The Best House Plants for Beginners

A plant in your home can boost oxygen levels and reduce the amount of pollutants and dust. Caring for a plant can be a source of immense satisfaction and has been proven to improve your mental well-being.

But which house plant is the best for you? We asked experts for their recommendations.

Marble Queen Pothos

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is among the most popular house plants, thanks to its heart-shaped leaves and gorgeous white variety. It is also easy to care for, making it a great choice for beginners. Like other tropical plants pothos thrives in a range of light conditions, but it prefers moderate levels of indirect sunlight. It can also grow under lower light levels or in full shade. A moderately humid household and a slightly acidic soil mix are ideal for this plant, too.

This plant will tolerate missed waterings, so long as the soil doesn't dry completely. Overwatering is among the most frequent causes of death for houseplants. If you're unsure, put your finger in the soil and see whether the soil is moist. If not, you should water the plant. If the leaves change color, it's probably due to lack of light or too much direct sun or a sign of fungal disease.

Pothos, unlike most plants, is tolerant of the effects of air pollution, such as Ozone. It can be used in the bathroom or kitchen to filter the air.

This plant is susceptible to disease and pests as are other plants. It is best to tackle issues quickly so that they don't spread throughout the home. Pests like mealybugs and thrips are most common on this plant. Keep your Marble Queen Pothos well-watered and it will be less likely to attract insects like these.

To keep your plant looking its best Keep the stem tips trim often. This will keep the leaves full and marbled and prevent the vines from becoming too long. These stem tips can be used to help propagate plants.

If you're looking to stimulate your Marble Queen to develop, give it something to stick to. This could be a moss rod houseplant trellis, or a length of string. Be sure to spray the moss, or any other support with water as part your regular routine of irrigation to help it grow quicker.

Monstera

The Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera delica) is also called the Monstera plant is among the most popular houseplants currently. The leaves are decorated with natural holes -- called leaf fenestrationand can give an exotic look to any space. It is easy to propagate simply by cutting it up and growing it in a water solution.

Monstera deliciosa is a fast-growing plant and you may have to plant it again every few months. Take a few leaves off and then repot the plant in a well-drained potting soil. Use a container that is well ventilated and add perlite or lava rock to the soil to aid in Aeration, if needed.

They are simple to care for as houseplants, provided they are given bright sunlight and a sufficient amount of humidity. They're content to climb a trellis or vine downwards and are easily pruned to shape them if you prefer it in a certain manner. It's simple to mist a monstera with a spray bottle of water to increase the humidity of its leaves on a daily basis.

A monstera isn't actually a succulent, despite its name. While succulents have thick, fleshy leaves that hold water, monsteras have thin heart-shaped leaves with fenestrations. Monsteras are tolerant of dry climates, but they require more water to grow than succulents, which is why they must be maintained at the right temperature and with enough humidity.

The leaves of the monstera, despite their appearance, aren't edible. This plant's fruit, stems and leaves contain oxalic acid, which could cause throat and mouth irritation when consumed.

If you've already master the fiddle leaf fig, Blank suggests moving onto the monstera to get a feel for how easy gardening indoors can be. "A monstera can adapt to many different conditions," says Blank. It needs a warm environment, but it can withstand lower temperatures and higher humidity than the typical home.

ZZ Plant


The ZZ plant is among the most durable house plants. It's slow-growing, tough and can survive a variety of conditions. It can thrive in dark places and doesn't seem to be affected by low humidity. It's also very tolerant of forgetful owners and only requires periodic watering to live. The leaves of this succulent can be lime green, purple-black or a mixture of both as they mature.

You can reproduce the ZZ plant by cutting its rhizomes, which are tubers that resemble roots on the bottom of each stem. Remove the plant from its pot and separate the rhizomes. Cut them down a bit before putting them in new pots. You can also grow new ZZs from stem cuttings which have two leaves and are about an inch long. Plant low maintenance house plants in pots with a 50:50 mixture of perlite and multipurpose compost and place in a warm area. It may take up to a year for the cuttings of the plant to develop.

Despite being one of the most robust house plants, there are some things that can cause this species to die, such as overwatering, direct sunlight and dry soil. Water the ZZ plant only when its soil is dry. It's fine to keep the soil moist. The plant stores water in its rhizomes, therefore it is able to go for weeks without watering.

This plant isn't an insect magnet but it is prone to fungus and rot. To prevent these issues get rid of the old and dead leaves from the plant frequently. Keep it away from children and pets, as the stalks and leaves could cause irritation when eaten.

The ZZ plant can be utilized as an air purifier to eliminate benzene toluene and other volatile organic compounds from indoor environments. It can also absorb volatile organic compounds, such as carbon monoxide and formaldehyde. This makes the ZZ plant an ideal choice for offices and apartments that aren't well-ventilated.

Parlor Palm

Palms are a popular indoor plant and for good reason. They provide tropical, lush vibes to living spaces, and take on a variety of lighting conditions as well as temperatures. The chamaedorea elegans, or parlor palm, isn't an exception. The plant (also called the neanthe bella palm) is native to Central America, and it's becoming more popular due to its versatility. It thrives in bright, filtered light, but can grow well away from windows and in spaces with less light, like east or north-facing rooms. It is a slow-growing species, so it could take up to a year to reach its full height of 2-6 feet.

If you want your plant to grow it can be fertilised monthly with a balanced liquid fertilizer. It needs a well-draining mix and Bridget Zazzara, retail indoor and seasonal plant manager of Logan's Trading Company, recommends using the same potting mix as you would for succulents and cacti. Choose a soil that drains well and has a pH of between 6.1 and 7.8. Include a bit of sphagnum moss to improve the soil structure and water retention.

Keep your palms in a safe distance from areas that are drafty and mist their leaves regularly to ensure that they are humid. You can also include an humidifier to your home. Repot your parlor palm in the spring time if it becomes rootbound. Overwatering can lead to root rot. Water the plant as soon as the top inch of compost is dry. It is more frequent to water in warm weather, but less frequently in the winter.

Palms like these are attractive to bees, however be sure to place them out of reach of pets and children. The needle-like leaves are poisonous and can be ingested. They also attract mealybugs. These insects appear as white, fluffy blobs under the leaves. They are difficult to remove. If you spot them, wipe the bugs off with a cotton bud or cloth soaked in an insecticide containing plant oils or fatty acids.