Houseplants liven up any space, and if you have enough of them, they can keep bugs away and improve the air quality in your kitchen, bedroom or office. Potted plants can be a joy to grow and care for, but if you choose the wrong species, keeping them alive can become a chore.
You'll do better with plants that are low maintenance and don't require hours of direct sunlight. Some houseplants are harder to kill than others, while others are better at purifying the air. In other words, some plants are better suited than others, especially if you don't have a lot of time or energy to devote to greening your home.
Whether you have limited natural light, a busy schedule, or need to purify the air, there are plenty of plants to meet your needs. (Be sure to check out where to place your plants to help them last longer, as well as these 10 frost-hardy plants that can survive winter outdoors.)
Air purifying plants
Researchers at the University of Washington have genetically engineered the common houseplant, the pothos, so that it can remove chloroform and benzene from the air around it.
Mark Stone/University of Washington
Several studies have proven that certain plants can absorb polluting organic compounds, such as formaldehyde and benzene, through their leaves and roots. This absorption purifies the air around the plant.
A NASA study highlighted some plants that are great at cleaning the air around you: If you want to breathe easier but don't want to buy an air purifier, choose one of these plants that will improve your indoor air quality.
Marble Queen Pothos or Devil's Ivy (Epipremnum aureum)
Marble Queen Pothos, like other house plants, purifies the air.
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Devil's Ivy, also known as Golden Pothos, is an excellent air-purifying plant, known for filtering out harmful VOCs like formaldehyde, benzene, and toluene. It's especially great for people who have a hard time killing plants: Pothos is nearly impossible to kill (hence its devilish nickname) and only needs watering once every 7-10 days.
Pothos is such a powerful purifier that biotech startup Neoplants is using it in a microbiome-infused air-purifying system that turns your ordinary houseplant into an air purifier that removes the same amount of toxins as 30 plants.
On the downside, Marble Queen Pothos is not very pet-friendly and contains toxins that can be harmful to your four-legged friends if ingested.
Spathiphyllum (Spathiphyllum)
Peace lilies do well in homes that don't get much direct sunlight.
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Named for its white flowers that resemble surrender flags, these beautiful flowers remove formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide from the air around them. Peace lilies grow up to 16 inches tall and don't require direct sunlight, but they do require regular watering.
English Ivy (Hedera helix)
English ivy can reduce the amount of feces in the air in your home.
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According to a NASA study, English ivy is the perfect plant to grow indoors if you want its air-purifying abilities.
English ivy can absorb formaldehyde found in some household cleaners and reduce the amount of feces in the air, but it should be kept out of reach of pets as it can be toxic if ingested.
Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)
Gerberas add color and are great for purifying the air.
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These bright, colorful flowers have the ability to absorb pollutants, filtering out trichloroethylene and benzene, chemicals found in detergents and solvents. Gerberas need plenty of direct sunlight, so place them in a bright location and water them frequently.
Plants that don't need much light
Just because you live in a space with limited natural light doesn't mean you can't enjoy plants inside your home. These shade-loving varieties are perfect for homes with especially little sun.
Sansevieria (Sansevieria trifasciata)
Sansevieria, unlike most other plant species, releases oxygen at night.
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Named for its long, straight leaves, this highly tolerant plant can survive without direct sunlight and frequent watering. Easy to grow, it grows up to 12 inches tall.
Unlike most plants that release oxygen during the day, Sansevieria releases oxygen at night, which makes it a great plant for your bedroom and can help improve the quality of your sleep.
Moth orchid (Phalaenopsis Bloom)
These flowers will continue to bloom for up to four months even in low light conditions.
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This exotic looking flower is very easy to grow – it doesn't require direct sunlight and you just need to allow the soil to dry out between watering, which means you don't have to water it very often.
These plants come in two standard sizes: varieties under 12 inches tall and varieties between 18 and 24 inches tall. Phalaenopsis flowers last for up to four months and are ideal for low light locations.
Golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
In the wild, golden pothos can grow up to 40 feet in length.
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This strong-willed vine can survive in adequate lighting conditions indoors, and in the jungle it can grow up to 40 feet in length, but it probably thrives better hanging or potted inside the home.
Golden pothos doesn't need a lot of light, preferring partial shade. It's very hardy and makes a bright, cheerful addition to any room.
Plants that don't require much watering
Let's be honest, keeping anything alive is a time-consuming responsibility. Sometimes you forget to water your plants. Don't worry, we'll help you!
If you forget to water your plants for a few days or go on vacation, these plants will forgive you and can tolerate a few days, even a week, without suffering any harm.
Chlorophytum comosum
Spider web plants do not need to be watered frequently.
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The sprawling spider web plant rarely needs water — in fact, thanks to its nutrient-storing tubular roots, it can survive without water for a week or more — but when the tips of the leaves start to turn brown, it's time to water it.
The best way to store and display a spider web plant is in a hanging basket or tall planter with the long leaves hanging down over the sides. As for light, spider web plants prefer indirect light that is not too bright nor complete shade.
ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
Thick, waxy leaves help ZZ plants conserve water.
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This tongue-twisting plant is nearly indestructible; it can tolerate a wide variety of lighting conditions and even live without water for long periods of time. The bright green leaves are thick and waxy, which helps it conserve moisture. Overwatering may be this plant's biggest enemy.
It is also important to keep the leaves free of dust. Wiping them down occasionally with a damp cloth or paper towel will go a long way in keeping your ZZ Plant healthy. It is perfect for indoor spaces and is also a great plant for travelers.
Succulent family (Echeveria)
Succulents require very little watering.
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Succulents have become very popular in interior design recently, and are used as accent pieces in desks, kitchens, and everywhere else. Succulents need a fair amount of natural light (most plants prefer direct sunlight), but they don't need much water.
As with ZZ plants, overwatering is more dangerous than underwatering. There are dozens of varieties of succulents in a variety of beautiful colors, shapes and sizes.
Even if gardening isn't your forte, these indoor plants will not only do well in the climate of your home, but they'll also improve the environment and look great.
For more gardening and plant tips, read up on how to grow your own vegetables and how to change the color of your hydrangeas.