up any room. But they have other abilities, too. Besides making your living space more lively, having houseplants can also reduce your stress levels and make you more productive.
But as fun as houseplants may seem, it can be tricky to remember how to take care of them. There's nothing quite as frustrating as coming home with a carload of fresh new plants only for them to wilt, become ridden with pests, or drop leaves within a few weeks.
Fortunately, there are plenty of hard-to-kill plants that are as easy to care for as they are fun to look at. If you're looking for houseplants to liven up your space without the added stress of arduous plant care, consider these nine plants. And be sure to check out our plant-buying guide before you purchase one to ensure you're bringing home the healthiest options.
9 Hard-to-Kill Plants
1. Monstera
Also called the swiss cheese plant, the monstera is native to tropical forests in South America, making it the perfect plant to add to any living space. It's popular for interior design because of its sunny, tropical look. As an added bonus, it's highly resistant to various environments.
Care Instructions: Plant your monstera in a well-draining pot and keep it in partial shade. A window receiving indirect sunlight is perfect because too much light may burn the foliage. Water this plant once a week or every two weeks.
2. Snake Plant
The snake plant, also called sansevieria, is one of the best hard-to-kill plants. It's a succulent plant, so it requires little water. And it can live in a variety of light conditions. Plus, snake plants release oxygen and moisture to the air, which helps with allergens like dust.
Care Instructions: These plants can survive in low or bright light. You only need to water snake plants when the soil is completely dry. Just be sure to use a well-draining pot, because overwatering can cause the roots to rot. If you're worried about overwatering, try the bottom-watering technique.
3. ZZ Plant
ZZ plants may be known for their glossy leaves, but this perennial tropical plant is also super low-maintenance, making it a great option for new plant parents. Basically, there's no excuse not to keep one around!
Care Instructions: ZZ plants prefer bright, indirect sunlight, but they can also thrive under fluorescent lighting, making it a great addition to your office space. You'll want to let the soil dry out between waterings and use a well-draining pot to avoid water accumulation.
4. Spider Plant
Another great hard-to-kill plant is the spider plant. There are many types of spider plants, but they're all relatively easy to care for. You can recognize them by their long, thin leaves, though they can produce small white blooms called "spiderettes." They grow well in pots or hanging baskets if you're looking to add some plant height variety.
Care Instructions: Spider plants can thrive under most lighting conditions, but bright, indirect sunlight is the best. Direct sunlight will scorch the leaves. Water around once a week, when the top inch of soil is dry.
5. Heartleaf Philodendron
Also known as the sweetheart plant, this perennial vine is known for its lovely heart-shaped leaves. It's a great houseplant to have around because it's easy to care for and rewards you with long vines. (They could get up to 10 feet!)
Care Instructions: Philodendrons thrive in medium, indirect sunlight, but they can tolerate low indirect sunlight, too. These plants are great for your plant-sparse, low-light spaces. Water this vine once every one to two weeks, and let the soil dry out between waterings. If the plant receives more sunlight, you should water it more often.
6. Hedgehog Aloe
Hedgehog aloe is slightly smaller than the traditional aloe plant, but you can still collect aloe from its leaves. This succulent is also easy to propagate, meaning you can grow more aloe!
Care Instructions: It's much better to underwater than overwater this plant. They're native to desert environments, so let the soil dry out completely before watering. Put this plant near your sunniest windowsill: It craves bright, direct sunlight.
7. Dracaena Giganta
These large houseplants look more like mini-trees than indoor foliage. They're incredibly easy to care for and add dimension to any room. Dracaena plants each vary in size, but they grow outward and upward, spreading like a tree inside the comfort of your home.
Care Instructions: While these plants can tolerate low light, they prefer medium, indirect light. A sunny room is the best place for them. You'll want the top half of the soil to dry out before watering.
8. Ponytail Palm
Given the name, it should come as no surprise that these houseplants are known for their long, tangling vines. While they can become full-grown trees when grown outdoors, they make great indoor plants and stay much smaller when grown in a pot.
Care Instructions: The ponytail palm loves a lot of light, and it should be given full sun or bright, indirect sunlight. Pot these in succulent potting mix, because they'll need good drainage. Also, be careful not to overwater. Every 1 to 2 weeks is sufficient. In other words, these plants thrive off of being left alone.
9. Chinese Evergreen
The Chinese evergreen plant, also known as aglaonema) are popular for their bright, colorful leaves. If you love adding green to your living space, why not add silver, yellow, and red?
Care Instructions: This plant will grow best in bright, indirect sunlight—especially the yellow and red varieties. The green varieties can grow well in shade. These plants prefer to stay moist, but don't let their soil get too soggy. Only water when the top layer of soil becomes dry.
