They belong on every busy (or lazy) gardener's windowsill.
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During the fall and winter, we often struggle with colder weather and shorter days. We're naturally inclined to slow down and wait out the cold until spring. While outdoor plants in the garden follow a seasonal growth cycle, houseplants that remain indoors can have a particularly hard time staying healthy. Essential elements of their care—sunlight, temperature, and humidity—gradually diminish until spring. Yet, few of us have the time or energy to tend to our houseplants continuously. Fortunately, there are several low-maintenance houseplant varieties that thrive with minimal care.
Most houseplants are tropical in origin, and not everyone can build a greenhouse to support them. The key to a healthy houseplant is replicating its natural environment as closely as possible, focusing on sunlight, soil, and water conditions. However, for low-maintenance houseplants, consistent daily care isn't necessary to ensure they receive enough light and water. Whether you're an experienced gardener or a novice, you can keep many low-maintenance houseplants alive throughout the off-season. They can usually withstand being left alone for a period and won't instantly wither while you're out of town for the holidays. Ahead, check out these 35 low-maintenance plants that are both beautiful and easy to care for.
Drought-tolerant and sun-loving, this small type of cactus lives up to its name. Unlike most of its cousins, this low-maintenance plant doesn't have any sharp spines, so it's ideal for households with curious children and pets.
This variety of bromeliad sprouts a vibrant center spike, so it's a great way to add color to your collection of greenery—and it's much easier to care for than most indoor flowering plants. This low-maintenance plant is also nontoxic and safe for pets.
This low-maintenance plant has leaves that resemble pancakes, hence its appetizing name. But it's not always a short stack: It can grow to more than 12 inches tall. Direct sun exposure helps to bring out the pretty pinkish-red pigments on the edges of the leaves.
A real fern that's been naturally preserved offers all the benefits of a real plant (like look and feel) without the maintenance. Make sure to keep it out of direct light and never water it. What could be easier?
This fern needs more humidity than it does sunlight, making it a great kitchen or bathroom plant. That's why you always see it hanging on Southern front porches, where the light is shady and the air is damp and warm. Spray this low-maintenance plant with a mister in between waterings to keep it looking fresh.
Need some good luck? The money tree plant is purported to bring it—but you won't need good luck to grow it! Just give it bright indirect light, and turn it occasionally so it grows evenly. In its native habitat, it likes to be near water, so this low-maintenance plant is a good choice if you tend to overwater your plants. Give it a drink every week or so when the top few inches of soil feel dry.
With a name this cute, how can you not buy it? This vining succulent that looks like an elegant necklace is a fast grower when given lots of light. Put your string of pearls plant in bright indirect light, and water it when the top few inches of soil feel dry.
This handsome succulent needs almost no care. Give your aloe vera plant bright, indirect light and water every week or two when it's mostly dry. The gel-like substance inside each leaf can aid healing of minor burns (break off an outer leaf when you want to use it).
Most types of philodendrons are low-maintenance plants, and this one is no different. Micans have velvety, heart-shaped leaves with pinkish petioles (the stalks that attach the leaves to the stems). Give it medium to bright indirect light and water when the top few inches of soil feel dry.
Another must-have succulent, string of dolphins looks just like tiny dolphins leaping out of the water. This low-maintenance plant needs bright indirect light and water when the top few inches of soil feel dry.
If your heart is set on a fern, opt for the handsome bird's nest, which has thick, glossy leaves that hold onto moisture longer than many other types of ferns—making it the least fussy. Give this low-maintenance plant bright indirect light, and water when the top few inches of soil feel dry.
One of the most forgiving plants you can buy, this type of pothos grows quickly when given bright light but is incredibly tolerant of low light, making it an excellent low-maintenance plant for beginners.
Sometimes called a satin pothos, this plant resembles a pothos with its viney silhouette and heart-shaped leaves. However, it's actually an entirely different genus—but it's just as easy to grow. Give it bright, indirect light, and let the top few inches of soil dry out before watering again.
This pretty succulent has rosette-shaped foliage, often with a reddish or pink tint. Give this plant lots of bright, indirect light (succulents do not tolerate low light) and water every few weeks. You want it to dry out almost completely before giving it another drink—otherwise, it will rot.
Want another pothos that's easy to grow and just plain gorgeous? This variety has dramatic white splotches on its leaves instead of golden ones. Give it low to bright indirect light, and let the top few inches of soil dry out before watering again.
The gorgeous leaves of this low-maintenance plant move in response to light throughout the day, folding as if in prayer at night. Give your prayer plant bright indirect light, and let it dry out slightly between waterings.
Another easy-to-care-for philodendron, this one has the most beautiful large leaves. New growth emerges a glowing chartreuse and turns dark green as it matures. Give it lots of bright indirect light, and it'll be a fast grower. Water when the top few inches of soil feel dry.
This little guy grows to only about six to eight inches tall, so it's the perfect kitchen windowsill plant. Give Haworthia lots of bright indirect light and water every few weeks when it's totally dry.
With two-tone leaves of pale and dark green, this vining philodendron is a must-have. Give it bright indirect light and water when the top few inches of soil feel dry.
Tough as nails and not picky, the ZZ plant can handle low to bright indirect light. This low-maintenance plant also doesn't mind a missed watering and prefers to be mostly dry before you give it a good, long drink.
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