Ok, I just got myself the best indoor plants for beginners – or at least what I think the best indoor plants for beginners are!
Look, I admittedly am a terrible gardener but over the last few months, I somehow got it into my head that maybe I could take care of houseplants – again. I just love the life and greenery it brings into my spaces and a little voice in my head started telling me that maybe my luck had changed and maybe, just maybe this time, I can keep my plant babies alive.
Now it could have been the various houseplant Facebook support groups I joined or maybe it was that with no long vacations in the foreseeable future, I thought I could do it.
It must also be that I just recently purchased a Meyer Lemon plant for my husband's birthday and so far, it's been several months and though it's has caused me quite a bit of anxiety and stress over the winter – she's still here and doing well – yay me!!!
So whatever the case may be, whether it's being more attentive or having more time, I decided now was the time to go for it!
So below is some of my list here may not be the easiest plants to take care of, but I do think they are quite low maintenance.
Shamrock Plant (Oxalis Regnellii)
Picked up this little beauty for my Irish lads close to St. Patrick's Day. Yes, a little commercial I know to have picked it up when I did, but it was the first time I saw one and I fell in love.
This beautiful plant with its white flowers opens up along its central vein with the sun and closes when the sun goes down. I have taken to saying good morning to it, and goodnight to it every day.
Care Instructions: This plant needs bright but not direct light. Apparently, it also goes dormant during the winter for 3 months or so, so expect it to look like it's died, just put it in a dark corner and wait until it starts to bloom again (it's a perennial).
It needs its soil moist but water sparingly. I have noticed that when it looks a little wilted (it's happened to me once – I think it got too much light and not enough water) a little watering will perk it right up! I water it from the bottom as its stems are fragile but I love it so much and it's amazing how much joy it has brought me!
Majesty Palm (Ravenea Rivularis)
This Majesty Palm makes me so happy. With her gorgeous leaves, she is just a beauty to behold and I consider it one of the best indoor plants for beginners, why? Because it often does well with neglect – isn't that awful!
Yes, you can actually be very inattentive and this plant will still do well so for those of you trying to figure out this whole how-to-care-for houseplant, this might be one for you!
Native to Madagascar, these most often grown indoors because they do well in containers and thrive in poor light.
Care Instructions: Majesty palms need lots of water and soil that holds water. So far, I don't have to water her that often, and she seems happiest. At one point, I did overwater her and the tips of her palms started to brown. I quickly remedied that problem as once the palms start to brown they don't return to their former form.
She is a beautiful, tropical houseplant and my children love to call her Majesty and greet her in the morning!
Indoor Herbs
Who doesn't love fresh herbs? I know my husband loves fresh herbs and spices in our cooking, so his favourite greenery involves the growing of fresh herbs.
The ones I currently have growing indoors are Thyme and Mint. As long as I keep them in a sunny place and watered they seem to do just fine!
Thyme – I love with chicken, so we have been using this quite frequently
Mint – We use it in everything from our meals to even mixed with pineapple, sugar, and mint – it's fabulous. Give it a try!
What I have realized though when I once found my mint drooping is that it is a water hog and LOVES water. Every few days I will water her from the bottom (I put her in a container of water and her roots soak up all this water from the bottom – it's amazing how quickly she drinks it all up!) After her drink, she looks so full and happy as a clam!
Airplants
I just learned about these lovelies recently. There is something about a plant that doesn't require soil that made me think – “Yes, I can grow these!”
So I picked up a few of these airplants and have been giving them a nice soak a couple of times a week and they are doing well. I haven't decided on what type of container to put them in, so right now they are in this sweet, purple ceramic bowl, but they seem content. Some people will glue them onto pieces of natural wood, or put them in glass containers – I have a cute little Narwhal pot that I may just stick one in. I've included a picture of the narwhal pot just because it's too cute not to share it 😉
Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
I just picked up this lush beauty from a lady who sadly had to part with her because she had outgrown her place. Lucky me, I brought her home and she has been thriving.
Care Instructions: Ferns like to be moist and so we make sure she has a source of moisture around her (a bowl of water filled with gravel) and that she is misted every few days. Again, they prefer humid moist soil not soggy. Some people actually put their ferns in the bathroom, but after trying that, we decided it just didn't feel like the right spot for her.
Once all chance of frost is over, not in direct sun of course but mostly in a shaded location otherwise filtered light like underneath the tree, I will mover her outside for the warm summer months.