Let’s face it, not all of us have green thumbs. It’s hard to keep plants alive and happy during year-round conditions like winter snow and spring rain. It’s definitely nothing to be ashamed of if you don’t enjoy going outside or maintaining daily routines.
There are a variety of house plants you can invest in that will live no matter how long you forget about them. You can water some of these once a week or even once per month if you’re super forgetful about your plants.
Here are some of the house plants that you shouldn’t need to worry about killing.
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What Indoor Plants Live The Longest?
Without proper care no plant will survive, however; the following plants have very little needs. You don’t have to spray their leaves with water every five minutes, and they don’t need special food. In most cases, house plants that are easy to care for require nothing but water.
Some thrive in the dark and others need partial sunlight. Wherever you place an indoor plant it’s a good idea to double-check sources that know gardening so you can have the right routine.
Okay – let’s talk about some un-killable houseplants.
Cacti
It may seem like a no-brainer, but cacti are a great plant to have around the house for a tropical vibe. If you’re going for desert chic, these plants will also add a bit of color to your home along with additional style.
There are hundreds of varieties of cacti, and here are a few that do well in a temperate indoor climate.
Saguaro Cactus:
This famous desert cactus doesn’t need to grow to its usual height of nearly 40-feet tall.
Instead, you can have a small one right in your home!
Don’t forget to water it every once in a while (these babies can get a little dry). They thrive only in the Sonoran desert and conjure up images of rolling desert openness. This can add that feeling to your home with a bit of that flare.
You only have to water it every 10-14 days and Saguaro cacti do the best in a lot of sun.
Bishop’s Cap Cactus:
The Bishop’s Cap Cactus is one you see all the time in flower shops and grocery stores.
It’s because they are really easy to transport and take care of. This little, round ball of spikes has a lot of potential for indoor gardeners. You can tell a Bishop’s Cap from other cacti because of its distinct round shape.
(Think about the kind of garb a bishop would wear).
They are native to northeastern Mexico and can even bloom flowers that look similar to daisies. Gardeners advise that you should use the soak and dry method with Bishop’s Caps.
This means that you want the soil to be completely dry before you water this cactus variety.
Barrel Cactus:
Barrel cacti are resilient and strong. They’ll basically last forever unless you drown them in water or keep it in too cold of an area.
You should keep barrel cacti in the warmest room of your house as this will help them thrive.
The only way to really kill a barrel cactus is to overwater it. Barrel cacti can be short and stubby or they can grow to over 10 feet tall. It all depends on how much time and effort you put into your plants. Of course, you’re not going to grow a 10-foot barrel cactus in your apartment, but you can have a great plant that will last a long time with proper care.
Succulent Variants
Succulents are popular because they look great and are easy to take care of.
Hawthoria:
Also known as a star cactus, the Hawthoria is a slow-growing plant that tends to take on a star shape. It is a small accent plant that often comes with three or four small, separate cacti if you buy a pre-arranged set.
These plants are extremely easy to take care of.
They can grow 3” tall and 6” wide. They require partial sun and the typical water needs of succulents (every 10-12 days or when soil is dry).
Don’t leave these guys in a cold environment though, they are not very resistant to low temperatures. If you take good care of them they’ll even grow small white flowers in the spring and summer seasons.
Silver Dollar Jade:
You’ve probably seen this common cactus variety at your local hardware or garden store. With its flat and circular leaves, this hearty succulent does well indoors but not in cold climates outdoors.
Note – If you have pets, do not get this succulent! It can be toxic if consumed.
It needs full sun or be placed in partial shade and water as needed when the soil is dry.
Calico Kitten Succulent:
The whimsical leaves on this succulent are incredibly cute (hence its name).
This variant has several vines so it can spill over out of your pot. If you want that kind of look in your home, this one is essential to hang from a macrame basket or pop on the balcony of an apartment to add some zen. Use the aforementioned soak and dry method for watering, and keep this plant in partial sun.
Remember, succulents don’t do well in the cold so don’t plant this one outside if you have any frost or winter seasons. If you keep it inside, just make sure your house doesn’t get too freezing.
Remember.. Turn on that heat!
Aloe Plants
Even the worst home gardener can keep an aloe plant alive. Aloe is extremely resilient and does well both indoors and out. They can grow to be massive if planted outside, but if you keep them in a certain size pot, it will grow according to the space it has.
Aloe is great to have around for sunburns, and if you grow your own aloe plant you’ll never need after-sun products again!
(Well, you might but not as often).
Homegrown aloe needs just a little bit of water every once in a while. If you overwater it the leaves will turn a little brown so that’s your signal to back off.
If you’re noticing a theme here – cacti and their ilk are hard to kill. One thing to remember, according to Gardening Know How, aloe does best in dry conditions, much like the other plants on this list. It’s an excellent idea to keep it indoors in partial sunlight so that the plant can grow naturally and slowly.
Do not take your aloe plant outside into full sun right away if you’re keeping it in your house or apartment. They need to get used to their new conditions in order to survive.
Snake Plant
The snake plant might sound a bit scary, but in reality, it’s an awesome-looking plant if you go for tall ones. They fit nicely in corners and can allow a lot of green to accent your home as their leaves grow.
Snake plants are easy to take care of because they like bright indirect light. They’re perfect for keeping in a sunroom or sunny bathroom.
They can also grow well in places that are shady so you really can’t go wrong. As long as you keep your snake plant away from the wind and in a place that’s above 50 degrees, you’re all set!
Easy Plant Care
If you follow the instructions above, there’s no way you can mess up or kill these hearty plants. Most are in the cacti and succulent families, so if you do not like those types of plants, you can look to the snake plant to fill that need.
Happy gardening!
Written By Sarah Thomas
Sarah Thomas is a Master Gardener who edits and writes content for websites and magazines. Over the past two decades, she has been writing for The Doorstep about houseplants and indoor gardening. Since she started writing about plants, Sarah has been collecting rare and tropical plants. The Berkshire Botanical Garden awarded Sarah a certificate in horticulture in 2017.
