13 Easy Houseplants for Beginners
Plenty of homes have an empty pot on a shelf, the one where a plant used to be. If that is you, you are in good company, and it was probably not all your fault. Many plants sold as easy need just the right light or a steady watering habit. When either one slips, they fail fast.
The thirteen plants below forgive the usual first mistakes. They bounce back from a missed watering, cope with normal home air, and do not need a humidifier. They also look different from each other, so you can build a small collection that does not feel like thirteen of the same thing. A few need a sunny window, and the notes say which. One warning applies to almost all of them. Too much water kills easy plants faster than too little, so check the soil before every drink.
How we picked: Every plant is rated Easy in our profiles, and we chose them to cover a mix of shapes, sizes, and light needs.
1.Pothos
Epipremnum aureumIf you want proof that you can keep something alive, pothos gives it fast. New leaves show up every week or two in summer, and cuttings root in a glass of water. That speed has a cost. Without the odd trim, it turns long and bare, and it is toxic to cats and dogs.
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2.Snake Plant
Dracaena trifasciataStiff, upright, and sculptural, it is the tidiest shape on this list. It forgives missed waterings for weeks. The mistake beginners make is the other one. Watering every few days rots the base, so treat it like a cactus and let the soil dry all the way down.
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3.ZZ Plant
Zamioculcas zamiifoliaGlossy enough that guests touch it to check it is real. It handles low light and long gaps between drinks. Its weakness is that it hides trouble. Rot can set in under the soil for weeks before the stems show it, so lift the pot and water only when it feels light.
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4.Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosumGrassy leaves and dangling babies make it the most playful look here. It grows fast, gives you free plants to share, and is pet-safe. It is happiest a few feet from an east window, though. In a dark room it hangs on but rarely makes babies.
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5.Peace Lily
SpathiphyllumThis one is easy because it talks to you. The leaves droop when dry and stand back up a few hours after a drink. Do not wait for the full flop each time, though. Repeated hard droops turn the lower leaves yellow. It is toxic to cats and dogs.
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6.Inch Plant
Tradescantia zebrinaFew plants show you results as fast. The striped vines grow quickly in bright indirect light, and a broken piece pushes out roots in a jar. Too little light is the usual beginner slip. The colors fade and the stems stretch. Its sap can irritate a pet's skin, so keep it up high.
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7.Monstera
Monstera deliciosaA beginner can grow a big statement plant, and this is the proof. Monstera forgives uneven watering and handles normal room air. The real question is space. In a few years it can spread 6 feet or more and will need a pole, so make sure you have the corner first.
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8.Umbrella Plant
Heptapleurum arboricolaA little tree that forgives a lot is rare, and this is one. It handles medium light, average room air, and watering every week or two. You can cut it back to keep it short. It does drop a pile of leaflets after a move or a soggy spell, and the leaves are toxic to pets.
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9.Jade Plant
Crassula ovataThe little tree shape is unlike anything else here. It goes two or three weeks without water and stays windowsill size for years. It does need real sun, at least four hours a day, and it is toxic to pets. Overwatering is how most beginners lose one.
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10.Hoya Carnosa
Hoya carnosaThick, waxy leaves on slow vines, and maybe scented flowers down the road. It handles dry spells well and is safe around pets. Patience is the price. It grows slowly and often waits two or three years to bloom, so it suits someone happy to keep one plant for a long time.
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11.Lucky Bamboo
Dracaena sanderianaNo soil at all is a nice start for someone nervous about watering. The stalks sit in a vase, and the main task is fresh water each week. It copes with medium light. A cane that turns yellow from the base will not recover, though, so pull it out. It is toxic to cats and dogs.
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12.Ponytail Palm
Beaucarnea recurvataFun to look at, with a swollen trunk and a spray of curly leaves. The base stores water, so you can leave it for weeks. It must have a sunny window, though, which makes it the odd one out among easy plants. It is pet-safe and grows very slowly.
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13.Peperomia
Peperomia obtusifoliaSmall, chunky leaves on a compact bush, so it fits even the tightest shelf. It is pet-safe and copes with medium light. The trap is a big pot. Extra soil stays wet and rots the fine roots, so keep it snug and wait until half the soil is dry.
Read the full care guide →Pick two plants from this list with different needs, say one for a dim shelf and one for a sunny sill. Caring for both teaches you how light changes watering faster than any chart can. Lift each pot right after watering so you know how heavy wet soil feels. Within a month you will know a thirsty plant by weight alone.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest houseplant for a total beginner?
A ZZ plant or a pothos is a great first plant. The ZZ forgives neglect in low light, and the pothos grows fast enough to show you that you are doing it right.
How often should a beginner water houseplants?
There is no fixed day that works for every plant. Check the soil with a finger or lift the pot, and water when the top inch or two is dry, or later for succulents. Plants in bright light dry out faster.
Should I repot a new plant right away?
Usually not. Give it a few weeks to settle into your home first. Repot in spring if roots are coming out of the drainage holes, and go only one pot size up.
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