It's Okay If You're Not Blessed With Skylights, You Can't Kill These Indoor Plants

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Figuring out how to decorate a space is hard, but you don't have to be an interior design savant to build a cute, happy space for yourself. Perhaps the easiest way to upgrade your home decor vibe? Snag some indoor plants—and no, I'm not just speaking to the green thumbs.

Sure, maybe you've tried gardening before and struggled to keep even your succulents alive. But I promise, you don't have to be a plant pro to be able to flaunt some gorgeous greenery in your space. FYI: Becoming a good plant parent is all about picking what works for you.

"When choosing a plant, you should consider the type of lifestyle, habits, and home environment you have," says Lindsay Pangborn, Bloomscape's resident gardening expert. So, for example, if you constantly jet around for work you might want to opt for something that can go without water for longer periods, like a ZZ plant.

Meet the Experts: Lindsay Pangborn is the resident gardening expert at Bloomscape.

Paris Lalicata is the head of plant education and community at The Sill.

From long, trailing vine-y house plants to ones with blooming flowers, these are the 22 best indoor plants to foster a healthier and happy home:

Aloe Vera

This plant is super low maintenance, says Paris Lalicata, head of plant education and community at The Sill. "People also love them because of their gel, which has medicinal properties," she adds. Antioxidant-rich aloe vera gel is often used for burns, skincare, hair care, and even consumption in smoothies.

Similar to cacti, this succulent thrives best in bright, direct sunlight. (Think: South and west-facing windows.) It's also drought tolerant, so it can survive if you forget to water it for a couple weeks. "Depending on its size or conditions of the home, you can water [your aloe vera] every few weeks or even every month," says Lalicata. And while aloe vera has some yummy health benefits for humans, they're toxic to pets, so keep your plant away from your furry friends.

English Ivy

Like many indoor-friendly plants, this versatile evergreen perennial can reduce pollen, dust, and even carcinogens like benzene and formaldehyde. Fun fact: "The extract of English ivy has also been used in herbal medicine for anti-inflammatory purposes," Lalicata says.

If you're looking for a fast-growing, trailing plant that you can display in a hanging basket, English ivy is a great option. In terms of care, this plant thrives best in medium to bright, indirect light. Think: An east or west-facing window, says Lalicata. You should plan to water it when 50 percent of the soil has dried out, which translates to every seven to 10 days depending on the temperature in the home, Lalicata explains. And English ivy is a toxic plant, so keep it away from pets.

Golden Pothos

Fun fact: The Golden Pothos is often called Devil’s Ivy because it’s extremely difficult to kill. This tropical plant is very forgiving of neglect and less prone to disease and pests.

"Pothos is honestly one of the most popular houseplants to date," says Lalicata. Why? They're a great air purifier—they remove indoor air pollutants like carbon monoxide and formaldehyde—they're versatile, and can tolerate low light; however, they do thrive better in medium to bright, indirect light. "Especially if the Pothos is variegated, like a golden or marble queen, having that brighter light will help maintain that variegation," says Lalicata.

When it comes to watering, your plant's schedule will depend on the conditions of the home—but every seven to 10 days is a safe bet, per Lalicata. And Pothos are toxic to pets, so keep them away from any meddling kittens or pups.

Hoya Heart

Want to express your feelings to someone you love? Say it with a plant! This adorable succulent is a sweet gift for any plant-obsessed partner. You don't have to worry about the Hoya Heart outgrowing its pot either as this cutie will stay as a little heart leaf plant forever, says Lalicata.

In addition to being low maintenance, this succulent is pet-friendly, removes common air pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene, and is drought tolerant. "It doesn't require a lot of watering or super high humidity," Lalicata notes.

For optimal care, situate your Hoya Heart somewhere where it can get medium to bright, indirect light, says Lalicata. And be sure to water it every few weeks or as needed.

Calathea Rattlesnake

The Rattlesnake plant is considered one of the easiest plants to grow in the pet-friendly Calathea family. What's more? "Contrary to other plants, which release carbon dioxide at night, Calatheas happen to release oxygen," says Lalicata. Meaning, they're a great addition to any bedroom.

This plant tolerates low light, but will thrive even more in medium to bright, indirect sunlight. The Rattlesnake also requires frequent waterings, so plan to water your plant baby every week, advises Lalicata. Oh, and these gorgeous gals love humidity, so they may thrive best either in your bathroom or a warm bedroom.

Fun fact: This eye-catching perennial displays a cool phenomenon called nyctinasty—its leaves close at night (as if in prayer) and then open during the day.

Live Exotic Lithops

Lithops are often called living stones because they resemble colorful pebbles. (Or, uh, brains. Just me?)

If you're looking for a small plant that won't grow out of its intended spot, a Lithop might be for you, says Lalicata. In addition to their forever cute size, this plant is a great air purifier, pet-friendly, plus drought tolerant. You might water it every two weeks in the summer to every four weeks in the wintertime depending on the conditions in the home, per Lalicata. Moreover, this succulent-like plant is not low light tolerant, so they'll need a lot of direct sunlight.

Tillandsia Xerographica Air Plant

IYKYK, air plants can live just about anywhere that has good lighting and a bit of humidity, and are great if you don’t want to deal with soil or pots.

Similar to Calatheas, the Xerographica—and all air plants for that matter—release oxygen at night, making it a great bedroom plant, according to Lalicata. People love them because they're super low maintenance, pet-friendly, and rather inexpensive in the long run. "They also produce babies after they flower, so you can get a lot of babies from one plant," says Lalicata. In other words, this is a plant that will continue to grow and reproduce for generations.

Xerographica is another plant that likes direct sunlight, per Lalicata. As far as watering, you'll want to water your air plant weekly by letting it soak in a bowl of water for 10 to 15 minutes, Lalicata explains.

ZZ Plant

"The ZZ plant is another great, versatile houseplant," says Lalicata. They're a good air purifier, plus low light and drought tolerant. In other words, "once the soil has completely dried out is when you'd give it a thorough soaking," says Lalicata. They also prefer high humidity, but they're not too picky about it like a Calathea. "Average to normal room humidity will work," Lalicata says. And this is a highly toxic plant, so definitely keep it away from pets and even children.

Fun fact: In some cultures, it's believed that the ZZ plant invites friendship and prosperity to a space, making it a perfect housewarming gift.

Bird's Nest Fern

You may think you have too many indoor plants until you realize there's a whole other room that could use some love. Read: Your bathroom.

"People love [the Bird's Nest Fern] because it's cute and one of the easier to care for ferns because of its waxier leaves, which helps it retain moisture," says Lalicata. While this pet-friendly plant thrives in humid spaces, making it ideal for placing next to your shower, it's also not too finicky about its environment. They can tolerate low light, but always do best in medium to bright, indirect light, says Lalicata.

You'll want to water your plant baby when the soil is 50 to 60 percent dried out, so roughly once a week, per Lalicata. When watering, "never water directly onto the crown or center of the plant where new growth is growing," Lalicata advises. "Water with a narrow spouted watering can around the foliage and the base of the plant rather than directly into the center, because otherwise the plant can get crown rot."

Spider Plant

If you're looking for a plant that's easy to propagate, air-purifying, low light tolerant, and pet-friendly, spider plants are the way to go, according to Lalicata.

They're also drought tolerant, meaning they'll survive inconsistent watering if, say, you happen to go on vacation for three weeks and forget to hire a plant sitter (ahem, not not speaking from personal experience). "They will brown and shed a lot of leaves if they are left dry for too long," Lalicata points out. "But it is the kind of plant that you can allow to dry out between waterings and then give a thorough soak."

A fun fact about spider plants? "When they're starting to flower, they'll produce pups off of these long stalks, which you can pop off and replant in their own little planters," says Lalicata. (As a spider plant owner, I can tell you that these spiderettes are quite beautiful.)

Peperomia Obtusifolia

The best part of the peperomia is that it can handle pretty much any level of sunlight, so it’s a solid option if you’re not blessed with sky-high ceilings in your tiny studio apartment (uh, raises hand). But in general, these pet-friendly plants prefer medium to bright, indirect sunlight. They're also drought tolerant, so it's ideal to wait until the soil has completely dried out before watering, which could be every week to 10 days, per Lalicata.

A fun fact that a lot of people don't know is that peperomia actually has a trailing growth habit, making it a great plant for hanging baskets, says Lalicata. But if that's not your thing, you can always prune it down to be bushier, she adds. If you're lucky, your peperomia might even give you a few flowers. They're not particularly pretty ("People call them tentacles," Lalicata notes), but they are flowers nonetheless.

Chinese Evergreen

One of the easiest plants to keep alive in the winter, the Aglaonema or Chinese evergreen is pretty much that…evergreen. "It's a really hardy plant," says Lalicata. It's low light tolerant and doesn't usually have a lot of cultural issues, like diseases or pests, she adds.

It's also drought tolerant. "This is another plant that likes to dry out between waterings, so [you might water it] every week to every 10 to 14 days, depending on its size and the conditions present," says Lalicata. That said, the Chinese evergreen is toxic, "so definitely something you don't want your pets or children chewing on," warns Lalicata.

Dracaena Marginata

These minature trees are super hardy and easygoing. "People like them because they can tolerate lower light and are pretty drought tolerant," says Lalicata. They're a good air purifier, too.

Nevertheless, while it can manage with low light, the dracaena thrives in brighter light. That's because "the more mature [the] foliage and larger a plant is, the more light it'll need to retain," Lalicata says. "Larger specimens would always thrive in bright light, but they can tolerate more medium to indirect light if needed." BTW, make sure to water these plants once the soil is completely dried out, so approximately every seven to 10 days.

This pick can be toxic to pets, so if you have a furry little loved one at home, skip it.

Coffee Plant

"Some people like to grow coffee plants to get their own berries and beans, but it’s not really possible if you grow it as a houseplant," Lalicata says. Okay, it may not replace your daily coffee run, but this gorgeous plant still smells heavenly.

That said, if you're the type who tends to forget about their plants for a few days, you might want to skip this one. "Coffee plants can be a bit particular about their care," says Lalicata. "They don't do well in low light, otherwise they'll start to drop their leaves." Bright, indirect light is preferred. As for watering, they can dry out quickly, so make sure you're watering it regularly—once the soil is 50 percent dry to be exact!

And these fragrant plants are super toxic, so be sure to keep them away from pets and children, Lalicata advises.

Parlor Palm

You’ll feel like you’re in your very own tropical paradise when you buy a Parlor Palm. And since you only need to water it once every couple of weeks, you can easily take care of it in between flights out to the tropics.

Fun fact: Parlor palms are one of the most prized palms and have been popular since the Victorian era, according to Lalicata. "They even won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit for its resilience and reliable habit." So, yeah, this plant fit for royalty is worth getting your hands on.

While they're pretty tall (about three to four feet high at full stature), they're slow growing so you don't have to worry about your palm outgrowing your space, Lalicata says. As a tropical plant, they thrive in bright light and high humidity, but can survive in lower light and room temperature.

It's worth noting that palms are susceptible to pests, such as spider mites, so keep an eye out for silvery webs on the leaves as "it could be early signs of spider mite damage," says Lalicata. On the plus side, these show-stopping plants are pet-friendly.

Christmas Cactus

Looking for a plant that thrives on neglect and has fun colors that go above and beyond regular old green? The Christmas Cactus from the Schlumbergera family is your best bet.

This family of cacti is prized for their flowers, Lalicata says: "They add a pop of color during the holidays with their beautiful, long-lasting blooms."

As a jungle cacti, they do tend to trail, making it a gorgeous addition to a hanging basket or table setting, she adds. They also don't prefer strong, direct sunlight as much and thrive in higher humidity. When it comes to care, "usually medium to bright, indirect light will work," and you should water your cactus once 50 percent of the soil is dry, Lalicata says.

In addition to being the prettiest indoor plant ever (I said what I said), the Christmas Cactus is pet-friendly.

Ponytail Palm

With its funky, tendril-like leaves and resilience in the face of drought, this fountain-like plant is a fun addition to any home. (Cats particularly like to chew on and play with its dangling leaves.)

PSA: While the Ponytail Palm has the look of a palm, it's not a true palm, says Lalicata. Nevertheless, this palm-like plant is equally hardy and low maintenance. "Its swollen trunk helps it retain moisture, especially in times of drought in its native environment." In other words, you can go a few weeks without watering it, and it will be a-okay. And while it thrives in higher humidity and bright light, it can survive in your mostly dark studio apartment.

Fiddle Leaf Fig

If Lalicata is being honest, the fiddle leaf fig isn't the best indoor plant option. It's "very finicky," she says. "They don’t like to be moved around a lot. They don’t like fluctuating conditions. If you find a good spot for your fiddle leaf fig, you might as well just leave it there." To add fuel to the fire, these pesky plants are also not pet-friendly and are susceptible to pests, like spider mites.

Nonetheless, people love it because of it's fiddle-shaped leaves, which are aesthetically-pleasing, especially when the plant is in tree form, according to Lalicata.

To ensure your high-maintenance fiddle leaf fig thrives in your home, be sure to give it bright, indirect to direct sunlight. For watering, you can rehydrate your plant when the soil is mostly or completely dry to the touch, says Lalicata.

Peace Lily

If you have experience keeping indoor plants alive (congrats!), it may be time to add a peace lily to your houseplant mix.

"A lot of people like [peace lilies] because they grow these beautiful little white flowers," says Lalicata. And for a flowering plant, they're pretty low maintenance. They can tolerate low light and normal, room temperature humidity, says Lalicata. But they thrive in bright, indirect light and high humidity conditions. These plant babies also love to stay hydrated, so be sure to water them at least once a week or every other day if the climate is especially dry.

While they are beautiful, peace lilies are toxic to pets, so be sure to keep them away from your furry pals.

Snake Plant

Tend to kill any flowers your friends buy you within a couple of days? Meet the snake plant, a perfect option for plant parent newbies.

"Snake plants are very low maintenance and also release oxygen at night, so it could be a good bedroom plant," Lalicata says. They're also super adaptable when it comes to lighting conditions. "A lot of people don't know, but snake plants can actually thrive in bright light to full sunlight conditions if they're acclimated to it," says Lalicata. But if you're not blessed with a large window, snake plants also tolerate low light extremely well. In other words, they can thrive in all different kinds of light levels.

They're also known for surviving droughts. "Most people can go two to three, or even four, weeks without watering it," says Lalicata. The only caveat: Snake plants aren't pet-friendly.

Monstera Deliciosa

You've probably seen a lot of these trendy monstera deliciosa (say that three times fast!) plants all over Insta and at your "it-girl" friend's apartment. They just give off stylish vibes.

A great air purifier, low light and drought tolerant, the monstera deliciosa is perfect for anyone who wants to make a statement with their indoor plants. To make sure your plant stays looking pristine for years to come, be sure to give it enough bright, indirect light to morning, direct sunlight. And water when the soil is completely dry as these plants do not like wet feet, according to Lalicata.

Fun fact: "The reason why it’s called deliciosa is because it does produce this edible fruit when it’s ripe that tastes kind of like pineapple," says Lalicata. But sadly your indoor monstera probably won't yield any goodies. Moreover, while the ripe fruit is safe for consumption, when it's unripe, it can actually be toxic. Don't say I didn't warn ya.

Money Tree

Popular in Feng Shui, the money tree is a great air-purifying and low maintenance plant, says Lalicata. Plus, it's pet-friendly.

"They don’t like low light, so medium to bright light to even a couple hours of direct sun would be ideal," says Lalicata. You'll want to water this plant when the soil is completely dry. And while normal, room temperature humidity is okay, as a tropical plant, it does thrive better in higher humidity, Lalicata notes.

A fun fact about money trees? They're said to bring good luck and fortune, says Lalicata.

How can plants aid your health?

Not only can plants bring happy decor to a home, but caring for them can have both mental and physical benefits. "In a past study, those who remained in spaces with plants were able to increase productivity and focus time, while also decreasing the amount of depressive symptoms from anxiety disorders," Pangborn says.

For example, horticultural therapy uses plants to help people establish a routine and grow a connection with their plants, she adds. This connection can help people boost their mood, improve socializing, and other mental health benefits. Just think about how good you feel once your plant sprouts or grows bigger!

Air-purifying plants can also aid physical health. "In a past NASA study, some plants, including Sansevierias or 'snake plants,' were able to absorb toxins like formaldehyde and benzene to reduce the amount of air pollutants in indoor spaces," Pangborn explains. Following absorption, snake plants can then release oxygen and increase moisture levels in the air within homes. Other air-purifying plants include peace lilies and the Chinese evergreen.

How We Chose The Best Indoor Plants

Women's Health editors Lindsay Geller, and Jasmine Gomez, as well as freelance writer Noemie Gokhool, vetted the best-selling, top-rated indoor plants available to shop online. Our team also consulted gardening and horticulture experts Lindsay Pangborn and Paris Lalicata.

Shop more of the best plant products

Perennial Flowers | Fake Plants | Air-purifying Plants | Indoor Flowering Plants | Tall Plants

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