When winter comes around and you've clipped your plants down, covered up your young trees, and packed up your garden shed, it can be a little discouraging to end your seasonal hobby for another year. But it doesn't have to end there! Why not bring some life into your home and continue doing what you love? Low maintenance houseplants are perfect for this time of year when it gets too cold to maintain the gardens outdoors but still want to indulge in the soothing tranquillity that gardening offers.
Indoor plants can be fickle and hard to maintain. So to keep things relaxing and enjoyable, I've compiled a list of the top 10 low maintenance houseplants that are ideal for (easily!) maintaining your green thumb during the winter.
1. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia)
The ZZ Plant is a low maintenance house plant that makes for a great all-season succulent. It has lush green leaves and thick trunks, so it can easily be mistaken as being a palm or small tree. This beautiful and unique ornamental house plant thrives in indirect sunlight and requires very little water. In fact, ZZ plants can thrive on a single watering every two to three weeks and should only be watered once the soil is completely dried out. The attractive, glossy foliage will add a sophisticated look to your home decor.
2. Fiddle-Leaf Fig (Ficus Lyrata)
The Fiddle-Leaf Fig is a large, bushy tree that requires very little maintenance. It's easy to tell when this plant needs water because the leaves will droop slightly. If you are looking for a low light houseplant with big impact, look no further than the Fiddle-Leaf Fig.
The leaves of this particular plant can vary in shape, but they mostly feature a broad bottom and narrow middle. The shape of the leaf is where the Ficus Lyrata actually gets its name, as it resembles a lyre or fiddle. This house plant can grow taller than 5 feet with proper care, so make sure you've got plenty of space in your home before adding this low maintenance houseplant to your decor.
3. Aloe Plant (Aloe Vera)
The Aloe Plant is a great houseplant for those who love low maintenance plants. As you may have guessed, the Aloe Plant requires very little watering and thrives in sunny conditions, so placement near a window is optimal. It's also a succulent that can grow up to 3 feet tall, so it makes for a great statement piece in your home.
One of the downfalls of Aloe is that you can't tell when it needs watering just by the look of the leaves, you need to physically feel the soil to check the dampness there. But other than that, it's a great and easy plant that will help to circulate the air in your home!
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4. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema Crispum)
Another great option if you are looking for a low-maintenance indoor plant is the Chinese Evergreen. This plant produces green leaves with white and silver edges, making it an ideal selection for those who want to add some contrasting colors indoors. With proper care, this low maintenance houseplant can grow up to 3 feet tall and does well in low light conditions.
5. Jade Plant (Crassula Ovata)
If you're looking for a plant that can withstand long periods of not being watered, the Jade Plant is perfect. The Jade Plant requires minimal watering and emits oxygen at night when the sun goes down. It's also great indoors because it can grow in low light conditions, making it an excellent addition to your low maintenance house plant collection.
Another benefit of the Jade Plant is that drafts and dryness won't hurt it! If your home is quite cool in the winter, don't worry about those drafty windows hindering your plant's growth. If you forget to water it for a week, that's ok; the plant will live on!
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6. Snake Plant (Dracaena Trifasciata)
The Snake Plant is another great option for your low maintenance house plant collection. There are many names for the Snake Plant, including Saint George's Sword, Mother-In-Law's-Tongue, and Viper's Bowstring Hemp. This winter-hardy plant is known for its tall, thick, and stately leaves that resemble blades of grass or even small bamboo shoots
This ornamental plant thrives in very dry conditions, so the wintertime will be perfect for this indoor addition. If you are looking to add some more color to your home, the variegated leaves of the Dracaena Trifasciata make for a perfect accent piece. The hardy, blade-like leaves offer a unique look to your collection of indoor greenery.
7. Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea Recurvata)
The Ponytail Palm is a slow-growing plant that can grow up to 3 feet tall indoors, which, despite the name, isn't actually a true palm. It is, however, a great choice for your list of low maintenance houseplants as the Ponytail Palm requires minimal watering, making it perfect for those of you who tend to forget about your green friends during the winter months. It also thrives in low light conditions, adding to its list of great qualities.
8. Clivia
The Clivia, also known as the Natal Lily or Bush Lily, is a great option for indoor, winter house plants because it requires very little water while also thriving in indirect sunlight. It's easy to tell when the Clivia needs watering because the green, strap-like leaves will droop slightly. The colorful blooms of the Clivia thrive in the cooler weather, so you can enjoy its colorful display all year long! If you are looking for an indoor plant that won't require much attention, this may be the one for you.
9. Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera Bridgesii)
Another colourful choice to add to your winter house plant collection is the Christmas Cactus. Like the name suggests, this plant thrives in the cool weather and will produce colourful flowers in December or January to ring in the New Year! If you're looking for an easy and vibrant houseplant to care for, this is a wonderful option.
The stems of the Christmas Cactus look like leaf-like pads that join together. The flowers sprout from the joints of the plant and are a bright red coulor. The Christmas Cactus is a gorgeous plant that will brighten up even the darkest corners of your home on dreary winter.
10. Philodendron (Philodendron Quinquenervia)
Last but certainly not least is the Philodendron. This large indoor plant will grow up to 3 feet tall and can spread just as wide, adding a striking architectural piece to your home decor. The leaves are large and oval- or spear-shaped. As they can get quite large, it's a good idea to be sure you have plenty of space for this beauty to grow! In addition, this low maintenance house plant requires very little water and thrives in indirect sunlight.
One thing to keep in mind if you're choosing the Philodendron and you happen to have furry friends at home, the plant can be poisonous to animals so be sure to keep it away from your beloved animals.
There you have it, 10 low maintenance houseplants that are sure to make your home more beautiful this winter! Whether you want to add some color or need something in place of the greenery lost when the seasons change, these plants are sure to satisfy. It's comforting to know that, even when the temperatures outside change to cool and crisp, you can continue your gardening journey indoors with a wide selection of colorful, leafy plants. The list could go on, so do some research and find the perfect plants to brighten up your indoor space over the winter months!
CONTRIBUTOR:
Aaron Mears is the writer and editor of House Stories. He loves to write stories on everything related to homes. Since earning his business degree from Western University, he has spent half a decade writing on Real Estate, Housing and Business concerns.
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Barbulianno x
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