The Best Low-Maintenance Houseplants to Spruce up Your Space

You don’t have to have a green thumb to have a gorgeous indoor garden

If you’re looking to breathe some life into your home, houseplants can be one of the easiest and least expensive ways to decorate. Besides making your home look amazing, plants can make you feel great too by reducing your stress level and improving your mood. And if that’s not enough to make you want to go out and get some greenery, having plants in your workspace can also help you crush those impossible deadlines. Studies have shown that plants can improve your concentration and productivity by up to 15 percent.

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
Why Black-Owned Businesses Face Bigger Risks in a Global Trade War

But if you’ve avoided starting an indoor garden because you’re afraid it wouldn’t survive, you may want to reconsider. You don’t necessarily need to have a green thumb to have houseplants that thrive in your home. We’ve rounded up some of the best fool-proof plants that can survive in your home with nothing more than a little bit of love and light.

Aloe Plant

Photo: Shutterstock Tanya NZ

The aloe plant is one of my personal favorites. It’s a member of the succulent family, which means that it doesn’t need daily watering. In fact, you should only water your aloe plant when the soil is completely dry, which could mean every two to three weeks. Besides brightening up your space, the sap inside the aloe plant is a great skin moisturizer and the perfect at-home remedy for healing cuts and soothing sunburn. With a little love, your aloe plant could thrive in your home for years to come.

Spider Plant

Photo: Shutterstock dropStock

The spider plant is one of the easiest plants to care for, which makes it perfect for new plant parents. They make beautiful hanging plants because the long stems grow downward. The stems also grow plantlets that can be pruned and shared with friends or repotted and used in other spaces of your home. When it comes to watering your spider plant, allow them time to dry out a bit between waterings. Overwatering can cause the roots to rot. If you notice that the roots become exposed, you will need to repot your plant.

ZZ Plant

Photo: Shutterstock Stephanie Pomerenke

The ZZ stands for Zamioculcas zamiifolia, but I like to think it could also mean that you can take care of this plant in your sleep. The ZZ plant is native to Eastern Africa and has grown in popularity due to its ability to survive in a wide range of conditions. The shiny, oval-shaped leaves look like feathers and tend to grow upwards. When you bring a ZZ into your home, keep it out of extreme direct sunlight. They thrive in medium to bright indirect light instead, which makes them perfect to keep in the bathroom. You can get away with watering it every two or three weeks, to allow the soil time to dry out. Just be careful if you live in a home with pets or small children. ZZ plants can be irritating to cats, dogs and humans if the foliage is consumed.

Cast Iron Plant

Photo: Shutterstock mizy

The cast iron plant earned its name because it is one tough plant that’s hard to kill. Their green leaves can grow up to two feet long and four inches wide. It survives best in low light, so if you’re keeping one as a houseplant, keep it away from windows where it will get intense direct sun. You may have to fight off pests, including mites and scale. But by rinsing the foliage, you can keep the problem under control.

Snake Plant

Photo: Shutterstock Aquarius Studio

I bought a snake plant at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and two years later, it is still going strong. In fact, I’ve been able to separate it into multiple pots that are thriving on their own. Snake plants don’t need much light, so they can survive in practically any corner of your home. These plants with thick, waxy leaves prefer being left alone. You can keep watering to a minimum because too much will make your snake plant rot.

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Latest from The Root

All the Fly Fashions Fans Are Popping Out With to See New Michael Jackson Movie

All the Fly Fashions Fans Are Popping Out With to See New Michael Jackson Movie

Fans are showing up and showing all the way out to go see the new Michael Jackson movie. But if you don’t know what to wear, don’t worry—we got you! …
From the 'Red Record' to the iPhone: 15 Times Journalism Saved Black Lives

From the ‘Red Record’ to the iPhone: 15 Times Journalism Saved Black Lives

Take a look at the investigative work that has and continues to shape the Black experience in this country …
How Ryan Clark Went From NFL Star to Media Mogul

How Ryan Clark Went From NFL Star to Media Mogul

The Emmy-winning analyst is bridging the gap between authenticity and expert analysis, one viral conversation at a time …
Can Democrats Flip Senate From Republicans? The Four Key Seats They Need

Can Democrats Flip Senate From Republicans? The Four Key Seats They Need

Democrats haven’t had a clear majority in the U.S. Senate in years… but now, a perfect storm is brewing which would finally put them at an advantage …
Brian McKnight Stirs Up New Drama With Son, and Fans Are Fed Up

Brian McKnight Stirs Up New Drama With Son, and Fans Are Fed Up

Drama is still brewing between Brian McKnight and his oldest son, and the singer’s latest lawsuit has outraged the internet. Here’s what we know …
Exclusive: ACLU Animator Dishes on New Series That Educates Kids on Their Constitutional Rights

Exclusive: ACLU Animator Dishes on New Series That Educates Kids on Their Constitutional Rights

After launching “Know Your Rights University” with the ACLU, Black animator Brandon Lake spoke with us about what it took to get to this point …
The Gut-Wrenching Crisis of Deed Theft in New York, Snatching Black Families from the Homes They’ve Owned for Generations

The Gut-Wrenching Crisis of Deed Theft in New York, Snatching Black Families from the Homes They’ve Owned for Generations

Long-standing Black homeowners in Brooklyn are being targeted by deed theft scams that have led to the loss of their most valuable asset …
This 82-Year-Old Black Fitness Influencer's Workout Routine Will Shock You

This 82-Year-Old Black Fitness Influencer’s Workout Routine Will Shock You

82-year-old fitness influencer Annie Judis is motivating folks to stay healthy with her impressive workout routine …
Who Is D4vd? The Texas Singer Being Investigated for Murder

Who Is D4vd? The Texas Singer Being Investigated for Murder

D4vd has been arrested in connection with the death of Celeste Rivas. Now, we’re catching you up on everything that led to his arrest …
With Virginia Redistricting Win, Democrats Are Playing Hardball, and They May Have One Black State Senator to Thank

With Virginia Redistricting Win, Democrats Are Playing Hardball, and They May Have One Black State Senator to Thank

Twenty-five years after Republicans redrew Virginia voting maps to shut out a Black female senator, it seems the Democrats are back with a vengeance in 2026 …
Black Woman Changes Her Race on Hinge and the Results Reveal a Startling Truth

Black Woman Changes Her Race on Hinge and the Results Reveal a Startling Truth

If you’re a Black woman failing to get matches on dating apps, it might be because the apps algorithm is hiding your profile …
Solange Debuts New Shaved Hairstyle, But You'll Never Guess How Mom Tina Knowles Responds

Solange Debuts New Shaved Hairstyle, But You’ll Never Guess How Mom Tina Knowles Responds

Solange has never shied away from trying new styles and new looks. And this time around, her mother Tina is sharing some interesting insight about her latest choice! …
Expert: Abuse Rarely Starts With Bruises—Here’s How to Recognize It and Leave Safely

Expert: Abuse Rarely Starts With Bruises—Here’s How to Recognize It and Leave Safely

We spoke with a gender-based violence prevention expert about how abuse starts long before violence becomes visible. She outlines early warning signs and steps for safely leaving …
New Development in Rihanna Home Shooting Suspect—And Things Aren't Looking Good

New Development in Rihanna Home Shooting Suspect—And Things Aren’t Looking Good

Things are steadily going on a downward spiral for Ivana Ortiz, the woman accused of shooting Rihanna’s LA home in March. Here’s the latest …
Exclusive: Scott Evans Breaks Down How He Created a Safe Space For Black Stars on His Viral YouTube Series

Exclusive: Scott Evans Breaks Down How He Created a Safe Space For Black Stars on His Viral YouTube Series

In an exclusive interview, Scott Evans details his journey as an influential Black media figure and his ultimate duty to the Black community …
Why You Should Not Listen To The Critics Of Michael

Why You Should Not Listen To The Critics Of Michael

Critics are arguing with a movie that was never trying to be what they wanted …
Black Woman Chased by Zara Employees Speaks Out After Viral Mall Incident

Black Woman Chased by Zara Employees Speaks Out After Viral Mall Incident

“Shopping while Black” strikes again after a Black woman went viral being chased out of a Zara store for alleged theft, which police later determined was baseless …
Janet Jackson Responds to Teyana Taylor's Recreation of One of Her Iconic '90s Looks

Janet Jackson Responds to Teyana Taylor’s Recreation of One of Her Iconic ’90s Looks

Teyana Taylor has paid homage to Janet Jackson before, but this time around she’s recreating yet another iconic look! And now Janet herself and fans all over are speaking out about it …
How Trump’s Budget Cuts Are Directly Linked to Hundreds of Thousands of Preventable Deaths

How Trump’s Budget Cuts Are Directly Linked to Hundreds of Thousands of Preventable Deaths

16.5 million uninsured. Toxic air. Global famine. The high price of Trump’s 2026 budget is paid in American lives— and its only getting worse …
Popular Civil Rights Nonprofit’s Shocking Connections to the Ku Klux Klan Alleged in DOJ Indictment

Popular Civil Rights Nonprofit’s Shocking Connections to the Ku Klux Klan Alleged in DOJ Indictment

After the FBI severed ties with Southern Poverty Law Center in October, an 11-count indictment against the civil rights nonprofit is now raising serious alarms …