5 Best Indoor Plants For Your Home That Are Hard to Kill
Looking for the best hard-to-kill indoor plants? In this post, we’re breaking down the best 5 indoor plants that are hard to kill, no matter your experience.
If you’re a beginner in the indoor plant world or you’ve killed one too many houseplants despite your best efforts, this guide is for you!
There’s no denying houseplants are a beautiful addition to any home. I love adding plenty of houseplants and flowers around my home, as you probably know!
In a way, I see them as a living art piece that enhances the entire space and brings indoors some of the outdoor beauty.
But, let’s not sugarcoat it! Making our leafy house plants thrive can be a challenge, especially if you weren’t born with an effortlessly green thumb. My family all seem to have green thumbs and below is my daughter’s atrium at her home in California. Plants thrive in that room as you can see!
In this post, we’ll go over the best houseplants for those who are new to plant care and don’t have a lot of time or experience.
I’m also sharing some of my favorite planters and pots that work perfectly for these hard-to-kill indoor plants!
The Best Indoor Plants For Your Home That Are Hard to Kill
From pothos and snake plants to unique air plants and sculptural succulents, you’ll find hard-to-kill plant options that can thrive through under-watering, low light, and even stretches of total neglect.
These sturdy, low-maintenance varieties can withstand tough conditions -like lack of maintenance and even neglect- without keeling over immediately.
With the right selections and basic care knowledge, you can finally reap the air-purifying, stress-reducing benefits of houseplants without the contrast of second-guessing and frustration.
Shop for these unique and budget friendly planters and pots below!
Snake Plant
With its bold, upright leaves sporting patterns reminiscent of a serpent’s scales, the Snake Plant brings a touch of exotic to your indoors.
Also known as the mother-in-law’s tongue, there are quite a few varieties to pick from, from the delicate Sansevieria Moonshine to Sansevieria Black Gold, with its striking yellow contour lines. Besides being stylish and air-purifying, the magic of the snake plant is how easy it is to care for!
This hard-to-kill houseplant is versatile with lighting requirements. While it thrives when exposed to sunlight, it can tolerate without issues indirect low-light environments.
Another huge plus is that it doesn’t need much watering, as it’s best to allow the soil to dry out between waterings, typically every 2-6 weeks.
Pro Tips*
Try to avoid over-watering them! Too much water is the only thing snake plants don’t tolerate well. Opt for well-draining soil to prevent waterlogging! Also, I have found with my houseplants (that include many orchids) that the best way to water them is to simply drop an ice cube or two into the pot. It’s a slow water technique that works well!
Pothos Houseplant
With their glossy and heart-shaped leaves, Pothos is one of the prettiest and easiest houseplants you can go for.
It’s known for its ability to thrive in a variety of light conditions. From bright to low indirect light, this easygoing plant takes it all in.
There are plenty of stunning varieties to pick from; Manjula, Jade, Golden, Marble Queen… take your pick!
Just like the Snake plant, Pothos doesn’t do well when it’s watered too much, so make sure to keep an eye on that. Sometimes, over-watering symptoms are not what you expect, with its leaves getting a dry crispy brown edge.
The best advice is to water your Pothos whenever the top of the soil feels dry, have patience, and relax!
ZZ Plant
For those wanting a touch of tropical greenery in their home without the fuss, a ZZ houseplant is your best bet.
The ZZ plant, also known as Zamioculcas zamiifolia, has exceptional resilience and adaptability. It thrives in indirect natural light but tolerates low light conditions and even artificial lighting with no issues.
It only requires infrequent watering, about 2 to 3 weeks each time, making it the perfect low-maintenance feature hard-to-kill houseplant.
Two particularly eye-catching varieties are the Raven, with its deep purplish-black foliage, and the Zamicro dwarf variety that is a petite version with smaller and slender leaves. Perfect for small rooms that need some fresh greenery!
Succulents
Succulents are the darlings of the low-maintenance plant world, with their plump, water-storing leaves and an endless variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.
Varieties like Jadeplant, Burro’s Tail, and Echeveria are great picks for homes craving vibrant greenery that demand very little in return.
Their interesting textures, colors, and forms create striking focal points in any room. You can have fun creating stylized indoor gardens and arrangements with different succulent varieties without worrying too much about them.
Why? Well, what makes succulent plants total superstars is their exceptional drought resistance and ultra-low water needs. Their fleshy leaves allow them to store water efficiently, making them highly forgiving if you forget to water for weeks at a time. You just need to water thoroughly but infrequently, and these hardy plants will thrive no matter what!
Chinese Evergreen
This unfussy beauty ranks among the most forgiving houseplants for those short on time or suffering from occasional bouts of forgetfulness.
With its striking, streaked leaves in shades of green, pink, red, and cream, the Chinese evergreen, also known as Aglaonema, adds an unmistakable tropical flair to any space.
Chinese evergreens can handle pretty much any light conditions except full sun, making them extremely versatile for dark rooms or corners that need a little brightening up.
They’re wonderfully tolerant of dry soil and drought – though they’ll appreciate a good soaking when you do get around to it.
Air Plants
If you are looking for hard-to-kill indoor plants that look the opposite, look no further than air plants.
With no need for soil, air plants are a stunning hard-to-kill houseplant option that can breathe new life into any room with the unique shapes and colors available.
There are hundreds of species and varieties of air plants, a.k.a Tillandsia, you can pick from! All of them may need a few tweaks in terms of their care routines, but the basics apply to all air plants.
Air plants only need a weekly misting or soaking to survive, able to pull moisture and nutrients from the air (isn’t that just fascinating!?)
Plus, they can thrive in pretty much any condition, though it’s always best to keep them away from direct sunlight exposure. The only thing you need to pay attention to is the humidity and temperature of the room where these indoor plants are kept.
They’re tropical plants, so you should protect them from dry environments and add a humidifier if you live in a dry area. We have many air plants on our property since we live in a tropical area. They really do thrive best this way, but can do well if the correct conditions are replicated indoors.
Remember that while there are people that seem to be blessed with a green thumb, no one is a pro at first.
It’s a skill that requires lots of patience, time, and years of experience. The only way to get better is to start and keep trying! So get your tools ready, grab one or a few of these recommended hard-to-kill houseplants, and start your journey to becoming a pro!
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