Top Ten Easy-Care Houseplants

Top Ten Easy-Care Houseplants

At Capital Gardens ‘The Home of Beautiful Houseplants’ we love indoor plants. We recognise the import role houseplants can play in our homes and are ready to share our passion and help you bring houseplants into your life.

In this blog, we have picked ten easy-care houseplants that will help you start out on the road to indoor gardening success.

Houseplants have dramatically risen in popularity during the last two years, as people have been spending much more time at home. It is no coincide that this is the year houseplants have made their RHS Chelsea debut:

https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/news/2021/house-plant-studios

Indoor plants can help us cope with stress and improve our feeling of wellbeing. Studies have shown that having plants in our homes and offices helps us de-stress. To put it another way, seeing greenery helps us relax.

Psychologists have found that indoor plants can promote increased productivity amongst workers by enriching the workplace, relaxing employees, and shifting our brains into a relaxed mode that helps us concentrate. And a US study found that around 10% of sick days could be explained as being due to a lack of exposure to nature and natural day light. Creating the conditions in our homes to sustain plants also benefits us.

To learn more about the health benefits of houseplants read our blog:

https://www.capitalgardens.co.uk/blog/plants-for-your-office-and-work-spaces/

Creating a shortlist of the top ten easy-care indoor plants was not easy. Each team member who voted came up with a slightly different selection, and I had the hard task of judging which plants would make the final cut.

How We Picked Our Top Ten Easy-Care Houseplants.

1) To make the ‘Top Ten’ all the plants need to look great, that is to say they must have presence and personality. After all, the houseplants that you choose to display say as much about your taste and style as your furniture and décor.

2) Looks alone were not enough to win a place. The plants also need to be low maintenance. We all want plants that are easy to care for.

3) The houseplants selected need to cover all size ranges – large and small. This is because both space and budgets come in different sizes.

4) The plants on the list need to be suitable for a range of different environments. Different areas of the home offer individual challenges to plants. For example, bathrooms and kitchens are more humid than bedrooms and living rooms. A room with a large south facing window will need plants tolerant of strong light. Plants on a shelf at the back of a north facing room need to be able to tolerate shade. To summarise, sunny rooms and shady rooms need different plant options.

Our Top Ten Easy-Care Houseplants:

1)  African Milk Tree (Euphorbia trigonia).

This architectural plant has a bold upright silhouette. Although it looks like the archetypical American desert cactus it is in fact a euphorbia from Central Africa. These plants are the African equivalent of the cactus.

They are called the ‘Milk Tree’ because of the white sap exuded when they are damaged. Euphorbia sap is toxic, it has evolved this to deter herbivores. If you get the sap on your skin it can cause painful inflammation. So, if you accidently get the sap on your hands you should quickly wash the area thoroughly with soap and water.

Top Tip: Look out for the cultivars ‘Ruby’ and’ Royal Red’ which have red accents in full sun.

Another Option: If you like this Euphorbia and want to grow similar plants take a look at our cacti selection. Cacti will thrive in the same conditions as the African Milk Tree. We recommend these plants for bright windows.

African Milk Trees and cacti show courage and bravery by growing in the most barren of places. They would make the perfect plant for a Gryffindor!

2) Cast-Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior).

We love this green leafy plant because it’s not fussy about low light levels and watering. Aspidistras will grow in low light situations, making them ideal plants for rooms with north facing windows. Cast-iron plants are undemanding about watering: if you forget to water your Aspidistra once in a while then it won’t curl up and die. Avoid overwatering Aspidistras.

The name ‘cast-iron plant’ was given in Victorian days when the fumes from gas lighting would kill off most other indoor plants. These tough plants do well in either warm or cold rooms. Although they are easy to care for, and are forgiving of neglect, they will thank you for the occasional misting with soft water. Regular misting will prevent the leaf tips from going brown.

Something Special: the hard to find form Aspidistra elatior ‘Variegata’ has creamy stripes running the length of the leaves.

Expert Tip: Although the cast-iron plant will survive in poorly lit corners, they won’t grow much. If you put them in a better light situations then they will thrive.

Did You Know? Aspidistras are slow growing and can live for over a century.

The cast-iron plant is patient and loyal, and unafraid of toil making the perfect houseplant for a Hufflepuff!

3) Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata).

This iconic houseplant, seen in the background of many adverts, gets its popular name from its violin-shaped, puckered leaves. The large leaves make a statement. This is the perfect large plant for your living area.

Fiddle leaf figs do well in good light, or in a position where they get some sunlight every day. They do best in a warm room. Do not overwater Ficus lyrata or it will start dropping its lower leaves.

Fun Fact: There are over 800 species in the genus Ficus, including trees, shrubs, climbers, and creepers.

Another Option: If you prefer shiny leaves then the rubber plant (Ficus elastica) may be the plant for you.

4) Jade Plant, or Chinese Jade, (Crassula ovata).

This is one tough succulent. You can happily grow one in a pot on your desk. Over time they have the potential to grow into a substantial shrub with a thick trunk-like stem standing over a metre tall. Popularly known as the jade tree or money plant.

Crassulas need a brightly lit position, with some direct sunlight during the day. If you give them a sunny position you may be rewarded with clusters of star-shaped small flowers in spring.

Crassulas do not need very warm conditions. They need to rest during the winter months. During this rest period they only need occasional watering to stop the compost from completely drying out. During their growth period they should be watered moderately, but the top half of the compost needs to dry out between waterings.

Another Option: If succulents are your thing and you are lucky enough to have sunny windows, then rosette forming Echeverias may interest you.

5) Parlour Palm (Howea foresterana).

This graceful, slender palm is also known as Kentia. The parlour palm is able to survive in bright or medium light. It is much less demanding and easier to grow than other species of indoor palms. Kentia palms are slow growing which makes them more expensive to buy than other types of indoor palm.

Parlour palms like normal room temperatures. During their growth period they should be kept moist but should never be allowed to remain in water. Kentias benefit from a fortnightly application of liquid fertilizer during spring and summer. Kentias appreciate being misted.

During their rest period over winter, they only need occasional waterings to prevent the compost from drying out.

Expert Tips: If you want to place one in the corner of a room, then you can keep it happy by moving it in front of a window during the day.

Do not use commercial leaf-shine products to remove dust on parlour palms, simply put them outside in gentle rain on a warm day to clean the leaves.

Fun Facts: Kentia palms originate on the tiny Lord Howe Island off the east coast of Australia.

Kentia palms were favourite houseplants in Victorian and Edwardian England, Europe and America where they symbolised wealth and the exotic. These tough plants were able to cope with the poor growing conditions of the Victorian home.

There were Kentia palms in the first class areas on the R.M.S Titanic.

Queen Victoria left instructions that Kentia palms where to be placed around her coffin when she lay in state.

6) Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum).

Peace lilies make fantastic houseplants. They have glossy green leaves and produce white arum-shaped flower heads (mainly during spring and summer). The flower heads are carried above the leaves.

Spathiphyllums produce their leaves from short underground stems called rhizomes, so they will never grow too tall for your room.

Peace lilies need to be kept moist but should never be allowed to linger in water. The top 4 cm of the compost should be allowed to dry out before the next watering. Many people allow their peace lilies to slightly wilt, that is let the leaves start going limp, before watering.

Expert Tips: If you are growing them in a cool room then reduce the watering to stop them rotting over winter.

Spathiphyllums benefit from a fortnightly application of liquid fertilizer from spring into summer.

Another Option: If you like the soft foliage of Peace lilies then you might like the exotic diversity of Calatheas. To learn about caring for Calatheas read our blog:

https://www.capitalgardens.co.uk/blog/calatheas-beautiful-and-varied-foliage-plant/

Expert Knowledge: There are many species of Spathiphyllum suitable as houseplants, most of the kinds on sale are hybrids.

Did you know? Peace lilies are not true lilies, they are members of the arum family.

7) Snake Plant (Sansevieria).

There are several different species of Sansevieria commonly grown as houseplants, and all are easy to care for. They would make the perfect houseplant for a Slytherin!

The snake plant is native to tropical West Africa. They prefer bright light and can tolerate direct sunshine. However, they will also tolerate being placed in front of a north facing window where they will continue to grow. They will survive in dark conditions, although their growth rate will be minimal.

Snake plants should be moderately watered during spring and summer, but the top half of the compost must be allowed to dry out between waterings. Do not water in the centre of the leaf rosettes.

Expert Tips: Repot using a succulent and cactus potting mix, sansevierias need good drainage.

Apply a liquid succulent and cactus fertilizer every two weeks during its growth period.

8) Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera deliciosa).

The Swiss cheese plant is a dramatic indoor climber that looks like an escapee from ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ with its shiny perforated leaves and long aerial roots. Hailing from the tropical forests of southern Mexico south to Panama, in Britain it has long been a popular houseplant.

Monsteras like indirect bright light and average room temperatures. In very warm rooms they benefit from standing on a tray of damp pebbles to raise the local humidity. Monsteras enjoy the humid atmosphere of bathrooms and kitchens.

Swiss cheese plants should never be over-watered, especially during winter. The top third of the pot should be allowed to dry out before the next watering. They benefit from a fortnightly application of liquid fertiliser during the spring and summer months when they are actively growing.

The leaves benefit from gentle wiping with room temperature rainwater.

Expert Tip: Do not be tempted to cut the long aerial roots, even if you think they look messy! They are botanical marvels to be enjoyed. Monstera plants with healthy aerial roots will produce bigger leaves with more leaf ‘windows’ than specimens that have had their roots snipped.

The aerial roots should be trained on to a moss pole, or back into the potting mixture. These thick roots don’t just help support the plant, they can also take up water and nutrients.

If you are interested in climbing houseplants then take a look at our blog article on them:

https://www.capitalgardens.co.uk/blog/social-climbers/

9) White Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia nicolai).

Strelitzia nicolai resembles a banana plant with its large, green, sail-like leaves. They enjoy humid air.

Strelitzias need bright light and should be positioned where they can get some direct daylight for a minimum of three hours a day. They will not grow if they are kept in very dark conditions.

Do not over water these impressive plants, and do not let them sit in water. During the winter they only need occasional watering to keep the potting compost from drying out. Strelitzias benefit from a resting period in a cooler room during winter.

In spring and summer, they can be given a good watering, but the top layer of the compost should be allowed to dry out between waterings. Bird of paradise plants benefit from a fortnightly application of liquid fertiliser when they are actively growing. Strelitzias are fast growing if regularly repotted and fed when actively growing.

During the summer months they can be gradually moved outdoors, allowing them time to adjust to the stronger light. This is a great way to look after them when you go away on your summer holidays.

Did You Know? Mature specimens over six years old produce white bird of paradise flowers during the summer.

10) ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia).

This tropical perennial plant comes from eastern Africa. Its large, glossy, dark green leaves add colour to any room. With its dark wing-like leaves this would make the perfect plant for a Ravenclaw!

Zamioculcas does well in low to bright light conditions, meaning it is suitable for most rooms. We recommend this plant for low light conditions.

ZZ plants are popular in offices and other indoor public spaces because they are low maintenance. They need a well-drained potting mix and should never be over-watered or they will rot. The leaves grow from swollen underground rhizomes that resemble small potatoes, these structures store water, which is why they can survive neglect.

They can be fed fortnightly with a balanced liquid fertiliser during spring and summer.

In Conclusion:

This top ten list of easy-care houseplants will help you to get started brightening your home and lifting your spirits with beautiful houseplants.

And, if you need further inspiration and advice about selecting suitable indoor plants for your home or workspace then why not come and visit us at Capital Gardens?

Further Reading:

To learn more about how to care and repot your houseplants, visit our blog:

https://www.capitalgardens.co.uk/blog/repotting-your-houseplants/