There are a number of different types of plants that require little maintenance. Some of them can even live without the need for any soil at all. Others require regular water and fertilizer treatments to keep healthy. Yet many plants still require certain elements to grow and thrive well. Fortunately, the plants that we’ll discuss don’t need a green thumb to grow or maintain. These easy-to-care-for plants will live and thrive even if you have no gardening experience.
Here, we’ll take a look at some types of plants that are frequently kept in backyards and indoors around the world, which require minimal maintenance.
1. Succulent Plants
Succulent plants or simply, succulents, are drought-resistant plants which makes them ideal as an indoor plant for beginners. They can live with very little water, little soil nutrients, and little care. They store water in different parts of their body which gives these plants a fleshy appearance. Thus, they’re called succulents.
Succulents are ideal plants because you can leave them unattended for several days or weeks even, and they’ll still be fine. Succulents are slow-growing plants, so you need to grow them tightly together in a container. Use cactus oil and mix it with sand or gravel when planting succulents. After planting, water the plants well and make sure to allow the soil to become completely dry before watering again.
Watering the plants too much is the most common mistake made by plant owners as succulents don’t really like to sit in a lot of water. Succulents need more water during spring and summer, but less in winter as this is the time when they enter a dormant phase.
Some good examples of succulents that you grow indoors include aloe, chalk sticks, pig face, and agave. Aloe Vera is very low-maintenance. They require little to no upkeep, so you don’t have to think about them. This evergreen perennial plant is a true charmer with its thick leaves and beautiful plump flowers. Aloe Vera plants not only need less care but it’s also good for healing. Aloe Vera works to heal various skin problems, including sore skin and acne.
You may also want to consider a Baby Rubber Plant, which is a succulent-like type of Peperomia. However, it’s essential to realize that some rubber tree varieties may require a lot more maintenance than other plants. This is something to keep in mind if you want to keep them healthy. If you want to know more about succulents, sites like Urban Organic Yield have a complete list of these plants that are ideal to grow indoors.
2. Christmas Cactus
The Christmas cactus is a great indoor plant because of its deep pink or red flowers that bloom in early winter. Also, this plant grows best if you leave it unattended. Christmas cactus can grow even in low light conditions, if you don’t mind seeing a smaller number of flowers when it blooms. Pruning after the plant blooms is recommended to keep the plant looking bushy and full.
You can also make your Christmas cactus bloom in December. During mid-October, keep the plant in complete darkness for 12 hours a night and continue doing so until you see some buds starting to appear. You can also try to subject the plant to cool temperatures around 50-55 degrees, beginning in November. You can then leave it on your window sill at home, especially if you’re going to work. You should then see flower buds appearing in a couple of weeks.
3. Mother-In-Law’s Tongue or Snake Plant
You can never forget about mother-in-law’s tongue or snake plant, if we’re talking about indoor plants that require little maintenance and making your home look fresh. It’s even one of the most popular indoor plants to grow among many homeowners because of the plant’s longevity and its ability to grow with little care.
The mother-in-law’s tongue gets its name from its long, sharp, and pointed leaves. This plant can grow in any indoor lighting conditions. It doesn’t need to be watered every now and then. Overwater it, and it will rot. Watering it once or twice every two weeks is enough to keep the mother-in-law’s tongue healthy.
If you’re the type who loves plants but constantly forgets to take care of them, you should consider the low-light thriving snake plant. Aside from requiring little sustenance, snake plants offer various health benefits. It helps filter toxins and pollutants in the air. It also produces oxygen and absorbs carbon dioxide in the evening. Adding snake plants may help you sleep better and it may act as a natural purifier to prevent airborne allergies. Plus, it looks good as an indoor ornament and is even Feng Shui-approved.
4. Pothos
Pothos is one of the easiest indoor plants to grow even for beginners. This is because they require little maintenance. They’re also almost impossible to kill, so you don’t have to worry about it even if you leave it unattended for days or weeks. Because pothos is considered as a trailing plant that just keeps on growing, you need to prune them every once in a while. Pruning will help keep the pothos look fuller.
When watering pothos, make sure that the soil is dry out before you water it again. But, don’t leave pothos dry for too long, though, as its leaves will wilt. Pothos can also grow in any type of lighting condition.
Final Thoughts
These are the types of plants that will grow without needing much care or maintenance. Watering them every once in a while, and placing them in a suitable lighting condition is more than enough to keep these plants growing full and healthy. You can also browse the Web to find some tips on how to keep these indoor plants healthy. Even if you’re not an avid plant owner, you’ll surely appreciate the beauty of these plants once they grow. They will then help boost your mood, add color to your home interior, and build up your skills as a plant owner.
