7 Best Indoor Plants: A Guide to Growing Indoor Plants

When choosing indoor houseplants, there are some factors worth considering.

• Size and growth rate: Some plants grow quickly, like viney philodendrons, while others barely budge over the course of years. Assess how much space you have for your houseplant and how much greenery you’d like to add to your home decor.
• Light requirements: Observe the light conditions in your home and where you have spaces with low light, indirect sunlight, or direct sunlight. Give your houseplant the right amount of sunlight to ensure that it thrives.
• Water requirements: If you travel a lot or have a busy schedule, then you’ll want to choose a plant that doesn’t need a lot of watering. For example, drought-tolerant plants like succulents and cacti typically only need water every other week.
• Maintenance: Some plants require regular fertilizing to bloom and grow, while other low-maintenance plants need less attention. Green thumbs and new gardeners alike can benefit from low-maintenance plants, while more demanding plants like orchids and bird’s-nest ferns require patience and experience.

Depending on what sort of plant you’re looking for, these seven popular houseplants are a good place to start.

1. 1. ZZ plant: The ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) has shiny, green leaves and long, arched stems. These low-maintenance houseplants only need to be watered every few weeks and fertilized once every few months. As long as ZZ plants get plenty of indirect light, they can reach up to three feet tall. The leaves and stems of ZZ plants are toxic, so keep them out of reach of pets and kids.
2. 2. Snake plant: Snake plants (Sansevieria trifasciata) have dark green, sword-like leaves that can feature yellow borders and light green streaks. Snake plants make excellent indoor plants, in part for their air purification qualities: They absorb pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene. They need bright, indirect light, well-draining soil, and fertilizer once a year.
3. 3. Prayer plant: Prayer plants (Maranta leuconeura) have red-striped leaves. They thrive in partial or full shade, making them well-suited for indoor environments. Keep the soil moist but well-draining, and fertilize once a month throughout the spring and autumn.
4. 4. Pothos: Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a tropical ivy that looks great in a hanging basket. These plants require a low-light environment and should only be watered when the top inch of soil is dry. Pothos come in a variety of foliage colors and need to be fertilized once every few months.
5. 5. Bird’s-nest fern: The bird’s-nest fern (Asplenium nidus) is a lush fern with bright green fronds. These plants like humid environments, making them a great fit for bathrooms so long as they get enough indirect light. Water bird’s-nest ferns regularly so the soil stays moist but never soggy. Watering around the edge of the plant and not directly in the center will also help prevent root rot. If the green leaves turn yellow, it’s a sign you’ve been overwatering it.
6. 6. Fiddle-leaf fig: The fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) is a slow-growing, large-leafed plant. When taken care of properly, fiddle-leaf figs can reach as tall as 10 feet, making them a popular choice for living rooms. Water fiddle-leaf figs when the topsoil is dry and place them in a spot with lots of bright, indirect light. During the growing season of spring to fall, these plants need a monthly dose of high-nitrogen fertilizer.
7. 7. Aloe: Aloe plants (Aloe vera) are hardy succulents that need lots of bright light to flourish. While you won’t need to water them often, you should soak them thoroughly when you do. Allow the soil to dry just as thoroughly before the next watering. Aloe plants grow best in well-draining potting soil formulated for cacti and other succulents.

Once you bring your plant home, keep these considerations in mind and adapt your maintenance plan to its needs.

• Make sure it gets the light it needs. If you find your new plant could use more light, try moving it closer to a sunny windowsill. Other plants requiring less light, like bromeliads, may do better in dimmer, north-facing windows. Gradually move the plant into a brighter or lower-light condition to avoid shocking the plant.
  
• Keep an eye on fluctuating water needs. For example, some succulents can go weeks without water in the winter, but they may need more water in the hotter, summer months. Instead of sticking to a strict watering schedule, regularly check the top inch of soil with your finger to determine whether your plant could use more or less water.
• Keep the leaves clean. As with anything else in your home, indoor plants can collect dust on their leaves, stems, and soil. No matter how much direct light a plant gets, a build-up of dust will prevent photosynthesis and possibly damage the plant. Wipe down the leaves with a damp cloth if you notice dust build-up.
• Prune and propagate. When dead leaves fall from your plant, pick them up and dispose of them. Pruning and deadheading, or removing dead flowers, will help your plant not only live longer but look better. Pruning can also be part of the propagation process. Cutting back the plant can encourage new growth and leave you with pieces you can re-plant.

Grow your own garden with Ron Finley, the self-described "Gangster Gardener." Get the MasterClass Annual Membership and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community—and the world—a better place.