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
Two alligators bang on a door at a Florida home and social media is going crazy

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

The Tragic and Inspiring Story of WNBA Coach Dawn Staley

The Tragic and Inspiring Story of WNBA Coach Dawn Staley

From losing both of her parents to suffering her own personal tragedies on and off the court, it’s time we get to know more about Staley. Here’s your reintroduction! …
Everything You Need To Know About Fredi Washington, The Black Hollywood Star Who Refused To Pass As White

Everything You Need To Know About Fredi Washington, The Black Hollywood Star Who Refused To Pass As White

Here’s everything you need to know about Fredi Washington, the Black woman who refused to pass as White in a time when it would’ve benefited her …
Zendaya's Character in 'The Drama' Was Bad, But We Need to Talk About the Real Villain

Zendaya’s Character in ‘The Drama’ Was Bad, But We Need to Talk About the Real Villain

There’s a lot of rightful online chatter about Zendaya’s character in her latest movie. But there’s an even bigger person we need to talk about! …
Could This Black Man Flip the House Seat Left Vacant by Marjorie Taylor Greene?

Could This Black Man Flip the House Seat Left Vacant by Marjorie Taylor Greene?

Here’s everything to know about Shawn Harris, the Democratic candidate in Georgia aiming to fill Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s House seat …
DaBaby Goes Off on Fan for Painting His Kids, His Reaction Has The Internet Divided

DaBaby Goes Off on Fan for Painting His Kids, His Reaction Has The Internet Divided

Rapper DaBaby is making news for how he responded to a fan who painted a picture of his daughters. Let’s get into it …
Terry Crews' Wife Reveals Shocking Health Diagnosis

Terry Crews’ Wife Reveals Shocking Health Diagnosis

Rebecca Crews, the longtime wife of actor Terry Crews, is opening up like never before about her health. And it’s something nobody saw coming …
Trick Daddy Defends His Music After Performance at AKA Event is Cut Short

Trick Daddy Defends His Music After Performance at AKA Event is Cut Short

The room was filled with AKAs of all generations. So when Young began performing his hit songs like “I’m a Thug,” many were caught off guard …
Why Black Folks Are Side-Eyeing Jonathan Majors’ New DEI-hating Boss More Than His Set Accident

Why Black Folks Are Side-Eyeing Jonathan Majors’ New DEI-hating Boss More Than His Set Accident

Jonathan Majors’ falls out of window while filming action movie with Daily Wire, causing crew members to walk off set …
Why Black People Dress up On Easter

Why Black People Dress up On Easter

While Easter is dedicated to serving the Lord, it’s also been a time for Black people to serve looks while honoring the ancestors …
The GOP is Losing its Black Voices as Trump Fails to Turn Endorsements into Black Votes

The GOP is Losing its Black Voices as Trump Fails to Turn Endorsements into Black Votes

MAGA is obsessed with advertising Black conservative candidates… but rarely do these Black GOP leaders get support they need to reach Black voters …
The African Pope Behind Easter That You Never Heard of

The African Pope Behind Easter That You Never Heard of

African-born Pope Victor I (c. 189–199 AD) pushed for Easter to be celebrated on Sundays and shaped early Christian practices, leaving a legacy that still shows up in how we honor the holiday today …
LeBron James' Comments About Memphis Have Some Calling Him a Culture Vulture

LeBron James’ Comments About Memphis Have Some Calling Him a Culture Vulture

NBA superstar LeBron James made it plain that he’d rather not have to spend a night in Memphis when he’s on the road. But his comments have garnered a strong reaction online …
Why A League of Voting Rights Group Are Challenging Trump's Latest Executive Order on Mail-in Ballots

Why A League of Voting Rights Group Are Challenging Trump’s Latest Executive Order on Mail-in Ballots

A coalition of voting rights groups is challenging President Donald Trump’s executive order regarding mail-in ballots …
The Easter Speech Is The Original Masterclass of Black Excellence

The Easter Speech Is The Original Masterclass of Black Excellence

Long before they became icons, voices like Martin Luther King Jr. and Oprah Winfrey were shaped in the Black church, where generations of children found their first stage and audience through the Easter speech …
Dawn Staley's Dominant Win Brought Out  Geno Auriemma's White Male Privilege

Dawn Staley’s Dominant Win Brought Out Geno Auriemma’s White Male Privilege

The UConn Huskies’ coach tried to ruin Staley’s moment after the South Carolina Gamecocks incredible victory …
Three Black Easter Fashions That Need to Be Laid to Rest

Three Black Easter Fashions That Need to Be Laid to Rest

A professor gives a loving critique of church hats, loud suits, tired traditions, and why that little boy deserves better …
Dr. King's Favorite Pastime and More Little Known Facts on the Anniversary of His Murder

Dr. King’s Favorite Pastime and More Little Known Facts on the Anniversary of His Murder

Fifty-eight years after Dr. King was killed, let’s take a closer look at little known facts about the life and legacy of one of the most famous men in history …
Keke Palmer Finally Speaks On That Shocking SXSW Proposal

Keke Palmer Finally Speaks On That Shocking SXSW Proposal

Keke Palmer is opening up about that shocking and scary impromptu proposal she received at SXSW. But her experience and explanation is sadly one that most women are familiar with …
Anti-Affirmative Action Groups are Now Coming for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Scholarships

Anti-Affirmative Action Groups are Now Coming for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Scholarships

An anti-affirmative action organization has filed a lawsuit against Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s scholarships aimed at helping disenfranchised Black students …
Michael Jackson's Legal History Ahead of the New Movie

Michael Jackson’s Legal History Ahead of the New Movie

Ahead of his biopic, we’re laying out a full timeline of the allegations and legal drama surrounding the King of Pop …