I recently posted this picture on Instagram of some of my latest acquisitions to my plant collection. I was pleased to receive lots of love from you guys along with questions on how to care for them. To be honest, I don’t consider myself having a green thumb at all. As a matter of fact, I go into a little more detail about that in this post. Having said that, I’ve actually learned a lot in the past few months reading up on plant care, trial and error and of course a little TLC. I’m really just getting started but I’m doing it with houseplants the are easy to maintain.
Today I’m sharing these low maintenance plants and how to care for them. It also serves as a guide of sorts to help you get started on your own collection. I suggest you start off slow. For example, I bought one plant and kept an eye on it for a few months before adding another one. I also have a journal to help me keep track of progress and note what they like or don’t like, e.g. changing the plants position in a room. I also noticed that during the winter most need more water than I thought. I started to see droopy leaves three to four days after watering them which made me realize that the air is drier in the winter. Naturally they don’t get the moisture necessary so I now find myself watering them more frequently than I did during the summer months.
The Peace Lily on the left is super popular during the spring. She’s an adaptable and low-maintenance houseplant that features a white, hoodlike sheath which resembles a white flag of surrender, the reason for its name. Most serve as floor plants since they can reach three feet tall and grow wide with big, bold leaves. This shade-loving plant also helps cleanse the air we breathe and manage just fine in darker areas which is why she’s popular in offices and hospitals. The ease of care makes the Peace Lily a very popular houseplant. PSA, unfortunately they contain oxalates which is very toxic to cats and dogs.
To the right is a Gold Peperomia. She’s a relatively easy, compact, and attractive little plant to grow. When I first got her I thought she was a succulent due to the thick leaves. Apparently they’re not considered succulents because they generally prefer higher humidity and more water than most succulents. They do well in light to moderate light, such as found in a northern or east-facing windows. My house faces east and I have her in my dining room where she gets all the morning sunlight. Peperomia plants reach only 8 inches in height and width if planted in a container large enough to allow for root development which makes her perfect for sitting on your desk or side table. Best of all, Peperomias are one of the best non-toxic indoor plants!
My next pick for a great houseplant is this baby Parlor Palm. I just got her and little did I know that she’s considered the quintessential houseplant! Growing a Parlor Palm tree indoors is ideal because it grows very slow and thrives in low light and cramped spaces. It also happens to be an excellent air purifier! I have her sitting in the middle of my piano room where she’s currently getting a lot of sunlight but I’ll be moving her to the family room where direct sunlight is much less. She prefers less watering than most plants and is non-toxic to pets.
On the back left is a brand new baby Snake Plant often referred to as ‘mother-in-law’s tongue.’ When I found this out I was laughing hysterically and a gazillion thoughts rushed through my head; I’ll just leave it at that… Anyway, this plant is another popular one. I remember my grandmother always had one in the house and my mom currently has one too and they can get pretty big. Snake plant care is incredibly straightforward, they can be neglected for weeks at a time and still look beautifully fresh. NASA research has shown that snake plants are able to keep the air in your home clean, removing toxins such as formaldehyde and benzene, making this one the perfect houseplant! However, they are mildly toxic to pets.
On the back right is my Christmas Cactus. I was given this plant as a gift about four years ago and she really hasn’t grown much. I found out she blooms twice a year, mainly during the holidays and then again around Easter season. She’s just beginning to bud for me right now and will soon have flowers. The Christmas Cactus will adapt to low light, but will produce blooms more readily if exposed to brighter light. That being said, too much direct sunlight can burn its leaves. Christmas cactus plants like soil that consistently has more moisture. You can move them outdoors during the summer, as they love the humidity, just be sure to keep them in a protected, shady area. They’re also considered pet friendly.
So there you have it friends, my easy-to-care-for guide for awesome houseplants. I have 5 other plants in the house and will soon make another post regarding their care. You can also check them out in my stories tab on Instagram. Hope you find this information helpful in getting you started on your own little collection. Have a great day! ♣
