Thinking about getting a house plant, but don't have a clue on where to start or what kind of plant to get? Here are our favorite very easy plants to grow for the first time plant parent.
Having plants in your home , besides all the popular Instagram posts, has a ton of benefits. Whether you have one, a few, or a lot of houseplants all around your home.
Plants purify the air, according to NASA, the right plants can neutralize harmful airborne substances in your home. They may assist in sickness immunity. Many studies have proven that plants can keep us from getting sick in the winter. They will also help with humidity, in the dryer winter months and help keep colds at bay. Having plants around just make people happy! I personally have over 100 plants... Yes I know that could be a problem... but is it really? Even with all these awesome reasons to have plants around, if you are a first time houseplant parent, it can be a little intimidating. There are plants that love lots of light and some that only need a little light. There are plants that need to keep their soil moist and have lots of humidity and others that need to dry out between watering. So, if you are a first time plant parent, you may wonder, “Where I do I even begin?” That’s where Moore & Moore is here to help you!
We have a great selection of tropical houseplants. Here are a list of plants that I think are easy to care for and great for first time plant parents.
Spider Plants
Spider plants are one of the easiest plants to grow. If you happen to ignore it, it is very forgiving. Water it once a week or every 2 weeks depending on how dry your house is. It can handle bright light and low light rooms. Avoid direct sun. Fertilize it once a month. And if you are lucky they have babies you can stick back in the soil, and have more spider plants! One of the best for air purification.
Dwarf Schefflera
The Schefflera plant likes bright indirect lighting but can also tolerate low light. This plant does not like to dry completely out so water when the soil is 75% dry from the top. Make sure the water drains all the way through the pot. Fertilize every two weeks to once a month This plant grows fairly quickly. I have had one of these for 20 years now.
Nephthytis (Arrow Leaf)
This is actually a hard plant to kill. I have had one for 10 years and one time, I forgot about it and it didn’t get watered for over a month. Even though the leaves turned brown I started watering it again and it grew back just fine.
It will take bright indirect light and some low light. Water once or twice a week letting the top of the soil try out. Fertilize once a month. A very forgiving plant, which makes it a perfect first time plant.
Snake Plant
This is truly an easy plant to grow! The only way to kill a snake plant is to keep it way over watered. This plant can tolerate very low light and very dry soil. Water when the soil is completely dried out. It is best to be ignored.
Studies show that a snake plant is one of the best at removing toxins in the air.
Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen)
The Chinese Evergreen plant is one of the most durable houseplants you can grow, tolerating poor light, dry air, and drought. Easy peasy plant! Water when soil is dry. It likes indirect light and can hang in low light.
This was my first houseplant nearly 35 years ago.
ZZ Plant
Ok, this is an awesome plant!! It will grow in very low light and very little water. It likes to be root bound, dry and dark. So the more you ignore it the better. Water every two weeks or when the soil is very dry.
Heart Leaf Philodendron
What a beautiful, fast growing, vining plant. Perfect for hanging baskets. It likes bright light, even fluorescent light, so, perfect for an office space. Likes to be in front of a window as long as it doesn’t get direct sun on its leaves, as that can burn them.
It does not like to completely dry out, so water it once a week. Fertilize it every two weeks or once a month.
BraziIian Philodendron
This is treated just like the heart leaf philodendron. So follow the tip
above. I have two of these in my house. They are pretty fast growers.
I love the variegated color of this plant.
Jade Pothos
Everyone loves the ease of a pothos plant. They will thrive in bright light but will also do well in less light. As with the others direct sunlight is not ok. It likes to be watered often. Do not let it dry out completely between watering, but it needs a well drained pot. It can be fertilized once a month. Great to hang near a window with indirect light.
Birds Nest Fern
I have one of these on my dining room table and it thrives! The bird nest fern is not like a typical fern, as it is much hardier. Watering once a week is fine. It does love some extra humidity, like putting it in a tray of rocks and water.
As a first time plant owner, a soil moisture tester, is a valuable tool. I use mine every watering day. It just takes the guesswork out of watering so you don't over water. Also I find it best, to go ahead and re-pot the plant in good potting soil. The soil used by the grower is not always the most nutritious soil so I always re-pot with good potting soil whe I bring a new baby home. Of course we have everything you need at Moore & Moore.
Come on in to Moore & Moore and let our knowledgeable staff (Ask or Cassie or Donna) help you pick out the best houseplant for you.
See you soon!
~ Wendy
Here are a few of my many plants.
