Hey there! If you’re interested in houseplants but not sure where to start, I put together a list of houseplants for beginners. These plants are low maintenance, and I will highlight each of their individual needs. Let’s get started. Let’s face it houseplants can be very intimidating! I hoping this list will give you some insight into some great beginner houseplants that are easy to take care of and maintain! Enjoy reading.
Sansevieria:
And, my number one pick for the best houseplants for beginners is the Sansevieria. The official name for this plant is Sansevieria trifasciata. There are many different varieties of this plant! Sansevieria is a tropical plant native to Western Africa. These plants are more commonly known as the snake plant, the mother in law’s tongue, and others.
The sansevieria is a very hardy plant. The plant prefers a dry environment. It can handle low light and if you forget to water, it won’t die! So, it’s a win-win if you’re new to plants and need low light, low maintenance plants. And, I mean look at it, it’s eye-catching for sure.
NASA did a study on houseplants many years ago, according to the results the Sansevieria can filter out chemicals such as benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene.
This plant is easy to find, depending on the variety and not too expensive. Overall, Sansevieria is a resilient plant that tolerates low light, little watering, and air purifying.
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Highlights
- Can tolerate little water
- Tolerate low light
- Air purifying
- Fast-growing
- Aesthetic
- Multiple varieties
- Inexpensive
Aloe Vera:
My second pick for the best beginner houseplant is Aloe Vera! Aloe Vera is a tropical plant native to Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula.
I believe every house should have an Aloe Vera plant. It has wonderful medicinal properties and is a natural option if you ever get sunburned. These plants are easy to take care of and will grow without much effort. This plant only needs water when the soil is completely dry and prefers direct bright light. And that’s all you need to succeed with the Aloe Vera.
Aloe Vera is also on NASA list of air-purifying plants. Aloe Vera can remove benzene and formaldehyde.
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Highlights
- Doesn’t need a lot of water
- Bright indirect light
- Air purifying.
- Healing/ medicinal properties
- Inexpensive
- Easy to find
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ZZ plant:
Ah, the ZZ plant, also know as the Zamioculcas Zamiifolia, is a tropical plant native to Eastern Africa. It’s my third pick for the best houseplant.
It tolerates low light but would prefer a medium bright lit room with no direct light. The ZZ plant has similar watering needs to the Sansevieria and prefers a dry environment. This makes it a great houseplant for most households! If you would like to learn more about the zz plant, I wrote one. View it here.
This plant is also air-purifying. According to the NASA study the ZZ plant helps remove benzene, toluene, and xylene from the home.
Highlights
- Moderate indirect sunlight
- Air purifying.
- Hardy plant
- Dry environment
- Inexpensive to moderately priced
- Moderate to fast-growing
Plant Soil and Add-ins
Pothos:
The pothos is also one of the best houseplants for beginners. Pothos are beautiful vine plants native to the Solomon Islands. Common names for Pothos are devil’s ivy, Solomon Island Ivy, silver ivy, marble ivy, and more.
Pothos is a beginner houseplant but requires a little more upkeep. It can do well in low light but prefers bright, indirect light. You only need to water this plant when the soil is completely dry and the leaves start to droop. Pothos love a humid environment, so consider leaving this plant in the bathroom from time to time. If you’re interested I have a blog post on 5 tips for keeps a Pothos happy!
Pothos is an air-purifying plant. According to the NASA study it helps filter out benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethane.
Highlight
- Bright indirect sunlight
- Air purifying
- Inexpensive
- Easy to find
Monstera:
The Monstera Deliciosa has become a houseplant staple over the years. The Monstera is native to the tropical forests of Southern Mexico down to southern Panama.
This plant needs bright indirect sunlight and water only when soil is completely dry. The monstera is also considered an air-purifying plant. According to the NASA study, it helps to filter out formaldehyde.
For a more in-depth review of how to care for the Monstera consider reading my in-depth blog post! The one downside of this plant is it can get quite large and needs space to grow.
Highlights
- Bright indirect sunlight
- Air purifying
- More expensive (depends where you buy)
- More difficult to find
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