Nowadays, I find that it’s become a rare thing finding people who still use plants as an indoor décor. It’s understandable why it wouldn’t be a lot of people’s first choice for decorations: unlike pieces you can buy in stores, a plant requires some maintenance and can make a room look ugly when it’s wilted or still just a small plant.
But if you want to add some color and life into any room, a plant is your most low-maintenance option. And while a cactus or succulent are very low-maintenance and don’t require you to water them every day, why not try these quick-growing indoor plants?
What to Look for in Indoor Plants
Unless you have the time for plants that require a lot of care and maintenance, you’ll want to find low-maintenance indoor plants that don’t require special plant food, frequent watering (in the sense that it won’t die easily if you forget to water it for a day or two), or pruning.
If you want some ideas, check the plants you have in your office or the ones you can find in office lobbies, restaurants, and malls. To save up on costs and upkeep, businesses frequently use low-maintenance indoor plants that are resistant to bugs and diseases and can thrive even without natural sunlight.
Spider Plant
One of the fastest-growing plants in the world is a spider plant. True to its name, the spider plant resembles a spider’s long and slender legs split on either side. Each leaf can grow up to three feet long, so this plant is best for a pot you can hang on the ceiling or on the higher end of a bare wall.
The plant is green with white to yellowish-white edges. These plants do not do well under direct sunlight, so store them in a cool room away from sunlight, or else you might find the end of your plant getting brown tips from dryness. However, this plant is prone to pests, so always keep the soil well-drained. Do not make your spider plant’s soil soggy as it can lead to root rot. In fact, you might want to limit your watering to every other day or so.
Aloe Vera
If you’re looking for a low-maintenance indoor plant that can actually be useful, aloe vera plants are a good option. An aloe vera is a type of succulent, but you might have heard its name before as an ingredient to your soap or skin care product. Aloe vera – especially its gel – has been used for centuries for food, cosmetics, and as a herbal remedy dating as far back as 16th century BC, where it was called a “plant of immortality” in ancient Egyptian civilization.
When you take an aloe vera leaf and cut it open, you’ll find it filled with a clear gel that’s often used for various purposes. Its leaves are fleshy and spiky, but it does not hurt, so it shouldn’t be a problem if you have pets. In colder climates, it can bloom yellow or white flowers.
Aloe vera thrives in direct sunlight or when placed near a window. And because it grows very quickly, you’ll need to keep repotting each of the leaves so that they do not crowd in the same pot. Like the spider plant, you’ll want to water your aloe vera less frequently as it thrives in dry soil.
Dieffenbachia
Also known as “Leopard Lily” or “Dumb Cane,” Dieffenbachia has a bad reputation thanks to several chainmail and online stories. It claims that this houseplants’ leaves are poisonous and can kill your children and your pets slowly from its poison.
While it’s true that the Dumb Cane’s leaves are poisonous, they are more mildly uncomfortable than they are lethal. If a human or animal tries to eat its leaves, the microscopic needle-shaped crystals on its leaves will leave you with a painful and swollen mouth that can make you unable to talk. And if you ever get its sap on your hand and transfer it to your eyes, it will be painful, but it won’t be deadly.
So, as long as no one tries to eat an ornamental plant, you and your household should be safe. The Dieffenbachia’s leaves are a unique mixture of green with white and yellow spots you won’t find in any other plant, making it perfect for simple rooms where you can turn your plant into a focal point. It can grow up to six feet tall, so keep it on the ground in a sturdy pot.
It requires moderate amounts of sunlight and dry soil. It’s very low-maintenance, so only water it when your soil is extremely dry.
Velvet Plant
If you don’t want the typical green and prefer a bit of color on your plants, the velvet plant is another good option. It’s not the leaves that are purple; each leaf is covered in tiny colored hairs that its texture feels velvety and soft and gives it a purple color. It’s relatively fast-growing, and your velvet plant can start to show off purple leaves within a matter of weeks.
The velvet plant’s roots are extremely delicate, and over-watering it can easily lead to root rot. Also, the plant produces flowers that don’t really smell good to everyone, so if you don’t like the scent of it indoors, you can simply snip off the buds before they bloom into flowers.
Taken care of properly, your velvet plant should last you several years. However, its lifespan is relatively shorter compared to other plants, and its leaves will start to turn into a dull green after it reaches its peak maturity. Expose your plant to bright, indirect sunlight.
Snake Plant
Also known as the Viper’s bowstring hemp and the mother-in-law’s tongue. While the spider plant’s leaves resemble a spider’s leaves, a snake plant looks like a bunch of vipers rising from the ground. If you’re looking for something extremely low maintenance, the snake plant is the best option. I’m not saying you should do this, but the snake plant is so durable that you can forget about the plant for weeks and it won’t wilt.
Its sharp (but harmless) leaves are green with yellow-green edges that can remind you of a snake’s body. It can survive low light levels (but also do well in high-light rooms) and high temperatures. It can even help keep the air in your home fresh and free of toxins.
Bamboo
Having bamboo in your home is considered to be lucky in Chinese cultures. Depending on the species of bamboo you use, your plant can grow fast in a matter of days. Some bamboo species do not even need soil to grow. Simply provide it with a lot of water and light and it can start growing. Depending on how tall you want your bamboo to be, it can either be placed on a table or on the floor.
Geraniums
If you’re looking for something more floral, geraniums are one of the easiest ornamental plants you can take care of. These can be potted and placed on the floor or kept in hanging baskets as long as you provide it with a mid to high brightness, around moderate room temperatures, and well-drained soil mixed with peat and perlite.
Geraniums can grow up to a point where they’re crowding a pot, so you’ll have to repot them a few times until it fully matures. If you reach the point where your geranium have gotten too big to pot into one pot, you can simply divide it and pot the rest outdoors or on a second pot.
These are just a few examples of quick indoor growing plants that require very little maintenance. While these can survive on their own for the most part, don’t forget to check up on their soil moisture and size once in a while. In return, these plants can complement and brighten up any room in your home.
