Top 5 Easy Indoor Plants

Looking to add a touch of greenery to your home, but don’t know where to start? You’re in good (green!) hands. Indoor plants can take your home to new heights, transforming dull rooms into lively spaces. Plus, they can actually help purify the air, by removing harmful toxins often found in furnishings*. Knowing how to care for them is key, although, most don’t require *too* much care. Here’s our top 5 easy-care indoor plants and how to look after them.

1. Devil’s ivy (Epipremnum aureum)

A great beginner’s houseplant, this trailing or climbing plant is perfect for ‘self-confessed’ black thumbs. Position in a well-lit spot, out of direct light, although, it will also grow in dimly lit rooms (albeit, slower). Allow it to climb a totem pole or train up a wall with hooks. Water once a week in warmer periods, and every other week when it’s cooler. 

2. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum sp.)

A flower, indoors? You got it! The strappy handsome foliage of the peace lily gives rise to beautiful white spathes (flowers) throughout the year, so it’s always a nice surprise when they greet you. Give them plenty of bright, indirect light and water weekly or when the soil is near dry. Not sure how to tell? Insert your index finger to the second knuckle – if it’s dry, water well, but if it’s moist, leave watering for a few days. And if you forget, don’t worry, its droopy leaves will tell you it’s keen for a drink.  

3. Snake plant (Sansevieria sp.)

One of the toughest indoor plants you’ll ever meet. Low light? Yep. Irregular watering? Too easy. For an indoor plant that will forgive if you forget, try the snake plant. There’s so many different shapes and patterns to choose from, too. For a ‘whaly’ good time, look for the whale fin snake plant (Sansvieria masoniana) or for a ghostly look, try Sansevieria ‘Moonshine’.

4. ZZ plant (Zamioculcus zamiifolia)

Hailed ‘virtually unkillable’, the ZZ plant is perfect if you’re always abroad or travelling for work. It’s shiny, tolerates low light and likes a drink every now and then. Basically, it thrives on neglect - like a super-hot ex who wants you back, treat em’ mean to keep them keen.

5. Rubber plant (Ficus elastica)

On the slightly larger side, the rubber plant is an ideal indoor feature plant. It can grow over 30m tall in the wild, but indoors, remains compact. With thick, dark green glossy leaves (also available in tri-coloured white, pink and green – look for Ficus elastica ‘Ruby’), this striking plant will grow well in a well-lit position, out of direct sunlight. Water when the soil is near dry and leave watering for longer periods in winter.

*NASA (1989): Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement