Unkillable Houseplants?
3 Houseplants You Can't Kill
What could be a better start to the new year than nurturing new life? Here in zone 7a, the days are short and chilly and the nights are even more so. Adding a splash of green to your home will help you get through the winter blues, along with the added benefit of havingnatural air purifiers.
“But I always kill plants!”
We all know someone who claims that they always kill plants. But rather than just making a blanket statement, what if I told you that there are numerous houseplants, that are readily available, that are virtually unkillable? And I will also give you a quick care guide for each to help you get started!
Sansevieria (or snake plant)
This is one of the easiest plants there is to grow. The most important things for snake plant is to find the right spot for it and to not overwater!
Place the snake plant in shade to bright indirect light in sandy and well draining soil. Be sure to have holes in the bottom of the pot so that water can drain out! Otherwise, you run the risk of root rot.
Bottom line:
light - bright indirect light
water - water until it comes through holes in the bottom, then let it dry out before watering again (every two to three weeks is normal)
pets - be aware that snake plants can be mildly toxic to dogs and cats, so be sure to keep them away from your pets!
Pothos
Pothos plants are also very easy plants to grow. Since they are vining plants, pothos look amazing in hanging planters, or where there is room for the vines to trail down from the pot. Alternatively, you can trim the vines back and propagate new plants to add to the pot to make it appear more full. They are extremely easy to propagate in water; cut the vine around a node with a leaf, put into a small vessel with water, and then change the water every couple of days. After a few weeks, you’ll have roots long enough to transplant (around 2” long).
Bottom line:
light - full sun to partial shade
water - water until it comes through holes in the bottom, then let it dry out before watering again (approx. once a week or so)
pets - be aware that pothos can be toxic to dogs and cats, so be sure to keep them away from your pets!
Aloe plant
Aloe plants are technically a succulent, and it is one of the easiest plants to care for. It enjoys bright indirect light and it thrives in low-water situations. The key is to be sure to have drainage holes in the pot and well-draining soil! Aloe enjoys lots of indirect light and some direct sun is ok, too.
Bottom line:
light - bright indirect light
water - water until it comes through holes in the bottom, then let it dry out before watering again (once a month is normally sufficient but a bit more often if in direct sun)
pets - be aware that aloe is mildly toxic to dogs and cats, so be sure to keep them away from your pets!
Key Takeaway
The main takeaway for these plants is to not overwater them! These easy-to-grow plants do not like to be overwatered, and that is the most likely cause of death if you do happen to kill them! There are some pests that can occasionally occur with these plants, and I will be writing about how to identify and remediate common pests!