The Ultimate Indoor Plant Guide: 15 Types of Plants for the Home

Beginner Plants

Not everyone is blessed with a green thumb. And let’s be honest — some plants can be really time-consuming to take care of. Don’t worry, because we’ve got the plants for you.

Succulent: They’re not only pet friendly but also great starter plants if you have bright light in your home. Succulents are low maintenance, and because they are drought tolerant, they don’t require a lot of watering. “You can have fun with succulents by making a container garden and adding different types together,” says Zeigler.

Pothos: They don’t just do well in low light — pothos are “also a good beginner’s plant,” says Zeigler. “You really can’t kill them. They’re foolproof.” They can be grown in soil or in vases of water.

Sansevieria (also known as the mother-in-law’s tongue or snake plant): Do you go out of town for two or three weeks? The snake plant, which has spiky leaves and succulent-like properties, is very low maintenance and likely will still be alive when you come home from vacation.

ZZ plant: It grows in low to medium light and needs very little water, so it really is hard to kill.

Plants for the Green Thumb

Next on our indoor plant guide are plants for those with a green thumb. Once you’ve mastered caring for the beginner’s plants and better understand how lighting and watering affects them, it’s time to graduate to some of the more complicated plants.

Orchid: These plants are sold at your local grocery store, but believe it or not, they are not for beginners. “The key is to keep them evenly watered — not sitting in water or completely dry soil,” says Zeigler. If you buy an orchid, grow it in a pot with orchid potting mix. When an orchid is done flowering, you can cut off the old flower and get the plant to rebloom on cooler nights. “Put them outside for three or four nights in a row in high 50-degree temperatures and watch them bloom,” advises Zeigler.

Fiddle-leaf fig: In addition to needing a lot of light, the fiddle-leaf fig is more susceptible to pests and other diseases and can be very sensitive to changes in its environment. It can be a little tricky if you’re not used to having to monitor water.

Palm: “Definitely wait until you’ve mastered other plants before you get these,” says Zeigler. Palms need soil with high nutritional elements, and pruning is also an important step in taking care of them.

Care and Maintenance

Now that you’ve determined which plants work best for you and your home, it’s time to go to the store or nursery and get the right potting soil. You’ll need one that’s lightweight and has good drainage. “You don’t want to ever put your houseplant into a mix that’s compacted because they won’t drain well,” says Zeigler. Next, choose a pot with a drainage hole so that your plant doesn’t sit in water.

Once you’ve gotten your plants, soil and pots, it’s vital that you water each plant correctly. Don’t use ice cubes to water plants, even if the direction says you should. In general, the best way to see if your plant needs water is through the touch test. Stick your finger about 1 to 2 inches into the top of the soil, and if it’s dry, water your plant thoroughly. Additionally, make sure to fertilize once a month. Get an all-purpose liquid plant food and incorporate it into your routine.

Last but not least, regularly clean your plants’ leaves as you would with any other surface in your home. “Plants get dusty, so wipe their surfaces with a damp cloth about once a month because the dust can really clog the pores and affect the plant’s ability to photosynthesize,” says Zeigler. “If you want to get fancy, use a leaf shine spray to give it a glossy look.”

Remember, many of the plants that we bring indoors are ones that grow naturally in very humid, tropical environments. “Then we put them in a dry house that has air conditioning and heat,” says Zeigler. “So they need humidity and water.” That’s why, no matter which plants you choose to beautify your space, it’s so important to treat them with love and care to make sure they grow and flourish.

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