I’ve always wanted to have a green thumb and be surrounded by house plants. For me, houseplants need to be easy-care plants; otherwise, they won’t survive. However, I haven’t been able to keep any alive except for a snake plant that I call “Beast,” which I’m convinced is the most resilient plant.
I know many of you think the same way, so I thought that I would bring in a plant expert and enthusiast to help us all out. Alexandra from Confessions of a Plant Freak is going to share why she fell in love with plants, 5 easy-care plants, and how to care for each one.
Meet Alexandra
My name is Alexandra, and I am a full-time working mother of two beautiful children. I work for a software company on the Central Coast of California, and most of my day is spent in an office running around from meeting to meeting. Needless to say, not a lot of outdoor time. Once I get home, it’s time to make dinner and wind down with the family. So having some houseplants around brought the outdoors inside my home.
Her Story
A few years ago, I started buying a few indoor plants to distract myself from the chaos of life and quickly realized the effect they were having on me. Plants were bringing calmness to my hectic days and giving me a way to disconnect with the unnecessary and reconnect with nature. There was so much satisfaction out of caring for all my plants and maintaining them; I kept buying more.
What started with a few plants has now turned into 200+ houseplants. Yes, I’m that crazy plant lady! I even started an IG account just for my plants (>>here<<)! I’ve noticed my stress levels have decreased, I’m not as anxious, and I’m just downright happy when I see all the greenery around my house. My houseplants have done me a world of difference, and I hope they can for you as well.
5 Easy-Care Plants
Wanting to disconnect from the hustle of your day with plants too but don’t know where to start? Here are some of my favorite easy-care plants:
- Golden Pothos
- Marble Queen Pothos
- Sansevieria (Snake Plant)
- Zanzibar Gem (ZZ Plant)
- Monstera Deliciosa
- Philodendron Green (Heart Leaf Philodendron)
Pothos
Most Pothos can tolerate all types of light except for no light. When you read about “low light” or “no light” tolerant plants, they forget to mention it really doesn’t mean NO light. You will want to make sure that you keep your Pothos somewhere he or she can get some sun. This plant can be next to a window or a few feet away. Pothos do well under artificial lighting as well, so if you are looking to add some greenery to that dark corner of your room, make sure you have a grow light.
When it comes to watering pot and plant size will typically determine how often you should water. The best way to make sure you don’t overwater or underwater is to check the soil. To do this, stick your finger in the soil up to the first knuckle. If the soil is dry, give your plant some water. Pothis also tend to get a droopy look to their foliage when they are thirsty, but do the soil test first!
Sansevieria aka Snake Plant
Sansevieria is one of the most amazing houseplants out there, in my opinion. They can seriously tolerate some abuse, so this will be the most forgiving of plants to a novice. When it comes to lighting, they are very similar to the Pothos. Make sure that you provide some natural lighting, or a grow light. Sansevieria are pretty slow growers, so don’t be down on yourself if you don’t see a ton of progress in that department.
If you forget to water this guy now and then don’t worry, he won’t notice. The lower the amount of light these guys get, the less watering they will need. You could give them a good drink every three weeks, and they will love you for it.
Zanzibar Gem aka ZZ Plant
The gorgeous Zanzibar Gem is a low maintenance and easy-going buddy to have around. They prefer to be a little further away from a window and need watering about every three weeks or so. Was I right? They require minimal attention and thrive on abuse. If you are a busy forgetful person, this is your plant!
Monstera Deliciosa
I added the very popular, Monstera Deliciosa to this list because of its easy-going nature. They do require bright light and will grow exceptionally well where they can soak up all the rays, but they don’t need a ton of watering. You will want the soil to dry out before giving them a nice soak. Monsteras tend to be a pretty big plant, so you will want to make sure that you have enough room for them to grow cause they will grow! With bigger plants also comes the need for more nutrients in addition to their watering routine. About once a month, pick up some basic plant food that you can add to your watering can.
Philodendron
Philodendron are some of my most prized and loved plants! Heart Leaf Philodendrons are beautiful vining plants. You can have them sitting up on a shelf close to a window or even hanging from the curtain rods, but again, like all plants, they will need light. They are quick to let you know when they need watering by curling their leaves inward. You will probably want to stick to a weekly watering schedule with these guys, and they will in return grow big.
Good luck to you all and I hope you find this helpful! Happy plant shopping, and welcome to the community! ~ Alexandra
Closing Statements
Wow, so much incredible plant knowledge that Alexandra shared in this article. I don’t know about you all, but I’m want a Monstera Deliciosa not only because the name is incredible, but they look and feel so tropical. Which are your favorite easy-care plants?
If you want to follow Alexandra and her amazing plant adventures, check her out over on Instagram >>here<<.
For more home life and decor ideas, click >>here<<
Photos by Anthea Marette Photography
Plant photos are shoppable, and the images came from the seller’s website.
Any of the brands mentioned above does not sponsor this article. However, some of the links may contain affiliate links which may generate revenue for the site when clicked, or when a purchase occurs. The information in this post is my thoughts and preferences.
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