When it comes to choosing plants you have a difficult decision to make. The action you take will depend on your experience with plants. You can opt for plants that are beautiful but require a lot of maintenance, or you can choose other plants that may not be as beautiful but will be hardy. This means they will survive even when you forget to water them or feed them.
Getting unkillable plants is definitely the best idea for anyone new to gardening and plant keeping. They are much more forgiving and likely to be alive when you have been away for a few days or simply forgotten them.
Here are some of the best ones to get started with:
Chinese Evergreen
The Chinese Evergreen is surprisingly tolerant to low light levels. It is also happy to be forgotten about as long as you water it occasionally. In fact, the key to keeping this alive is to make sure it doesn’t sit in water for extended periods. That means just watering it once a week works perfectly.
Moth Orchid
Orchids are generally perceived as being difficult to grow. However, you may be surprised by how easy it is to look after a moth orchid, and how low maintenance it is.
This plant prefers medium to bright light. But, it will still do well in low-level lighting. It actually prefers to be drier and will be happy to be water occasionally.
Ponytail Palm
The Ponytail palm is the perfect choice if you like to have the central heating up high during the winter months. It can handle the dry atmosphere and doesn’t need to be watered often. In fact, it has a thick trunk that allows it to store water for extended periods and survive even in a drought.
Wcedmisten, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Maidenhair fern
Ferns are always a good option as they don’t like bright sunshine. In fact, if they have too much sunshine their leaves will be bleached, ruining the plant. That said, they do like damp soil, it is best to water them several times a week.
Moss Terrarium
If you are still not sure about taking on a standard plant then the moss terrarium is a great option for you to learn and grow as a gardener. In effect the terrarium is a miniature greenhouse, allowing the light in and the heat to build up. Condensation also provides water, effectively making this a self-contained option that looks after itself.
Plantlover93, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Jade Plants
The jade plant is very good at coping with the hot radiator air throughout the winter months and dealing with the dryer inside climate. It does appreciate a little fresh air, making the perfect position for this plant near an open window in a centrally heated home.
Of course, the fact that it is evergreen means that it will look great throughout the winter.
As with most things in life, the real secret is to use a little trial and error. This will help you locate the perfect plant for your home.