Skip to main content

5 easy indoor plants anyone can grow

Simple indoor plants for anyone, especially beginner gardeners

Houseplants
Pixel-Shot / Shutterstock

Gardening and caring for houseplants is a hobby stretching back thousands of years, and most people want to give it a try at some point in their lives. If you have a green thumb or experience, then you can grow practically any plant your heart desires, but what if you’re just starting out or have tried and failed to keep plants alive in the past? Not to worry.

These five plants aren’t just beautiful, but they’re also easy to grow. Any beginner can care for these easy indoor plants, so start with this list and work your way up to more difficult plants.

Spider plant
Bozhena Melnyk / Shutterstock

Spider plant

Spider plants are beautiful and resilient plants that tolerate most conditions and a fair bit of neglect. They do well in hanging baskets as well as standing pots, and they make great office plants. For the best results, place your spider plant in bright, indirect light and water it once a week to every other week.

Recommended Videos

However, spider plants recover easily from dry spells or too much shade. They are a great choice for gardeners who sometimes forget to care for their plants. If you do forget to water your spider plant, simply remove the brown leaves and resume watering it weekly. Spider plants are also a good choice if you’re interested in propagation, as they are among the easiest plants to propagate.

Woman watering ZZ plant
Ground Picture / Shutterstock

ZZ plant

ZZ plants are popular choices for offices and other spaces where there may not be much natural light. While they grow best under bright, indirect light, they will grow in shade and fluorescent lighting as well. ZZ plants thrive in average, well-draining soil and only need to be watered every few weeks or once a month.

Similarly to spider plants, ZZ plants will recover quickly from drought and neglect, so don’t panic if you forget to water them for a while. To ensure the leaves look glossy and stay healthy, gently wipe them with a damp cloth a few times a year to get rid of any built-up dust or dirt. While your ZZ plant can survive without this, it does help improve its appearance and overall health.

Potted peace lily by a window
Grumpy Cow Studios / Shutterstock

Peace lily

Peace lilies are a great option for gardeners looking for easy indoor plants that flower. Peace lilies are calming, purify the air, and are remarkably easy to grow. They tolerate almost any lighting condition, but they can burn in intense direct light. However, indirect light, full shade, and even fluorescent lights are all suitable environments for peace lilies.

Peace lilies can tolerate some drought, but they prefer a more regular watering schedule. Plant them in well-draining soil and water them whenever the top few inches of soil are dry. Peace lilies can grow quite large, but they are also easy to divide. Peace lilies do best in moderate to high humidity, so keep them away from air vents and mist them occasionally.

A Christmas cactus with flower buds
shinichi4849 / Pixabay

Christmas cactus

The Christmas cactus, along with its relative, the Thanksgiving cactus, is an easy-to-grow succulent that grows beautiful flowers when the weather begins to cool off. These flowers range from red and pink to purple, and one plant can produce many of them. They’re also easy to propagate and can recover even from severe neglect.

To keep your cactus as healthy as possible and encourage it to bloom, place it in bright, indirect light and water it when the soil dries out. If you live in a region with well-defined seasons, then your Christmas cactus should pick up on the seasonal changes without issue. However, for gardeners in more tropical regions, you can mimic the seasonal changes by moving your cactus to a darker, cooler room a few weeks before you want it to bloom.

A pothos in a white pot
Jus_Ol / Shutterstock

Pothos

Pothos is often called devil’s ivy for its habit of growing out of control, and it is so resilient that poor care barely slows it down at all. Perfect for beginners and gardeners who have struggled to keep other plants alive, pothos has many interesting varieties with different leaf colors and patterns.

Pothos thrive in bright, indirect light but will grow in partial sun, shade, and fluorescent lighting as well. Water your pothos every one to three weeks, but don’t stress if it goes a little longer between waterings. Since this plant can grow too wild, pruning is important. Simply cut vines that are growing too long right above a leaf node. You can even propagate your pothos using the cut vine.

These easy indoor plants are good ways to start your garden and learn the basics of plant care, but they’re beautiful and rewarding choices for experienced gardeners as well. No matter your reason for choosing these plants, any one of these five easy indoor plants will liven up your home or office. Even if you make a mistake, these plants are forgiving and will bounce back quickly, so there’s no reason not to give them a try.

Cayla Leonard
Cayla Leonard is a writer from North Carolina who is passionate about plants.  She enjoys reading and writing fiction and…
How often does a cactus flower? Here’s your complete guide
Tips and tricks for getting better cactus flowers
Many cacti with brightly colored flowers

Cacti can come across as prickly and uninviting, but some of them have flowers that rival the brightest blooms of more traditional flowers. If you live in a dry, hot climate that makes growing most plants difficult, but still want a colorful, lively garden, then cactus flowers are the way to go. Not only are cacti easy to grow outdoors if you live in a desert climate, but they can also grow indoors. Their flowers tend to be vibrant with unique shapes.

If you're waiting for your cactus to bloom and asking yourself, "How often does a cactus flower bloom," then this is the guide for you! We'll answer all your questions so you can grow a garden full of bright cactus flowers.
What factors affect bloom time?

Read more
Do ZZ plants cause cancer? What the research says
What to know about the risks of growing ZZ plants
Raven ZZ plant

The ZZ plant is a terrific option for those in need of a new leafy companion that isn't picky about watering or maintenance. Unfortunately, it's also known to be toxic to pets and people. Unlike other toxic plants, there's a peculiar rumor that's circulating that ZZ plants cause cancer. That's a frightening rumor, especially if you already own a ZZ plant, but is this just a rumor, or is it true? What are the precautions you can take to ensure that you, your children, and your animals stay safe? Here's everything you need to know about the ZZ plant, its toxicity profile, and how to maintain it safely.
ZZ plant care: The basics

Although these plants prefer bright, indirect sunlight, they are of several indoor plant varieties that can thrive in lower lighting conditions. They are also highly resistant to drought and forgiving of owners who forget to water or are away from the home or office for extended periods of time. Ideally, you should water ZZ plants every week, but they can survive for longer without water. Overwatering can cause the roots to rot, so make sure your setup provides effective drainage.
Is a ZZ plant toxic?

Read more
Add these stunning Monstera plants to your indoor garden
From the common deliciosa to the coveted Thai Constellation, here are the best Monsteras out there
Monstera climbing a moss pole

Monstera is a popular houseplant, and for good reason. These plants are known for their lush leaves and rich color. While Monstera deliciosa may be the classic type of Monstera, there are many others to choose from. This diverse aroid genus actually contains about 50 different species, so you can definitely collect a wide variety of Monstera houseplants for green tropical vibes year-round. To introduce you to the gorgeous world of these plants, we’ve rounded up some of the most sought-after types of Monstera plants.
Monstera deliciosa

If you’re just getting into houseplants, one of the most ubiquitous plants you’ll come across is the Monstera deliciosa. Often mistaken for a philodendron, this lush plant features large, heart-shaped leaves with holes, or fenestrations.

Read more