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Many of us have been socially-distancing by staying at home for the past few months, and many colleges are in the process of announcing whether students will be returning to campus in the fall. Sometimes it can get a bit lonely being home all day, especially if you live alone, but incorporating houseplants into your space is a great way to bring some life back into your space — and you’d be surprised how your mood can improve when you see beautiful plants growing around you!
Keeping houseplants in your space is a fun idea, but the thought of remembering to water them and properly care for them can be daunting. To help ease your mind, here’s a list of the easiest houseplants to keep alive, even for those of us who genuinely can’t seem to remember to water our plants!
- A ZZ Plant
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The ZZ plant is virtually indestructible! It actually prefers to be on the drier side, so it’ll still thrive even if you forget to water it now and then. In fact, it only needs to be watered when the soil is dry, and if its leaves start to turn yellow, you may actually be overwatering your plant. ZZ plants thrive in most lighting, but make sure not to place them in super bright areas.
This plant can live in many places, so you can spruce up your bedroom, bathroom, office, or most other places with it. If you don’t want to go to a garden store to buy your ZZ plant, The Sill sells these – and many other houseplants – online. Plus, they come already potted in a variety of chic planters!
- A Spider Plant
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Spider plants can grow very quickly, and propagating them (growing a new plant from parts of a bigger plant) is easy! They also act as air purifiers, which is perfect for a time when we’re all trying to keep the air we breathe as germ-free as possible. As long as you keep Spider Plants in well-lit areas and water them weekly, you’ll have a thriving plant on your hands!
- A Prayer Plant
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Prayer plants are some of my favorite houseplants, and it’s easy to see why! They’re beautiful plants with stunning colors – they can have purple, green, pink or red leaves – and are called prayer plants because of the movement of their leaves throughout the day.
Prayer plants like to be placed in bright light, but make sure not to put them in direct sunlight. They prefer to be watered consistently in the spring and summer, but they don’t require as much water in the fall and winter. Just make sure that your Prayer plant’s soil is always moist, and remember to water the soil, not the leaves!
You can get them at pretty much any garden center near you, but my favorite Prayer plant is available on Etsy.
- A Phalaenopsis Orchid
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I, like many other people, used to think that orchids were hard to take care off. I also assumed that orchids were pretty much dead after their flowers fell off. That, my friends, is a huge misconception!
Orchids are very easy to take care of, and they can rebloom for years if you care for them properly. Water orchids once every week to week and a half, and make sure that you don’t put them in direct sunlight. Once the orchid’s blooming period is over, clip the spikes (the part of the orchid where the flowers grow from) to encourage regrowth.
- A Haworthia Zebra
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This little succulent is one of my favorites, not only because of its resilience in the face of my forgetfulness to water it, but also because it’s pet-friendly. It loves to be placed in sunlight, and will often survive even if you only water it occasionally. Succulents Box is a great place to find Haworthia Zebra, and many other varieties of succulents.
Succulents are also great because you can plant them in so many different ways! I personally like to place my succulents on a window sill where they’ll get plenty of light, so matching little pots are my go-to. Another popular way to plant succulents is to use a terrarium, which allows you to plant multiple succulents and create your own little succulent garden.
- A Philodendron
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Philodendrons are such popular houseplants, and they’re a great plant for hanging planters because of the trailing vines. It grows pretty fast, so you can expect to see some aesthetically pleasing vines draping over your hanging basket in no time at all!
Philodendron plants don’t like bright sunlight, and although it prefers to be watered consistently, it’ll most likely bounce back even if you forget to water it once in a while.
- An Asparagus Fern
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Asparagus Ferns are technically not actually ferns, but they can be kept in bright areas as well as dark corners. You don’t need to water this plant super often, but make sure that the soil is always moist!
Etsy has been one of my favorite places to find plants like this Asparagus Fern without having to walk around crowded garden centers, and it’s such a fun project to recycle things you already have into cute earth-friendly planters.
- A Fiddle Leaf Fig
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Is there a houseplant out there that’s trendier than the Fiddle Leaf Fig? I think not. This indoor tree loves to be kept in bright spaces, but make sure not to place it in direct sunlight! It needs to be watered often in the warmer months, but you don’t need to water it as much in the winter.
When you water this plant, make sure to thoroughly soak it until the excess water drains out of the pot and into the saucer. Occasionally mist your Fiddle Leaf Fig to maintain a good level of humidity.
Not only is this plant a gorgeous addition to any indoor garden, but it also doubles as a great decor piece that can be styled perfectly in any space.
These are just a few of the easiest plants to keep alive in your home, but there are so many other varieties for you to discover. Trust me, once you become a plant parent, you’ll never want to look back.
Adding houseplants into your space is a great way to bring life back into your home and add a touch of greenery. Although taking care of plants is a responsibility, it’s so satisfying to watch your plant babies grow and thrive under your care! Don’t be worried that you’ll kill your houseplants, because there are so many plants out there that need minimal care.