8 Houseplants That Are Almost Impossible to Kill

Houseplants brighten a room and give you a small, satisfying daily routine. The trick for beginners is choosing plants that tolerate a missed watering or a less-than-perfect window. Here are eight that are famously easygoing.

1. Snake plant

Upright, architectural leaves and a very relaxed attitude to water. Let the soil dry out completely between drinks. It copes with low light, though it grows faster in brighter spots.

2. Pothos

A trailing vine that looks great on a shelf. It tells you when it is thirsty by drooping slightly, then perks back up within hours of watering.

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3. ZZ plant

Glossy leaves that look almost artificial. ZZ plants store water in their roots, so overwatering is a much bigger risk than underwatering.

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4. Spider plant

Fast growing and cheerful, it produces small “babies” on long stems that you can pot up and share with friends.

5. Cast iron plant

The name says it all. It handles dim corners, uneven watering and cooler rooms better than almost anything else.

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6. Chinese evergreen

Comes in green, silver and pink-tinged varieties. It prefers moderate light and evenly moist (not soggy) soil.

7. Peace lily

Dark leaves and white blooms. Like pothos, it droops dramatically when dry, which makes watering easy to judge.

8. Jade plant

A succulent with thick, coin-shaped leaves. Give it your sunniest window and water only when the soil is dry.

Three rules that save most plants

• Use pots with drainage holes. Standing water is the most common cause of houseplant loss.
• Check before you water. Push a finger into the soil; if the top inch or two is dry, it is usually time.
• Water less in winter. Most plants grow slowly in the darker months and need far less.

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