6 Indoor Plants Anyone Can Grow
Gardening is a popular and fulfilling hobby to take up after retirement because of its variety of benefits for health and well-being. If the approaching winter is preventing you from starting your journey into the world of horticulture, you can always start a garden indoors!
While caring for houseplants can be intimidating, especially if you’re a beginner, the good news is that there are plenty of plants to adopt that are not only beautiful but also easy to care for. This list of beginner-friendly, low-maintenance plants can thrive with minimal attention and forgive an occasional forgotten watering so that you can develop your plant care skills and enjoy the lovely touch of greenery they bring to your space.
- Cactus
Cacti make easy beginner plants because of their incredibly low-maintenance nature. Because they’ve evolved to withstand harsh and dry desert conditions, they are able to store excess water much longer than the average plant. This drought tolerance means you don’t have to stick to a strict watering schedule. They also grow very slowly, which means you won’t have to prune or repot them often.
Cacti thrive in bright, direct sunlight and well-draining soil that needs water only when it dries out fully. To ensure it thrives and avoid soggy soil, make sure to pot your cactus in a container with at least one drainage hole.
- Sansevieria
Sansevierias, or snake plants, are indoor plants with semi-succulent leaves, which means they are also pros at storing water and don’t require frequent watering. They can go weeks between waterings in a typical indoor environment, so they’re perfect if you’re looking for a plant you can leave unattended while you travel or forget about on occasion.
Snake plants are adaptable to many different living conditions and while they prefer plentiful sunlight, they can survive and grow in very low-light conditions as well. They are also easy to fit into any narrow space because of their upward growth and won’t require much trimming.
- Prayer plant
Prayer plants are named for their distinctive leaves that fold up at night, then reopen during the day – like hands in prayer. They often feature striking and colorful patterns and require only a simple, beginner-friendly care routine to flourish and stay stunning.
Because prayer plants are native to the rainforest, they can easily handle low-light conditions. While they do prefer frequent watering and some humidity, they are fairly hardy plants that can grow beautifully tall or gracefully trail, depending on the variety. They are also easy to propagate after trimming, so you can share your plant with others or grow a second one for yourself!
- Pothos
The pothos plant is one of the most popular beginner houseplants because of its low-maintenance and forgiving nature. It thrives in various settings, from low light to bright indirect light, and can withstand infrequent watering. Pothos are also fairly resistant to pests and disease, making them a hardy option for those with busy schedules who have little time to spend on plant care.
Another major pothos benefit is their air-purifying quality – keeping a pothos in your home is actually good for your health! The plant naturally filters out harmful toxins, such as formaldehyde, improving the air quality in your home just by sitting and looking pretty.
- Aloe
Aloes are one of the easiest plants to care for. Because they are succulents, they rarely need water – only when the soil is fully dried out. They do love the sun and enjoy being moved outside in the summer to boost their growth and bloom colorful flowers.
The aloe plant even has useful medicinal properties. The juice from its leaves can be used topically to moisturize skin, treat burns and wounds, or even alleviate symptoms of skin conditions such as eczema. You can also drink aloe juice to reap its many health benefits it’s filled with antioxidants and may promote digestive and oral health, regulate blood sugar, boost your immune system, and relieve heartburn.
- Spider plant
Spider plants are excellent choices for indoor gardening beginners because of their resilience and low-maintenance care requirements. These plants can thrive in various lighting conditions, including indirect sunlight and partial shade, so they can easily adapt to many environments. They can withstand occasional neglect because of their robust root system, which helps them bounce back quickly if they become too dry or stressed, making them perfect for new plant enthusiasts.
In addition to being easy to care for, spider plants are also known for their unique ability to produce tiny baby plants, which can be easily propagated, offering beginners a fun and rewarding way to quickly expand their new plant collection with minimal effort – and at no added cost!
Grow Your Green Thumb at The Vista
If you’re an aspiring plant enthusiast, The Vista is the perfect CCRC to call home. In addition to the beautiful apartment homes that are filled with light for your new indoor plants, The Vista has several shared community gardening spaces for residents to grow fragrant flowers, flavorful herbs, or fresh veggie plants in the warmer months. The community even holds planting classes for beginners to learn more about this gratifying hobby.
To learn more about premier CCRC living at The Vista, call (201) 508-0793 or provide your contact information using our quick and easy form.