Do you love the idea of indoor plants but, after trying and failing in the past, lack confidence in your ability to keep them alive? Consider this a sign to give it another try. The key is to select plant species that are very, very hard to kill. But, do such plants exist? Yes, they do.
Many indoor plants fail to survive as a result of two main care blunders: overwatering, and providing either too little, or too much sunlight. So selecting a plant that needs hardly any light, and hardly any water will set you up for success.
Another thing to consider is the ‘climate’ inside your home. Does it tend to get humid? Or, if you like to keep your air conditioner humming regularly, you may be better off selecting a plant that can tolerate a drier environment (or invest in a plant mister), creating a terrarium garden, or placing plants in the bathroom where water vapour will keep humidity-loving species happy.
Here, multi-award winning horticulturalist and landscape expert Charlie Albone shares five indoor plants that are virtually impossible to kill.
1 Mother-in-law’s tongue
“This is a hardy upright succulent that grows out in the garden as well as indoors,” Charlie says. With its vibrant green and yellow leaves they make great pot plants and are easy to propagate and easy to care for. Plant in free-draining soil and water occasionally.
2 Aspidistra (cast iron plant)
The nickname says it all! This hardy plant grows grow in shade under trees and shrubs. It’s also perfect for cooler indoor areas of your home with indirect sunlight. Its dark green leaves are slow-growing so you won’t need to give it much more room as time goes on. “You can only kill it with too much sun,” Charlie says.
3 Devils Ivy
Originating from tropical and temperate regions, this plant will thrive indoors in most climates. It grows well in full to partial shade outdoors. As indoor plants, they will do well in a brightly lit spot, however they will also grow in low-light conditions. “This is a great plant for indoor areas with low light such as bathrooms,” Charlie says.
5 Indian Hawthorn
If you live near the beach, this is the perfect plant for you. This evergreen plant is virtually bulletproof and survives in all sorts of conditions. “A super hardy plant for full sun that can also take salty air,” Charlie says.
4 Hen and chicken succulents
“Hen and chickens” is a common name for a group of small succulent plants, indicating a plant that possesses enlarged parts to store water, making them hardy and drought tolerant. “Make sure the soil is free draining and these will live forever,” Charlie says.
Try these
Robert Gordon ‘Garden to Table’ self watering planter in white speckle, $89.95, Myer
Designed in Australia, this organically-shaped and neutral coloured pot will look great in minimalist and coastal homes alike. The self-watering functionality means you can fill it with water and let the pot do the rest! SHOP NOW
Haws indoor copper watering can, $308, hardtofind
Once you’ve successfully raised your indoor plant babies, celebrate with a glamorous and durable, handmade watering can. Made from pure copper. SHOP NOW
Hathdia soil moisture metre, $12.79, Amazon
Take the guesswork out of watering your plants by investing in an affordable soil moisture sensor. This nifty device doesn’t require batteries, and will provide an instant reading when the probe is placed into the soil. SHOP NOW
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