Low Maintenance House Plants: Easy to Care for Indoor Plants

Looking for low maintenance house plants? These green house plants are easy to care for and a gorgeous design element for any space!

If you had asked me ten years ago, I probably would have told you I had a black thumb. And as I had more children, I would have told you that keeping my four babies alive was all I could handle. But as I fell more and more in love with interior design and the life that house plants bring to any space, I began finding plants that could survive even me and my (sometimes) neglectful care.

And since I find any room happier with a live plant, I’m excited to say that I have found quite a few low maintenance house plants that are easy to keep alive! Today I’m going to share my favorite easy to care for indoor plants, which have made even me feel like I have a green thumb!

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low maintenance house plants

1. Fiddle Leaf Fig (ficus lyrata)

I’ll start with the most controversial, but if you have had trouble with these, don’t worry… I have lots more suggestions. Fiddle leaf fig trees and plants are known for their large, flat leaves and the big impact they can make in any space. Some people find them to be difficult to grow, but I have found them to be easy to care for. My trees began about 3 feet tall, and now one is brushing our 9 foot ceilings!

Care and watering: I water my small fiddle leaf fig plant with approximately 2 cups per week, and I water the trees with approximately 4 cups per week. Every so often (no real schedule, but probably 3-4x/year) I give them a little of this fertilizer. They have survived moves, redecorating, and even weeks at a time without water. They are probably my favorite indoor plant!

2. Philodendron

This is probably the most classic house plant. The trailing leaves – available in both variegated and non-variegated – are such a beautiful organic element. You can also propagate new ones by planting clippings!

Care and watering: Weekly watering – so that the soil is never completely dry nor super soggy – has been perfect for mine, and they love bright, indirect light. Fortunately, though, they can tolerate low light and water if need be; they just won’t grow as fast.

Tip: if you fear you may forget to water or will be traveling, try a wine bottle waterer for a little extra security!

3. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Pothos, also called Devil’s Ivy, is even harder to kill than philodendron. Its leaves are a bit waxier and less heart shaped than philodendrons, but it is otherwise a fairly similar viney plant.

Care and watering: Allow soil to dry out between waterings, then water thoroughly.

4. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum)

Chlorophytum comosum (also known as a spider plant or airplane plant) brings incredible texture and makes a wonderful hanging plant. It never gets very large, but each little root ball that it grows can become its own little spider plant (like I placed beside my kitchen sink), making it one of the best fast growing house plants.

Care and watering: I let mine just barely dry out between waterings and then water heavily (until the water comes out the bottom of the pot).

5. Jade (Crassula ovata)

Crassula ovata, the jade plant, is incredibly low maintenance and can survive a long time without water (ask me how I know! 😉 ). It likes bright, but not direct, light, and it’s waxy, succulent leaves are beautifully geometric. It is also easy to propagate from clippings!

There are also many related plants in the jade family that are incredible indoors. Ripple jade (crassula arborescens undulatifolia) and variegated mini jade (portulacaria afra variegata) are two of my favorites that you can see on my kitchen table here.

I also keep a pot of the mini jade and “ET’s Fingers” jade in my daughters’ shower.

Care and watering: I water mine weekly with the rest of my plants, but they can survive much longer without water if needed.

6. Heartleaf Ice Plant (Mesembryanthemum cordifolium)

Mesembryanthemum cordifolium variegatum (also known as heart leaf ice plant or baby sun rose) is another fabulous example of fast growing variegated house plants. They have trailing, waxy leaves and little bitty spiky pink flowers. They can actually survive in full sun or full shade, but if they don’t get enough sunlight, they may not bloom.

Care and watering: It’s best if you let the soil dry between waterings. As with most of my plants, though, I just water them approximately once per week.

7. Snake Plant (Sansevieria)

Sansevieria, also known as snake plant or (my personal favorite name) mother-in-law tongues, is very distinct with its long, spiky, vertical leaves. It can tolerate very low light, though more light will help it grow faster. It also has dwarf variations that I find particularly beautiful, which you can see on the right in the pot above. Both are equally easy care houseplants!

Care and watering: these are very tolerant of almost anything… but I keep mine happy with indirect light and water every 1-2 weeks.

8. Aloe Plants

Aloe vera, with its healing properties, is the most common of the aloe house plants. But many other variations of aloes make great indoor plants, as well. Their succulent, cactus-like look brings instant style to any space.

Care and watering: I let mine dry out between waterings and then water heavily (until the water comes out the bottom of the pot).

9. Various succulents

If watering is a real problem for you (join the club! 😉 ), then various small succulents like hens and chicks, sedum, and zebra haworthia might be worth a try. There are so many beautiful, drought resistant small succulents you can try!

Best lighting conditions for indoor plants

As you may expect, success with indoor gardening is based on lighting conditions as well as watering… As a general rule (unless noted above), these plants like indirect sunlight. That means don’t put them in a dark corner or right in the path of strong afternoon sun.

Instead, look for spaces that get filtered or indirect sunshine for as many hours as possible. Rooms with south-facing windows (if you live in the northern hemisphere) are often the best for indirect sunlight.

Where to buy house plants

As you may notice, I have quite a few succulents and other plants in my list that do well in the dry, warm climate of central Texas. This is because I love to buy my plants at local nurseries.

The nice thing about indoor plants, though, is that most indoor climates are similar enough that plants I can grow here in my house in Texas will likely grow inside wherever you live! The only challenge may be finding plants that are not common to your area.

If you have favorite house plants that are not on this list, especially if you live somewhere other than Texas, please tell us in the comments so others can see!

And be sure to pin these low maintenance house plants for later reference.