Category: Indoor Gardening

Practical greens in homes are one of the most magnificent features that bring life and exotic feel to our compound. Though there are several benefits of growing indoor plants some people do not have the time, let alone the energy, to attend to the plants that demand so much of it. To that end, this article is for those who want plants that are not only live accessories but require little from you.

Here we’ve compiled and rated the best 10 low care indoor plants that are easy to maintain, come highly recommended for people with a lot of work, or little gardening knowledge, or for those who prefer not to spend a lot of time with their plants. From the hardy Snake Plant, to the versatile ZZ Plant, these plants only need the occasional water and a place which receive correct lighting.

Why Choose Low Maintenance Indoor Plants?

Before diving into the list, let’s explore why low maintenance indoor plants are a smart choice for your home:

1. Convenience: According to what category of plants, plants that do not demand much care are categorized. It is especially of great use if one has a tight schedule, frequently travels, or tends to practice indoor gardening and has zero prior experience.
2. Air Quality: Some of the most commonly grown plants for home use are reliable in increasing the quality of the indoor air since they act as air purifiers.
3. Aesthetics: A well maintained greenery not only beautifies your home but is also welcoming to the eye. Furthermore, these plants can be arranged any way, on shelves, tables or windows, and so on.

That said, let’s consider some of the best low maintenance indoor plants that can positively transform your home without so much effort.

1. Snake Plant (Sansevieria)

Snake Plant or scientifically named Sansevieria, also known as Mother-in-laws tongue is one of the most ignored yet easiest plant being grown indoors regardless of new or experienced indoor horticulturist. It adapts to all light conditions, low and high, and requires minimal water for it to be grown.

Care Tips:

• Light: Tolerates low to bright indirect light.
• Water: Water sparingly; only when the soil is completely dry.
• Temperature: Prefers warm conditions but can tolerate cooler environments.

Why It’s Great for Your Home: The Snake Plant is probably easy to recognize since the plant is characterized by leave patterns that are closely grouped, upright and in the shape of swords. It is also an air purifying plant which can also fit the house bedrooms, living rooms or even the offices.

2. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

Another indoor plant that fits well your easy to care gardening needs is the ZZ Plant. It can thrive in very little light and almost needs no water most of the times and would fit well in with people who usually mistreat their plants.

Care Tips:

• Light: Tolerates low light, but grows best in bright, indirect light.
• Water: Water when the soil is dry to the touch; avoid overwatering.
• Temperature: Prefers temperatures between 60°F and 75°F (15°C to 24°C).

Why It’s Great for Your Home: Media darkness provided this ZZ Plant with foliage of shiny, dark green and an upright growth pattern. It also has the added bonus that it is an air purifying product which would assist at removing potentially harmful substances from the inside air.

3. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

The Spider Plant also known as the Air Purifying Plant is one of the easiest indoor plants a person can take care of. It grows best in partial shade and does not need frequent watering.

Care Tips:

• Light: Prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate lower light.
• Water: Water moderately, letting the soil dry out between waterings.
• Temperature: Ideal temperature range is between 60°F and 75°F (15°C to 24°C).

Why It’s Great for Your Home: Spider plant is characterised by long slender leaves and small white flowers hanging from the foliage. It also ‘throws out’ “babies,” or small plantlets that one can use to breed more plants of the same kind.

4. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

If you want trailing plant then Pothos is a best choice. This trailing plant is incredibly hardy and is ideal for growing in a home with little to no green thumb.

Care Tips:

• Light: Prefers low to bright indirect light.
• Water: Let the soil dry out between waterings; they are drought-tolerant.
• Temperature: Best in temperatures between 65°F and 85°F (18°C to 29°C).

Why It’s Great for Your Home: Swedish ivy also known as pothos is a climber that can be hung and grown on a hanging basket or trellis and can also be trailed along the floor. This plant blossoms green and gold heart-shaped leaves that beautify your environment.

5. Aloe Vera

Apart from being relatively difficult to maintain, Aloe Vera comes with added advantages because it has healing properties. The gel inside its leaves is effective for treating burn, cuts and other skin inflammation and hence makes a convenient plant for your abode.

Care Tips:

• Light: Needs bright, indirect light to thrive.
• Water: Water thoroughly but allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings.
• Temperature: Prefers warmer climates and temperatures between 59°F and 77°F (15°C to 25°C).

Why It’s Great for Your Home: In addition to its health benefits, Aloe Vera is a striking succulent with thick, fleshy leaves. It thrives with minimal care and can be placed in sunny windowsills or shelves.

6. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

The Peace Lily is a graceful, low-maintenance plant known for its beautiful white flowers and glossy green leaves. It can thrive in low light and needs very little care.

Care Tips:

• Light: Prefers low to medium indirect light.
• Water: Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Water when the soil feels dry on top.
• Temperature: Thrives in temperatures between 65°F and 80°F (18°C to 27°C).

Why It’s Great for Your Home: Specifically, it is more known for its ability to remove toxins from the air and also for its low light requirements. They also beautify any room through their white and delicate appearance. This plant is suitable to be placed in the living room, at offices, or even the bathroom especially those with little light.

7. English Ivy (Hedera helix)

English Ivy is one of those traditional plants that you can grow easily without having to provide much attention. This plant can be used for hanging baskets and it looks great when it trails over shelves or balconies.

Care Tips:

• Light: Prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate low light.
• Water: Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged; water when the top layer feels dry.
• Temperature: Thrives in cooler temperatures, ideally between 50°F and 70°F (10°C to 21°C).

Why It’s Great for Your Home: English Ivy is excellent if what you want is a rich coverage of greens in your interior space. It’s also an air Purifier and can be used to eliminate formaldehyde and other toxins from the indoor air you breathe.

8. Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)

The Rubber Plant is a great indoor plant which can easily adapt to low light conditions; which also requires little watering. With its large, shiny leaves this plant will be a centerpiece in any home.

Care Tips:

• Light: Prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate low light.
• Water: Water when the soil is dry to the touch; avoid overwatering.
• Temperature: Grows well in temperatures between 60°F and 75°F (15°C to 24°C).

Why It’s Great for Your Home: This plant has large, glossy leaves which are dark green and gives your indoor garden an exotic look. It is also low maintenance requiring little attention, making it perfect for plant enthusiasts with little time on their hands.

9. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)

A popular indoor plant that is mostly grown for its beautifully patterned leaves, the Chinese Evergreen likes partial shade and a small amount of water.

Care Tips:

• Light: Thrives in low to medium indirect light.
• Water: Water when the soil is dry to the touch; ensure proper drainage.
• Temperature: Prefers warm temperatures around 65°F to 75°F (18°C to 24°C).

Why It’s Great for Your Home: The plant shown in the figure is the Chinese Evergreen, and though matured, it has this great attractive patterned leaves that enhance color in the room. It can be located in the office, the bedroom or living room and most certainly performs well in dark places.

10. Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)

It has really earned the name cast iron plant because it is suitable for any condition almost any indoor environment from little light to densely humid.

Care Tips:

• Light: Tolerates low light but grows best in moderate, indirect light.
• Water: Water when the soil is dry; avoid overwatering.
• Temperature: Thrives in temperatures between 50°F and 75°F (10°C to 24°C).

Why It’s Great for Your Home: The Cast Iron Plant has big leaves with dark green color and will be suitable for any room of the house. This one is perfect for the person who wants a plant that wouldn’t need any care, like they like dry or a wrong climate.

Final Thoughts

Low maintenance indoor plants are a perfect example of bringing color, style, and even improving the quality of air within your home without much work. Some of the easiest and most beautiful plants that one can use in indoor gardening are mention above, and they are quite easy to care for.

Selecting the right plants for your particular area will ensure that these plants are capable of growing well inside your home when you take the time to follow these easy guidelines for indoor gardening. So, you shouldn’t hesitate to introduce some green things into your interiors — your new easy-going plants will be fine with that.

Additional Tips for Maintaining Low Maintenance Indoor Plants

• Proper Drainage: Make sure your plant containers have drainage so as not to overwater your plants.
• Use a Humidity Tray: A few species, for example, Peace Lily and Cast Iron Plant are quite happy with a little more humidity than other species are comfortable with in arid interiors.
• Prune Regularly: As with the majority of indoor plants, the structure of the plants can become overgrown at times, and this requires pruning now and then.
• Check for Pests: Check your plants occasionally for any insect pest organisms such as spider mites or aphids.

If you have kept these simple points in mind then your low maintain indoor plants will remain fresh throughout the year.

References: Low Maintenance Indoor Plants

There are always tips on how the right kind of soil is important when it comes to tending to the delicate health of plants grown indoors. Selecting the right type of soil will have a big impact on the growth exposed to diseases and parasites, and all round vigour of the plants. It is always challenging to determine which soil type is most suitable when gardening indoors with so many products on the market. In the following sections, we’ll provide you the basic information about the indoor plant soil and the recommendation of their choices according to plants types.

Why the Right Soil Matters

Soil however is much more than just the support system for plants; it’s a supply of nutrients, anchor for roots and regulator of drainage. Depending on the soil which has been used, there could be root rotting, poor nutrient absorption or even plant dying. Therefore, there is benefit in tapping into the needs of your indoor plants as well as the selection of soil that can complement it.

Things You Should Never Neglect to Check When Selecting the Soil for Your Indoor Plants

1. Drainage: Drainage is crucial in to avoid water accumulation and root death. Many indoor plants require a good drainage system so as to provide for proper drainage and aeration of the internal structure.
2. Aeration: Regular root system does need air just like any other part of the plant. The soil should be fine grained, particularly sandy soils, so that the air can get to the roots.
3. Nutrient Content: Every plant requires different nutrients for its proper growth and to nourish it properly. Select a soil mixture which can support enough nutrients required by the kinds of plants that you are growing.
4. pH Level: The majority of the interior foliage plants grow best in a slightly acidic to alkaline soil pH of between 6.0 – 7.0. See to it that your mix you utilise in making your soil is just within this range for far better health of the plants.

Types of Soil for Indoor Plants

1. Cactus and Succulent Soil: Basically, most of the succulents and cacti plants require little water; majority of them do well in soils with poor water holding capacity. Ableton trio of media that are appropriate for growing these plants are sand, perlite and peat moss. They ensure that they have a fast draining part while, at the same time, provide the seed with adequate food for growth.
2. All-Purpose Potting Soil: For a host of plants at indoor conditions, all-purpose potting soil is among the most suitable types. It can feature peat moss, perlite and vermiculite – providing a correct ration of nutrients and correct drainage. The best plants for this soil include peace lilies, snake plants, and pothos.
3. Orchid Potting Mix: Orchids require different type of soil because these plants possess aerial roots. Orchid potting mixes comprise of bark, sphagnum moss and perlite so that the orchids which require; free drainage, well aerated mixes; are provided for to the later.
4. Citrus and Tropical Plant Soil: Tropical plants such as the lemon tree and others need soil that may hold water but must drain at the same time. It also conditions the mix, as do ingredients such as coconut coir or compost, and provides water retention without making the mix overly wet.
5. Cacti and Succulent Soil Mix for Pots: Like cactus soil it is suitable for container growing Because it drains very well, it is suitable for container growing. It helps ensure an adequate drainage and offers the low moisture regime that is required by succulents and cacti in pots.
6. Peat-Free Soil Mix: If you are looking for even more environmentally friendly option, there is a wide variety of peat-free soils to use. Most of these mixes incorporate coconut coir, pine bark or wood fibres which are all sustainable and biodegradable.

How to Improve Your Soil Mix

If you’re looking to improve your store-bought soil mix or create a custom blend, consider adding the following ingredients:

• Perlite or Vermiculite: These additives enhance the degree of drainage and aeration.
• Coconut Coir: Another environmentally friendly substrate that is similar to peat in its ability to both hold moisture and maintain structure is coir.
• Compost: Use to top dress your plants or add to the compost pile to feed them and enhance the soil texture.
• Sand: Desirable for plants that require the right drainage in their growing environment- that is those like cacti and succulents.

Future Posts: Advice about Indoor Plant Soil

• Repotting: At some point, it becomes possible that the structure of the soil in the plant pots deteriorates. Prune your plants and transplant them after 1-2 years to replace the old used up soil.
• Fertilizing: In as much as soil offers the support structures indoors plants still require supplemental nutrients. Variable your plants with the help of liquid or slow-releasing fertilizers in order to avoid deficiency.
• Watering: Avoid water logging and be sure to avoid watering at night. Good drainage is beneficial, any more water and root rot is a possible problem.

Final Thoughts

The kind of soil that one uses in their indoor plants determines the health of the plants and the garden. Regardless of the type of plants you have – succulents, tropical or flowering there is always the right soil mix that will contribute to long-term success. It is therefore important to pay attention to things like drainage, aeration and nutrient level on the grass before coming up with your decision.

Picking the right soil and then ensuring it is well taken care of will ensure that your plants provide them with the best environment that is a sure bet for healthy and fast growing plants.

References: Best soil for indoor plants