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Indoor plants are good for airgood for the soul and good for cooking if you decide to grow aromatic herbs and leafy vegetables. Caring for them is another story, and many of us have killed a fern or ficus just as quickly as they brought it into the coop. Fear not, some houseplants are easy to keep alive and others are almost impossible to kill. If your would-be green thumb is still a bit unstable, or your schedule means you’re not always around to water, you’ll want to line your windowsills with hard-to-kill houseplants.
If you are wondering what are the hardest houseplants to kill? I asked plant experts Rebecca Sterling and Puneet Sabharwal about the hardiest types of common houseplants. Sterling serves as the local plant expert for Easyplant The brand produces elegant self-watering pots that eliminate one of the main sources of houseplant death: over- or under-watering. Sabharwal is the founder of Hortya plant subscription service that sends a different potted plant to you or to one of yours gift list each month with an entire section of its website dedicated to plants that are easy to care for and hard to kill.
I looked at both plant professionals which species they recommend for someone who can’t stop killing houseplants — someone like me — and how to care for them so they don’t just survive, but thrive. Below you’ll find their suggestions for plants that don’t mind low light, others that don’t need constant watering, and hardier types of houseplants that are hard to kill and easy to care for.
For more, see where to put indoor plants for maximum growth and read this list of plants that keep insects away.
9 houseplants that are impossible to kill
The ZZ plant is popular with houseplant enthusiasts because of its low maintenance. It is hardy and easy to grow. It features thick, leathery leaves and rhizomes that store water, making it tolerant of neglect.
ZZ prefers soil that is kept consistently moist, but not wet or soggy. Depending on the size of the pot and the environment, you should water the plant every seven to 14 days.
Be sure to check the soil before watering to make sure it isn’t too much wet and allow the top few inches of soil to dry before watering again. Also, make sure the pot has adequate drainage, as standing water can cause root rot.
Care tips:
“Since the ZZ plant thrives in bright, indirect light, placing it near a window is ideal.”
– Sabharwal
“If you must prune it, avoid leaving a bare stem. Trim it low or just above a leaf to keep a natural look.”
-Sterling
Salon palms are great for beginners because they are forgiving. This palm’s leaves grow in thick, feathery clumps, Sterling explains, so even if it’s time to remove a few leaves, your palm will still have a full, lush look.
Care tips:
“This plant appreciates a healthy amount of humidity, so if you feel like the air in the room is too dry for you, it’s too dry for your plant. Time to add a humidifier or tray of pebbles to increase humidity near a plant.”
-Sterling
These iconic houseplants are hardy and hard to kill because of their ability to adapt. They have aerial roots that allow them to cling to surfaces and obtain moisture and nutrients from their surroundings. This means that the plant can survive in many different conditions, including low light, high humidity and even low water availability.
How do they do it? Monstera plants can store water in their thick mossy leaves to help them stay hydrated in dry conditions. Finally, the plant has an extensive root system that helps anchor it in place and also allows it to seek water and food sources from further afield.
Siltepecana plants have narrow green leaves with silver spots. They enjoy bright, indirect light, but adapt well to lower light as well. Just avoid direct sunlight as it can burn the leaves.
Care Tips:
“Monstera siltepecana plants should be watered regularly, but allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. To avoid overwatering, check the soil moisture level before watering. If the top inch of soil is dry, it’s time to water.”
– Sabharwal
Hoyas are amazing houseplants that can last for decades, and the kind of plant that people pass down through the generations. I love the elegant nature of Hoyas because the vines can be encouraged to become bushy or compact. Their thicker, waxy leaves help Hoyas tolerate lower humidity than thin-leaved plants. You can create quite a collection of Hoyas of varying variegation.
Care Tips:
“Hoyas can take years to flower, especially if they don’t get enough light. After the blooms fall off, do not prune the part of the stem where the flowers formed, called the Pendacule, as there is a good chance the next round of blooms will appear from the same spot.”
-Sterling
Also known as Chinese Evergreens, Aglaonema Siam Pink plants have unique patterns on each leaf and have been grown in Asia as ornamental plants known to bring good luck for centuries. Small flowers may bloom in summer that eventually turn into fruit.
This plant is hard to kill and can tolerate a wide range of conditions, including low light environments. “They have a slow growth rate,” explains Sabharwal, “so they don’t need frequent pruning or maintenance.”
Care Tips:
“These plants like indirect sunlight and can adapt to places with slightly low light. If you use a humidifier in your bedroom to keep the air moist, place Aglaonema Siam Pink there. It prefers a slightly moist environment and will look lovely on your bedside table. “
– Sabharwal
Pothos are especially good in cleaning the air in your home, and the vine variety is great for beginners. They have a matte texture and feel like velvet, hence the nickname satin.
It is considered one of the most indestructible houseplants due to its hardiness and ability to tolerate a variety of conditions, including drought, low light and even a little neglect. Satin Pothos can survive in low to medium light, but variegation (varieties) is best displayed in bright light.
Care Tips:
“Satin Pothos plants can get quite large, so find a spot in your home for it where it can spread and thrive, and keep it out of direct sun.”
– Sabharwal
“If you notice that their newer leaves [have] resized, it’s just this plant’s way of adapting to [the] lighting conditions you have chosen for them. Talk about sustainability”
-Sterling
Read more: Want cleaner air? This houseplant filters it 30 times better than others
This popular species is familiar to plant parents, both new and experienced. The snake plant is known for being drought tolerant, according to Sabharwal, and survives both low light and direct sunlight. Sansevieria are succulent plants with strong, hard, plastic leaves that store water.
Care Tips:
“Although rarely seen indoors, Sansevierias can flower. This can be exciting, but be sure to cut off the flowering stem before the flowers begin to drip sticky nectar.”
-Sterling
“Treat it like a succulent when caring for it as it has large root balls that store water for drought conditions.”
– Sabharwal
Sabharwal touts this versatile plant for its ability to withstand abuse. Baby rubber plants have semi-succulent properties, meaning they can store moisture in their fleshy stems or leaves, which act as reserve reservoirs. These are “easy care” plants and are easily propagated by cutting a stem or leaf and submerging it in water until roots develop.
Care tips:
“Overwatering can cause root rot, so it’s important to let the soil dry to the touch before watering again. This charming plan thrives in moderate to bright indirect light, but can tolerate lower light conditions as well. Too much direct light can burn the leaves. “
– Sabharwal
This philodendron with heart-shaped leaves is native to South America. Its leaves, colored in yellow and green strokes, resemble the flag of Brazil — hence the name. Brazil is a vining plant and grows quite tall, up to 10 feet if not pruned. It is a popular hanging plant but can also be trained to climb a moss pole or trellis.
Philodendron Brasil does well in medium to bright indirect light, according to Sabharwal. It can tolerate low light, but its variegation will become more pronounced and vibrant with more light. Direct sunlight should be avoided as it can burn the leaves.
Care tips:
“Water this philodendron when the top inch of your soil feels dry. It is important to avoid overwatering as the plant is susceptible to root rot. Providing the pot with good drainage will help prevent water from pooling at the bottom and damaging the plant.”
– Sabharwal
What is the main cause of houseplant death?
Both plant experts cite overwatering as the #1 cause of plant death.
Both Sabharwal and Sterling cite overwatering as the most common mistake people make that kills houseplants.
As a safeguard against overwatering, Sabharwal recommends pots with drainage, especially if you are a new plant parent. “Excess water often clogs the bottom of pots without drainage and can cause plant roots to rot. With drainage holes, you should water your plants liberally each time until the water begins to drain from the bottom. Let the plant soak up what’s in its drip tray, and after a few hours discard the rest.”
Sterling touts the EasyPlant signature self-watering potting system as a natural solution. “Customers don’t have to worry about overwatering.” Sterling also points out the bad habit people have of starving plants of light.
“Many people think that low light means their plant will thrive and continue to grow even if it only gets an hour or two of light a day.” She explains, “In reality, most tropical houseplants can adapt to more less than ideal natural light conditions, but still need a constant light source.’
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