The Best Indoor Plants for Beginners

Want to change your home environment, boost your mood and improve your health? Add some indoor plants to your home and you’ll instantly begin to feel the flow of energy throughout your living space. 

Not convinced plants can improve your mental health? Having plants inside your home makes you think of the outdoors, open spaces, and fresh air. Plants are a constant reminder to be present. They are literally sitting there calmly each day doing their thing. Growing, blooming, and simply being.

If you followed my recent return home, you’ll know I wound up stuck in Thailand and sadly almost all my plants died. But one did survive….my Snake Plant. 

If you’re looking for a houseplant that’s easy to take care of, start with a Snake Plant. Some people call them Mother-in-Laws’ Tongues. The only time I see these plants die is when people overwater them. And speaking of overwatering, this is the number one way people kill plants.

A quick and simple trick to avoid overwatering is to first check the soil with your finger. If the soil’s dry, your plant needs to be watered. If the soil’s not dry, don’t water the plant. It’s also important to make sure your plant has adequate drainage at the bottom of the pot. Not all pots come with their own drainage, so you might have to add a couple of holes yourself.

I totally understand that you may not have time to take care of plants, or maybe you don’t have a green thumb. I get it. I’ve been there. But if you want to make a change and start getting green, you’ll be glad to know there are several that require little-to-no work to take care of.

10 Indoor Plants for Beginners

1.     Snake Plant. The Snake Plant has many names, including Mother-in-Law’s Tongue and the Bedroom Plant. Known for its ability to clean the air, the Snake Plant is unlike other plants as it continues to release oxygen at night when it’s dark.

This is literally the hardest plant in the world to kill. They thrive not only indoors, but outdoors, as well. You can give Snake Plants anything from a little bit of light to loads of bright light.

Watering should be done once a month, just enough to get the soil wet. Avoid overwatering this plant, because it much prefers drier soil. A Snake Plant is very reasonably priced and won’t break your budget.

2.     Fiddle Leaf Fig. The Fiddle Leaf Fig is the newest addition to my home. I’ve been reading and learning everything I can about it, so I’m pretty knowledgeable. I love its beautiful violin-shaped leaves.

This plant loves light, but not direct sunlight. Direct sunlight can burn the leaves and stop the plant from growing. To keep the growth even, rotate the plant regularly.

Keep the soil moist by watering it every 2 weeks. Depending on the temperature where you are, you may need to water your Fiddle Leaf Fig it a bit more or a bit less. Always check the soil with your finger and if it’s dry, go ahead and water it.

3.     Golden Pothos. When I moved out on my own, the Golden Pothos was the first plant I purchased. If you tend to forget to water your plants, this is the plant for you. A Golden Pothos isn’t just perfect for the home, it’s also a fantastic addition to your office or even a dorm room.

This plant loves bright light, but it really thrives in indirect light. It even does well under fluorescent lighting. If you happen to notice the leaves turning pale, your plant may be getting too much sun.

The Gold Pythos loves drier soil, so be sure not to overwater it. When the leaves start to droop, the plant is telling you it’s thirsty and needs a good drink. If you wait too long before watering, the leaves will turn yellow, shrivel up, and die.

4. Monstera. My Monstera is currently my favorite plant in my home. Monsteras have big leaves and will make any space beautiful.

I think of them as low-maintenance, but they do require some attention. Monsteras are not picky about their light needs. I’ve kept mine near the window, in my bedroom, and even in my shower. But it’s important to know they prefer indirect light. If you notice the leaves turning yellow, it’s likely your Monstera is not getting enough light or you’ve overwatered it.

These plants love moisture in the soil. Take it from me — do not let the soil dry out. Once or twice, the leaves on my Monstera were drooping because the soil was dry. You should water your Monstera once a week and make sure your pot has drainage because these plants do not like root rot. If your roots have rotted, you can change the soil to stop your Monstera dying. 

 5. Peace Lily. If you’re looking for a houseplant that will bloom each year, the Peace Lily is your plant. They’ve sometimes been known to bloom twice a year, so you might get lucky.

Peace Lilies are a gorgeous statement piece for a tabletop. They’re great for rooms that you spend a lot of time in because they filter more indoor pollutants than other plants.

Indirect sunlight is best for Peace Lillies. If you notice the leaves curling up, your plant is getting too much sun and if you don’t move it, the leaves will get scorched.

Peace Lilies love to be watered about once a week. But as I said before, check the soil with your finger. A bit of trivia for you: Peace Lilies are not technically lilies. But like real lilies, they can be poisonous. Peace Lilies can be toxic to pets and humans, so keep out of reach or consider a different plant if you have small children or pets.

6. Rubber Plant. Native to Asia, the Rubber Plant got its name from its sap which is used to make rubber. This plant grows and thrives with the proper care.

Rubber Plants love natural sunlight, but make sure it is not direct sunlight. Wherever you keep your plant, remember to rotate it each month so all sides get enough light and it grows evenly.

 Rubber Plants love moisture in the soil, so don’t let it dry out. If the leaves start to droop, your Rubber Plant needs more water.

7. Spider Plant. The Spider Plant is yet another houseplant that’s great for beginners. When this plant grows, it develops spiderettes which hang down like spiders on a web. It’s this quirky feature that got the plant its name. 

Just like the Snake Plant, the Spider Plant prefers to run on the drier side. Because of this, it needs a pot with good drainage, otherwise, the roots can rot. Again, you should check the soil prior to watering, but typically these plants prefer to be watered every week or every other week.

If the tips of the leaves turn brown, don’t stress. This is most likely caused by chemicals in the water and is normal. To stop this from happening, you can use filtered water.

Good news for pet lovers: the Spider Plant is non-toxic and safe for homes with dogs and cats.

8. Jade Plant. Jade Plants are the perfect housewarming gift. Also known as Money Plants, Jade Plants signify luck and prosperity. According to Feng Shui, you should keep a Money Plant by your front door to welcome money into your home.

Native to South Africa, the Jade Plant is a succulent with glossy green leaves. It needs bright light, but not direct sun.

Like with many other plants, the most common cause of death for a Jade Plant is overwatering. Be careful and let the soil dry out prior to watering again. Jade Plants prefer to be watered every one to two weeks, depending on the season.

Warning: these plants are very toxic to dogs, cats and mildly toxic to humans. If you have pets or small children, this is not the plant for you.

 9. Aloe Vera. Don’t have time to care for a plant? Get yourself an Aloe Vera. These plants thrive on neglect!

Aloe Vera is probably the most popular succulent in the world. Growing up in California, my mom always had Aloe Vera plants in our yard. I remember using the fresh gel from them to soothe  burns and scrapes on our skin.

Aloe Vera plants love sunlight. Just be sure to place yours in indirect sunlight and rotate it often so it gets equal lighting on all sides.

This plant loves to be watered when the soil is dried out. Again, make sure your pot has drainage so the excess water can drain off. The biggest mistake with Aloe Vera (and all succulents for that matter) is overwatering. I know I’m guilty of overwatering my succulents. Don’t follow in my footsteps and water your Aloe Vera only once every week in summer and every 2 weeks in winter.

10. Prayer Plant. Prayer Plants are not only beautiful, but they’re pretty magical, too. Each night their leaves fold together as if in prayer and each morning they open again.

This plant likes to have moist soil, so don’t let it get too dry between waterings. Each time you water, be sure you use warm water to keep your plant healthy and happy. Again, Prayer Plants need to be in pots with proper drainage. Their root system is quite shallow, so a shallow pot is best.

Prayer Plants thrive when placed in bright, indirect sunlight. Some more good news for all you pet lovers: Prayer Plants are non-toxic to dogs and cats.

 If you don’t have any plants but you want to begin, I suggest starting with one or two. This way you’ll gradually get into a plant care routine and can add to your collection when you’re ready. I often have anywhere from 8 to 20 plants in my home at one time. Yes, you can call me a little obsessed!

Start small and do your research before you buy. You want to make sure that you get something that suits your life and your home.

Still have questions about indoor plants? Drop me a message and I’ll do anything I can to help!