The five best houseplants for beginners

By Gerri Reese, 2022 Master Gardener Intern

Have you ever wanted to live in a house filled with lush, beautiful greenery, but you’ve never owned a houseplant and don’t know where to start? Have no fear; we’re here to help!

Your plant selection is essential to your success. We’ve compiled a list of the five best houseplants for beginners. We chose these plants because they’re both beautiful and easy-care.

First, we have the Monstera plant (Monstera deliciosa), also known as the Swiss cheese plant, because of the holes that form on the leaves with age. These plants thrive in bright, indirect light and like to be kept moist. This plant is poisonous to pets, so be careful!

Next up is the Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum). These plants have big, vibrant leaves and are great at filtering the air. It’s easy to know when they need water because they will start to droop. But once watered, they perk right back up!

Third, we have the ZZ or Zanzibar Gem plant (Zamioculcas). This glossy plant is drought tolerant. It will be very forgiving if you forget to water it a few times. It’s toxic if ingested, so be sure to wash your hands after touching it.

The Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata) is our fourth recommendation. This plant can grow to eight feet tall! It can also survive in low light conditions. It needs good drainage, so make sure your pot has a hole at the bottom.

Finally, we have lucky Bamboo (Bambusoideae). The great thing about this plant is it doesn’t need soil to survive. You can place a few stalks in about an inch of water and watch them thrive. Be sure to use bottled water and change it weekly.

And just that easy, you’re on your way to becoming a proud plant owner!

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Happy gardening!