Hard to Kill Houseplants: 6 Good Picks for Beginners
If you've killed a few plants, you're not alone. Most people have. The good news is some plants are a lot more forgiving than others, and starting with one of those makes a big difference.
No plant is truly unkillable. But these come close, as long as you don't drown them.
What makes a plant hard to kill
Most of the plants on this list have one thing in common: they store water. Thick leaves, stems or roots let them go a while without a drink. That means a missed watering isn't a big deal.
The flip side is that the main way people kill these plants is watering too much, not too little. If you remember one thing from this post, it's this: when in doubt, wait.
1. ZZ plant
Thick rhizomes under the soil hold water, so a ZZ handles dry spells and dim rooms. Let the soil dry out completely between waterings. The ZZ 'Black Queen' is the same easygoing plant with near-black leaves. Full care in our ZZ plant care guide.
2. Snake plant
Snake plants store water in their thick, upright leaves. They handle low light, they handle a missed watering, and they don't need much. Let the soil dry completely, and water even less in winter. Try Snake Plant 'Zeylanica', and see our snake plant care guide.
3. Pothos
Pothos are tough, fast-growing vines that forgive a missed watering. When they're thirsty, the leaves droop a little, and they perk back up after you water. That makes them a good teacher. Pothos 'Golden' is the classic. If yours gets stringy, our pothos care post shows how to fill it back in.
4. Peperomia
Peperomias are small, semi-succulent plants that hold water in their leaves and stems. They stay compact, so they work on a desk or shelf. Let the top couple of inches of soil dry before you water. Peperomia 'Picollo Banda' is a good one to start with.
5. Heartleaf philodendron
A trailing plant that grows easily, handles lower light and roots quickly from cuttings. Water when the top inch or two of soil is dry.
6. Dracaena
Dracaenas are drought-tolerant and adaptable. They'd much rather be a little dry than soggy. A few yellow lower leaves now and then are normal aging. Just trim them off.
What "hard to kill" doesn't mean
It doesn't mean no care at all. These plants still need some light, a pot that drains and a drink when the soil is dry. A plant in a closet with no window will struggle, however tough it is. And they grow slower in dim spots, which is normal. Slow and steady is fine.
It also doesn't mean every leaf stays perfect. A new plant may drop a leaf or two while it settles in after shipping. That's the plant adjusting, not a sign you did something wrong.
Beginner rules that keep plants alive
- Use pots with drainage holes. This one rule saves a lot of plants.
- Check the soil before watering. Push a finger in. If it's still damp, wait.
- Don't repot right away. Let a new plant settle in its grower pot for a couple of weeks first.
- Skip the fertilizer for the first month, and go light after that.
- Keep plants away from heating vents and cold drafts.
- Don't panic over one yellow leaf. Plants drop old leaves. Watch the new growth instead.
If your place is on the darker side, our list of the best low light plants overlaps a lot with this one.
Don't want to pick?
The Easy Care Houseplant Bundle is four low-maintenance plants picked for you. Or browse everything in our Hard to Kill Plants collection. The Plant Care Guide covers care for each one. Let us know if you have any questions!
Keep reading
- ZZ Plant Care: The Easiest Plant to Overwater
- Snake Plant Care: How Not to Love It to Death
- Best Low Light Plants for Indoors
Happy growing,
Alex
Chief Leaf Officer, Austin Jungle Co.
