10 Easy-to-Care Plants for Lazy Gardeners?

Low-Maintenance Plants for Busy People: 35 Easy-to-Care-For Options

As the weather warms up and spring arrives, our schedules often fill up, leaving us with less time at home. Longer days and pleasant weather mean that we naturally want to spend more time outdoors. Because of this shift in routine, certain aspects of home care may be overlooked, making spring cleaning and maintenance essential to start the season right. Houseplants, too, can end up receiving less attention during this busy time. Fortunately, low-maintenance plants offer a perfect solution for those with hectic schedules.

The Benefits of Low-Maintenance Plants

Low-maintenance houseplants are great because they usually thrive with minimal attention, which makes them perfect for busy plant parents, those new to gardening, or even the lazy gardener, explains Paris Lalicata, plant expert at The Sills. Low-maintenance plant resilience ensures they remain beautiful and healthy even with occasional neglect, and their presence can create a calming and relaxing atmosphere, boosting mood and reducing stress without adding the burden of intensive upkeep.

35 Low-Maintenance Plants for Your Home

Here are 35 low-maintenance plants that are beautiful and easy to care for:

Cacti and Succulents

Cuddly Cactus: Drought-tolerant and sun-loving, this small type of cactus lives up to its name. Unlike most of its cousins, this low-maintenance plant doesnt have any sharp spines, so its ideal for households with curious children and pets. Size: Small. Care Requirements: Bright, full sun. Water: Every 2-3 weeks.

Kalanchoe Flapjack: This low-maintenance plant has leaves that resemble pancakes, hence its appetizing name. But its not always a short stack – it can grow to more than 12 inches tall. Direct sun exposure helps to bring out the pretty pinkish-red pigments on the edges of the leaves. Size: Small. Care Requirements: Direct sunlight. Water: Rarely, only when the plant is completely dry.

Echeveria: This pretty succulent has rosette-shaped foliage, often with a reddish or pink tint. Give this plant lots of bright, indirect light – succulents do not tolerate low light – and water every few weeks. You want it to dry out almost completely before giving it another drink, otherwise, it will rot. Size: Small. Care Requirements: Indirect light and minimal watering. Water: Rarely, only when the soil is completely dried out.

Ferns and Tropical Plants

Preserved Fern Kokedama: A real fern thats been naturally preserved offers all the benefits of a real plant – like look and feel – without the maintenance. Make sure to keep it out of direct light and never water it. What could be easier? Size: Small to medium. Care Requirements: Low light. Water: Mist daily, water completely every 12 weeks.

Boston Fern: This fern needs more humidity than it does sunlight, making it a great kitchen or bathroom plant. Thats why you always see it hanging on Southern front porches, where the light is shady and the air is damp and warm. Spray this low-maintenance plant with a mister in between waterings to keep it looking fresh. Size: Medium. Care Requirements: Medium indirect light and ample humidity. Water: Mist daily, water completely every 12 weeks.

Birds Nest Fern: If your heart is set on a fern, opt for the handsome birds nest, which has thick, glossy leaves that hold onto moisture longer than many other types of ferns – making it the least fussy. Give this low-maintenance plant bright indirect light, and water when the top few inches of soil feel dry. Size: Medium. Care Requirements: Bright, indirect light, ample humidity. Water: Every 2 weeks when the top inch of soil is dry.

Flowers and Foliage

Bromeliad Vriesea Intenso Orange: This variety of bromeliad sprouts a vibrant center spike, so its a great way to add color to your collection of greenery – and its much easier to care for than most indoor flowering plants. This low-maintenance plant is also non-toxic and safe for pets. Size: Small to medium. Care Requirements: Indirect sunlight. Water: Fill the plants base with water once a week.

Prayer Plant: The gorgeous leaves of this low-maintenance plant move in response to light throughout the day, folding as if in prayer at night. Give your prayer plant bright indirect light, and let it dry out slightly between waterings. Size: Medium. Care Requirements: Bright, indirect light. Water: Every 2 weeks.

Philodendron Micans: Most types of philodendrons are low-maintenance plants, and this one is no different. Micans have velvety, heart-shaped leaves with pinkish petioles – the stalks that attach the leaves to the stems. Give it medium to bright indirect light and water when the top few inches of soil feel dry. Size: Small to medium. Care Requirements: Medium to bright light. Water: Every 2 weeks when the top inch of soil is dry.

Vines and Climbers

String of Pearls: With a name this cute, how can you not buy it? This vining succulent that looks like an elegant necklace is a fast grower when given lots of light. Put your string of pearls plant in bright indirect light, and water it when the top few inches of soil feel dry. Size: Small to medium. Care Requirements: Bright, indirect light and waterings every few weeks. Water: Every 2 weeks when the top inch of soil is dry.

String of Dolphins: Another must-have succulent, string of dolphins looks just like tiny dolphins leaping out of the water. This low-maintenance plant needs bright indirect light and water when the top few inches of soil feel dry. Size: Small. Care Requirements: Bright, indirect light, minimal watering. Water: Every 2 weeks when the top inch of soil is dry.

Philodendron Brasil: With two-tone leaves of pale and dark green, this vining philodendron is a must-have. Give it bright indirect light and water when the top few inches of soil feel dry. Size: Small to medium. Care Requirements: Bright, indirect light. Water: Every two weeks.

Other Low-Maintenance Plants

Money Tree: Need some good luck? The money tree plant is purported to bring it – but you wont need good luck to grow it! Just give it bright indirect light, and turn it occasionally so it grows evenly. In its native habitat, it likes to be near water, so this low-maintenance plant is a good choice if you tend to overwater your plants. Size: Medium to large. Care Requirements: Regular watering, and be sure to rotate this plant in the sun so all sides grow evenly. Water: Every week or so when the top few inches of soil feel dry.

Aloe Vera: This handsome succulent needs almost no care. Give your aloe vera plant bright, indirect light and water every week or two when its mostly dry. The gel-like substance inside each leaf can aid healing of minor burns – break off an outer leaf when you want to use it. Size: Medium. Care Requirements: Bright, indirect light. Water: Every two weeks.

Golden Pothos: One of the most forgiving plants you can buy, this type of pothos grows quickly when given bright light but is incredibly tolerant of low light, making it an excellent low-maintenance plant for beginners. Size: Small to medium. Care Requirements: Low light. Water: Regular waterings every two weeks.

ZZ Plant: Tough as nails and not picky, the ZZ plant can handle low to bright indirect light. This low-maintenance plant also doesnt mind a missed watering and prefers to be mostly dry before you give it a good, long drink. Size: Medium. Care Requirements: Low light. Water: Every 2 to 3 weeks.

Tips for Caring for Low-Maintenance Plants

Once youve determined the best level of care for your low-maintenance plants, they can thrive without much extra work. Whether youre a lifelong gardener or new to plant parenting, you can find a low-maintenance plant that fits with your home and experience level. They can usually withstand being left alone for a period and wont instantly wither while youre out of town.

Expert Advice

Paris Lalicata, plant expert at The Sills, has been with the company for almost five years and heads up Plant Education and Community. Paris is a self-taught plant expert with over 10 years of experience growing houseplants. Currently, she maintains an indoor garden of over 200 plants in the northeast. Her passion is making plant care more digestible for budding plant parents, and sharing the many benefits of having plants indoors.

More Gardening Inspiration

* How to Care for a Heart Leaf Philodendron
* How to Care for a Swiss Cheese Plant
* Celebrate Spring With 45 Vivacious Houseplants
* The 30 Best Bathroom Plants for a Spa-Like Space

Low-Maintenance Plants for Every Space

Whether you have a small kitchen windowsill or a spacious living room, theres a low-maintenance plant that can thrive in your space.

Small Plants

Haworthia: This little guy grows to only about six to eight inches tall, so its the perfect kitchen windowsill plant. Give Haworthia lots of bright indirect light and water every few weeks when its totally dry. Size: Small. Care Requirements: Bright, indirect light. Water: Rarely, only when the soil is completely dried out.

Cuddly Cactus: This small type of cactus lives up to its name and is ideal for households with curious children and pets. Size: Small. Care Requirements: Bright, full sun. Water: Every 2-3 weeks.

Medium Plants

Philodendron Moonlight: Another easy-to-care-for philodendron, this one has the most beautiful large leaves. New growth emerges a glowing chartreuse and turns dark green as it matures. Give it lots of bright indirect light, and itll be a fast grower. Water when the top few inches of soil feel dry. Size: Medium. Care Requirements: Bright, indirect light. Water: Every two to three weeks.

Money Tree: This low-maintenance plant is purported to bring good luck and can thrive in a medium-sized pot. Size: Medium to large. Care Requirements: Regular watering, and be sure to rotate this plant in the sun so all sides grow evenly. Water: Every week or so when the top few inches of soil feel dry.

Conclusion

Low-maintenance plants are perfect for busy people who want to bring some greenery into their home without the hassle of constant care. With so many options to choose from, you can find the perfect plant that fits your lifestyle and home. Whether youre a seasoned gardener or just starting out, these 35 low-maintenance plants are sure to thrive with minimal attention.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are low-maintenance plants?

Low-maintenance plants are plants that can thrive with minimal attention and care, making them perfect for busy people or those new to gardening.

Why are low-maintenance plants ideal for busy people?

Low-maintenance plants are ideal for busy people because they can survive with occasional neglect and require less attention, making them perfect for those with hectic schedules.

What are some examples of low-maintenance plants?

Examples of low-maintenance plants include Cuddly Cactus, Kalanchoe Flapjack, Echeveria, Preserved Fern Kokedama, Boston Fern, and many more.

How often should I water low-maintenance plants?

The frequency of watering low-maintenance plants varies depending on the type of plant, but most require watering every 1-3 weeks, or when the soil feels dry.

Can low-maintenance plants tolerate low light?

Yes, some low-maintenance plants such as Preserved Fern Kokedama, Golden Pothos, and ZZ Plant can tolerate low light, making them perfect for rooms with limited natural light.

Are low-maintenance plants suitable for households with pets?

Yes, some low-maintenance plants such as Cuddly Cactus (without sharp spines) and Bromeliad Vriesea Intenso Orange are non-toxic and safe for pets.

How can I care for low-maintenance plants?

To care for low-maintenance plants, provide them with the right amount of light, water them sparingly, and fertilize them occasionally.