Top 10 indoor plants that are fool-proof
How to create an indoor wonderland with plants
If you are starting out with your very first indoor plant or adding to your plethora of greenery, here are some of the most reliable, fool-proof indoor plants to grow in a subtropical climate. Their toughness means you will have easier plants to grow that need less care compared to ‘trendy’ social media specimens that cost the price of your first-borne child.
I am not declaring these are care-free plants. You will still need to give them some attention because they are living things and will need your help to keep them alive. I am talking about reduced watering, fertilising, and perhaps the rare occurrence of a pest.
This list of ten plants is to whet your appetite are start growing some indoor plants. It is worth noting that the top 10 for subtropical climate will be very different to the top 10 for a temperate cold climate of southern Australia or northern Europe (or Canada or USA).
No.1 - Treasure Fern / ZZ Plant / Zanzibar Gem - Zamioculcas zamiifolia
This plant is truly a must-have for every keen gardener. It looks like a fern, a cycad, a succulent but is none of those - it is a relative of the Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) and Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera deliciosa). It belongs to the family Araceae. This plant can tolerate extreme low light, low watering and low nutrients. It it known to live in apartments, hallways, patios, balconies and in garden landscapes making it well-rounded for almost any garden situation, indoors or out.
Considered toxic if ingested, it is advised to be careful if you have children or pets that may eat your potted plants.
No.2 - Mother in Law’s Tongue - Dracaena trifasciata (syn. Sansevieria trifasciata)
For at least half a century, if not more, this plant has always been listed on the TOP list for indoor plants and for good reason - it is virtually indestructible!
You can leave for a 6 month overseas holiday and this plant will still look the same as when you left. The succulent leaves and underground rhizome help store moisture and assist with long-term drought (forgetting the plant existed) periods. Once you get back from holidays and start watering again, the plant takes off with new leaves.
For collectors of this plant, there are many leaf colour variations, many dwarf forms and also diverse leaf shapes and sizes. It really is a worthy plant to collect a few different types for your collection.
No.3 - Cast Iron Plant - Aspidistra elatior
Cast Iron Plant have been written about since the 1800’s and though they went out of fashion in the mid 1900’s they are now back in vogue in a BIG way. Numerous cultivars with different leaf shapes, speckles and stripes are now available to the passionate plant-aholic. The Cast Iron Plant gets it’s name due to it near impossible to kill as a potted plant. It just lives on and on, making it ideal as an intergenerational legacy plant (i.e., a plant you can divide and give to your children).
Cast Iron Plants can tolerate extremely low lite conditions, low watering and are generally regarded as pest free. Give the plant some TLC and it will reward you with abundant lush green leaves.
No.4 - Happy Plant - Dracaena fragrans
Office workspaces would be a dull place if it were not for the Happy Plant. This plant has a lovely upright habit making it ideal the space-sensitive office floor plan. What a joy the Happy Plant brings to a 9 to 5 job. This is the perfect specimen if you want a little height in your indoor specimens.
These plants do need a little more TLC compared to the first three plants on this list. They can be prone to a few pests such as whitefly and mealy bugs however if they are looked after with appropriate watering, nutrition and bright light they are generally pest free. In other words, look after them and they are less likely to have problems.
There are a few different cultivars available, the most common being ‘Massangeana’.
No.5 - Heart Leaf Philodendron - Philodendron hederaceum (often mistakenly sold as Philodendron cordatum)
Currently, all forms of Philodendrons are popular and would have to be the number 1 plant desired by indoor plant collectors due to the massive diversity this genera offers for plantaholics. I have selected the Heartleaf Philodendron due to its funky heart-shaped leaves that come either plain green or in numerous variegated patterns such as ‘Brasil’, ‘Cream Splash’, or even yellow coloured leaves.
This plant can be grown in a hanging basket for its cascading effect or grown on a totem or moss pole to create vertical impact with big leaves. Yes, the leaves get bigger if you grow it on a totem or moss pole.
I find this plant very forgiving even if I ignore it for a week or so. It may drop of a few leaves if ignored too long but new leaves are quickly produced once care is resumed.
No.6 - Dwarf Umbrella Plant - Schefflera arboricola
If it was not for the fact that this is often found planted in gardens that are never looked after, the Dwarf Umbrella Plant deserves a place on any top 10 list for indoor plants. Kept in a pot it creates a cute bonsai appearance enhanced by the finger-like leaflets that may be either plain green or variegated. It is worth noting the plain green leaf form tolerated much lower light situations than the variegated leaf forms.
As an indoor plant it is best tip pruned to stimulate a bushier habit though some gardeners like to grow it upwards like a small tree.
This plant is not generally considered as an indoor plant but I encourage gardeners to give it a go and you will be very pleased with your decision.
Of interest, I remember a trip I once did through China and the hotel used tip cuttings from this plant in small glass cups/bowls as their table decoration. It was impressively simple and effective.
No.7 - Spider Plant - Chlorophytum comosum
This plant has notoriety due to research in relation to NASA and plants that filter out toxins from the air. It may be worth noting that the research also stated is was not just the plant that achieved the health benefits - it was the plant in a potting media. You cannot get the benefits of the plants in a bowl of water, it must be in a potting mix of sorts. I digress!
The spider plant has been around for decades and has been subject to banishing by trendy social media people. Clearly they don’t know what they are talking about. This plant has proven itself over many generations due to its tough resilient nature and abundant growth from which new plants can easily be potted up and shared amongst new garden novices. WOW - free plants to share !
This over-productive growth does mean the roots fill the pot relatively fast compared to other plants so repotting annually will be needed for optimum growth. That said, this is a great plant for beginners and seems to succeed in a wide range of light conditions and a high degree of neglect.
Good news - new cultivars are on the market to give collectors a range to acquire.
No.8 - Rattlesnake Plant - Goeppertia insignis (syn. Calathea lancifolia, Calathea insignis)
I have no hesitation to list this in the top 10. I have grown these in my house, positioned on the dining table for 3 years in the same pot. I water it once a week and fertilise it only twice a year. It is incredible.
In the subtropics this plants can be planted outside in a protected garden position which proves its toughness. In fact I find taking it outdoors during rain showers invigorates the plant.
Foliage pattern is the striking feature of this plant - both the top and underneath. It belongs to the ‘prayer plant’ group of plants which means it ‘folds’ it leaves at night. In truth, it tilts them upwards so all leaves stand vertical beside each other at night time.
No.9 - Philodendrons - Philodendron species/cultivars/hybrids
I cannot do justice to a top 10 list without including more philodendrons so here I will lump them all into one category. There are so many to list and most are worth giving them a go. You will find some better than others and it all depends how you grow them - light, watering, fertiliser, on totem or not, etc.
Leaves are mostly heart shaped but some species and cultivars come if wonderfully weird shapes and sizes. It’s like a box of chocolates!
No.10 - Pothos - Epipremnum aureum
It is not surprising the 10th plant was going to be a hard decision with so many that could make the top 10. The winner of this race for last slot in the 10 was chosen because it has been around for generations, tested and proved in many gardening books and magazines and it is still a popular plant for people who live in apartments and units. It can be grown in a glass jar, in a hanging basket, up a totem or over a trellis. Pothos is a tough plant and resilient under adverse conditions.
When allowed to grow up totem (or trees) the cute heart-shaped leaves grow into gigantic monsters up to 1m in size. However, it kept in a pot without a totem stucture leaves will remain at a more domestic acceptable size.
The pothos is known to handle extremely low light as well as bright. The darker the position, choose plain green leaves. If very bright, why not try the lime-green leaves or variegated.
Well, there you have a starting point for your indoor collection. These ten will start you on your path as a green-thumb gardener, a plant-aholic, a plant-nerd, a plant collector.
thank you for restacking..