8 Dummy-proof Houseplants That Require Minimum TLC

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Let’s be real honest here, artificial plants may never die, but every home looks (and feels!) better with live greenery. Plus, some indoor plants are more than just a house decor as they are also an incredible agent for expelling chemical pollutants.

And while many people worry that watering their plants too infrequently will cause them to die, the opposite is actually true. Some houseplants pretty much grow themselves. Almost all the indoor plants listed below can be grown by the window and at normal indoor temperatures. A few will require a bit more pampering, but nothing too extreme.

Whether you’re looking for a towering indoor plant or a more compact potted plant that can add dramatic height to a smaller space, check out our favourite picks, plus links to shop them all.

1. Rubber plant (Ficus Elastica)

With glossy leaves in shades of dark green and burgundy, the rubber plant can create a major focal point in an otherwise minimalist, subdued living room. This indoor houseplant can either stay small in a little pot or can grow up to 10 feet in height for a major pop of greenery in a room with tall ceilings. If you prefer a smaller plant, make your rubber tree into a shrub shape by pruning any long stems.

How to care for it: Rubber plant is super easy to grow. It thrives in lighting conditions from medium to bright, so place in a bright, indirect light area, like by the window, for example, if you want it to grow faster. Water it about once a week without water-logging by allowing the surface of the rubber tree's soil to dry out first before watering again.

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2. Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus Lyrata)

The fiddle leaf fig is the “IT” houseplant right now, and it’s easy to see why. This lovely indoor plant has large, dark green leaves that seem to form the vague outline of a fiddle or violin and it has long been used to create a big statement to any living space. Due to its broad leaves, fiddle leaf fig is extremely efficient at purifying the air, besides helping to control humidity in your home.

How to care for it: Fiddle Leaf Fig can adapt to different temperatures as long as it is exposed to bright, indirect sunlight. In other words, you want it to have a lot of light, but not sunbeams falling directly on it. If it starts to look a bit pale, try moving it to somewhere less bright. It requires weekly watering and the surface of the soil should dry out slightly between watering. Dust the leaves occasionally to keep the plant looking its prettiest!

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3. Snake Plant (Sansevieria Trifasciata Var.Laurentii)

This tropical plant can give your home a classy and elegant look. It has pointy leaves with irregular banding that resembles the skin of a reptile. Depending on the variety, it comes in different hues of green and sometimes has yellow edges. Snake plants have also been shown to filter out harmful chemicals from the air, so you can breathe easy having this indoor plant in your home!

How to care for it: Snake plant is one of the easiest plants to maintain as it can survive for up to 4 weeks without water, so you don’t have to worry about your plant dying while on a month-long vacation! Although it prefers bright lights, it can still tolerate a low light environment in any normal room temperature. Water it once every two weeks and allow the potting mix to dry out between waterings.

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4. Corn Plant (Dracaena Fragans)

Looking for a tall, elegant plant to create a sunny, California-style vibe in your high-ceilinged space? This is the plant for you. The corn plant has long, woody stalks with ribbon-like leaves on top, mimicking the look of tall, stately Los Angeles palm trees on a smaller scale. It's also an air purifier, so you can say goodbye to the harmful chemicals released by your household cleaning products as the plant will suck it right up!

How to care for it: Corn plants are very easy to maintain as it only needs to be watered for every two weeks. As an indoor plant, it needs a good amount of indirect sunlight to grow, but they can adapt to spaces with less light, too. Exposure to 2 or 3 hours of direct morning sun per day is favourable for this plant to grow.

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5. Lily Yucca (Yucca Gloriosa)

Lily yucca offers a striking live accent in contemporary homes. It features multi-trunked, evergreen shrub with soft-pointed, strap-shaped leaves emerging from the top. Other than being a top-notch decor element, we’re also a big fan of this plant because it helps to remove toxins from the air and it is drought-tolerant. What more could you ask for?

How to care for it: Lily yucca can be grown both indoors and outdoors and it requires very little maintenance. Place it somewhere it can get plenty of sunlight and remember to water it now and again, and you're golden! As a general guide, in lower light conditions, water your plant less; in brighter light conditions, water your plant a bit more.

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6. Umbrella Tree (Schefflera Arboricola)

Umbrella tree is an attractive low-maintenance indoor plant that can add graceful foliage to a room. It can grow up to 10 feet tall if you provide it with sufficient sunlight and it helps to filter the air to improve your indoor air quality.

How to care for it: Umbrella trees require little care and they like constant moisture, but do not leave them sitting in a tray of stagnant water. Water it on a weekly basis or when the top inch of soil is dry and leave it in a space where there’s plenty of bright indirect sunlight.

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7. Yellow Palm (Dypsis Lutescens)

Yellow palm or also known as Areca palm makes a lovely focal point in a living room with its height and playful fronds. It can grow to about 7-feet tall for a dramatic touch in a room, but a smaller pot will keep it contained if you'd like it to stay smaller. On top of that, yellow palm is best for filtering out harmful chemicals in the air like formaldehyde, xylene and toluene.

How to care for it: Yellow palm does well in indirect sunlight or partial shade. Exposing it to direct sunlight can cause the leaves to turn yellowish-green. Keep the soil somewhat dry, only watering it on alternate weeks or so.

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8. Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia)

Dumb cane is known for its wide bushy leaf and it is a very popular house plant due to its easy-going nature. However, do note that this plant is poisonous if ingested, so be very careful if you have pets and/or small children.

How to care for it: Dumb cane will adapt to different environments and require little attention. The plants will live and thrive in bright indirect sunlight, but in lower light, the growth might slow down. Water it twice a week by keeping the soil slightly moist, but do not overwater it.

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