Blue Star Fern
Pros
Fast-growingCons
Needs a lot of humidity
Water: Once a week
Boasting expansive, T-shaped leaves, the blue star fern is an excellent choice for plant parents looking for a new challenge. While this variety is low-light friendly, it needs a lot of moisture and humidity to stay happy. Digital editor Kate McGregor noticed that misting every day or grouping her fern with other houseplants helped tremendously and kept leaves from drying out.
Stromanthe Triostar
ProsEasy to care forAir purifyingConsProne to root rot
Water: Every two weeks or so
In shades of white, pink, and green, this colorful specimen has large, variegated leaves. We love this low-light houseplant for its minimal water and light requirements, which make it the ideal choice for houseplant beginners. Plant in a container slightly larger than its nursery pot to allow the roots to spread out.
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Tiny White Arrowhead Plant
ProsUnique leavesConsNeeds occasional pruning
Water: Every 10 days or when soil is dry.
Named for its angular leaves with white centers, the arrowhead plant is relatively low-maintenance. It thrives best in indirect light with plenty of moisture, and we recommend misting this plant once a day in addition to watering to keep it happy and healthy.
Calathea Musaica
ProsLarge, glossy leavesConsHigh-maintenance water routine
Water: Once a week with distilled water (or tap water that has sat out overnight)
With leaves that open and close with the sun’s rise and fall, calathea musaica thrives with plenty of indirect light. Ideal for sitting far from the window (or on a north-facing windowsill), this plant prefers distilled water and lots of humidity to prevent the leaves from scorching.
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Begonia Rex
ProsThrives in bright, indirect sunlightConsProne to root rot
Water: When the soil is dry, or about once a week
A begonia rex plant is an unexpected way to bring color into your indoor garden scheme. This low-light indoor plant loves bright, indirect sunlight, but know that direct sunlight will scald the leaves. It thrives in room-temperature conditions (around 70 degrees) and prefers humid environments, especially in the cooler months.
How to Care for a Begonia Rex Plant
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Philodendron Prince of Orange
ProsBeautiful coloringGreat for north-facing windowsConsToxic to animals
Water: Every 10 days to two weeks
This type of philodendron has leaves that mimic the colors of a stunning sunset, and as it ages, they’ll slowly transform into a rich green or copper hue. Best for indirect light or north-facing windowsills, you’ll know if this low-light houseplant needs more sun if new leaves are growing without colorful pigmentation.
How to Grow and Care for a Philodendron Plant
Aglaonema Wishes
ProsThrives in bright, indirect lightConsToxic to cats, dogs, and horses
Water: Once every seven to 10 days
Since this is one of the most durable indoor plants out there—it does well in low light and needs to be fertilized only once or twice a year—it’s ideal for beginner gardeners. In fact, these plants don’t even need natural light to grow; they’ll survive just as well under artificial light. They also do best in dry air, so this is one plant you may not want to display in your bathroom. Sadly, the aglaonema is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses, so keep it away from your pets.
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Bromeliad
ProsPlanted in premium soil with fertilizerNontoxic to petsConsMother plant will decline because it grows from bottom
Water: When the soil is dry, or about once a week
This low-light indoor plant can actually survive on fluorescent light alone and thrives in humid locations, like bathrooms. That’s not why we love bromeliads, though. They can grow on the ground, on rocks, or other plants and trees. How cool is that? They’re also nontoxic to cats and dogs, making them one of our favorite plants around.
10 Best Types of Bromeliads to Grow
Baby Rubber Plant
ProsProduces flowersPet-friendly ConsMust rotate for even growth
Water: Once a week
This low-light indoor plant holds a secret: It’ll bloom green flower spikes and white flowers throughout the spring. Just be sure to keep it out of bright, direct light, as too much light will cause the leaves to scorch and burn. This is a tropical plant, so the warmer (and less drafty) your environment, the better.
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Hoya Pubicalyx Splash Vining Plant
ProsLow maintenanceConsToxic to animals
Water: Once a week to every 10 days
Whereas most houseplants require ample sunlight to thrive, this Hoya variety prefers high humidity instead. Group it with your other houseplants or place it on a tray filled with water and pebbles to keep it moist. Use plant food or fertilizer once a month to encourage strong new leaves.
English Ivy
ProsTrailing vinesAir purifyingConsCan become overgrown without maintenance
Water: Once a week
Ideal for bathrooms and other high-humidity environments, English ivy is a low-maintenance plant that doesn’t require bright sunlight to thrive. Because this plant grows wild and fast, we recommend placing it in a hanging planter or using vine supports to help guide the new growth.
15 Indoor Climbing Plants to Make Your Home Look Lush
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Pothos ‘N’joy’
ProsUnique coloringTrailing vinesConsNeeds more frequent watering
Water: Once or twice a week
With stunning variegated leaves and trailing vines, this pothos variety is a great way to break up the many shades of green in your houseplant collection. Provide this low-light indoor plant with indirect sunlight and hang it up high to let the vines really show off.
How to Grow and Care for Pothos Plants
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Snake Plant ‘Black Coral’
ProsNeeds water only once a month or soDrought-tolerantConsToxic to pets
Water: Every two to three weeks, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings
House Beautiful associate editor Jessica Cherner got a snake plant back in July 2020, and it’s still thriving. “I got a plant because I wanted to add a little bit of color and life to my apartment, but I didn’t want to spend more than a few minutes here and there taking care of it,” she says. “I literally water it every six to eight weeks, and that’s more than enough.”
How to Care for a Snake Plant
Rabbit Foot Fern
ProsSafe for petsGreat for plant beginnersConsDirect light will burn the leaves
Water: Once a week
With fronds that resemble the shape of a rabbit’s foot (a well-known good-luck charm), the rabbit foot fern thrives in indirect light with plenty of humidity. If you have a window in your bathroom, that’s the ideal spot for this low-light indoor plant, but be sure to keep it off the windowsill since direct sun will scald its leaves.
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Neon Prayer Plant
ProsPet-friendlyImproves air qualityConsEasy to overwater
Water: Every two weeks or when the top quarter of soil is dry
Available in a variety of sizes, the prayer plant is named for its leaves that open and close as the sun rises and sets. While the changing leaves may seem finicky, this resilient, low-light houseplant is surprisingly easy to care for. Plus, it acts as a natural air purifier.
Parlor Palm
ProsLow-maintenance watering schedulePet-friendlyConsNeeds lots of humidity
Water: Every one to two weeks
This low-light houseplant, also known as the Victorian parlor palm, is famously resilient. Plus, who wouldn’t love those pretty, feathery leaves that liven up any bland corner of your home? It does well in medium light but can survive in lower light areas as well. Though this palm likes humidity and extra moisture, you can water it sparingly. It’s also nontoxic for your cats and dogs.
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5-Stem Lucky Bamboo
ProsPurifies the airConsToxic to pets
Water: Once a week
Said to bring good luck and fortune, lucky bamboo plants crave some light but can fully thrive in shady areas. Its best feature, however, is its ability to remove benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde from the air while also acting as a natural humidifier. Just know that this low-light indoor plant is toxic to cats and dogs.
Braided Benjamina Ficus Tree
ProsArrives up to three feet tallThrives in bright, indirect lightConsToxic to pets
Water: Two to three times a week
This quick-growing tree adds life to any room in the house. Place it in a deep planter filled with well-draining soil, and give it a big drink when the top several inches of soil are dry. It does well in indirect light, so instead of placing it by a window, opt for a corner that gets plenty of diffuse light. The ficus tree is toxic to cats and dogs.
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