Unless your garden is plagued with weeds, you probably wouldn’t want to ever kill a plant. Sadly, though, a lot of plants can easily die if you don’t take care of them properly, with some deteriorating if you even miss a day of feeding them. Thankfully, though, there are many plants out there that are surprisingly difficult to kill, just like the following plants found in this list.
Spider Plant
Famous for their striking green and white stripes, spider plants don’t mind a bit of neglect. Even if you forget to water them for a while, they bounce back easily. Plus, they won’t suffer too much from being in low light for a while and can tolerate a variety of environments, making them perfect if you’re moving home or are simply too busy.
Snake Plant
This plant’s tall, upright leaves make it a great option for adding height to a room, and it’s nearly indestructible. Snake plants can handle long periods of drought, are fine with low light, and will even continue to help clean the air, which is a nice bonus. Bizarrely, they thrive on being ignored, so there’s no need to fuss over them too much.
ZZ Plant
If you tend to forget your plants even exist, the ZZ plant could be perfect for you. This stylishly named plant has glossy, deep green leaves that will even stay healthy if you don’t water it for weeks. Sure, it prefers indirect light of some sort, but it can still survive in low light, making it adaptable to many spaces. Therefore, it’s one of the easiest plants to care for, even if you’re completely new to houseplants.
Pothos
Pothos plants are some of the most forgiving around, with their trailing vines growing long and lush even in low-light conditions. If you forget to water them, they’ll droop slightly but don’t worry-they’ll soon perk back up with a good soak. Ultimately, they can tolerate a lot, and their variegated leaves add a splash of color to any room.
Aloe Vera
Beloved for its healing properties, aloe vera is a surprisingly easy plant to care for. It prefers dry soil, so watering it too often is more of a risk than letting it dry out. Just place it in a sunny spot and water it sparingly, and be patient, because it’s a slow grower.
Jade Plant
The thick, succulent leaves of the jade plant can live for years with minimal attention, but they do still need bright light. However, frequent watering isn’t essential; in fact, letting the soil dry out completely between waterings is the best way to care for them. Their sturdy leaves and compact size make them a low-maintenance addition to any space.
Cast Iron Plant
As the name suggests, the cast iron plant is incredibly strong and almost impossible to kill. It can tolerate neglect, low light, and even irregular watering schedules; in fact, it’s best to let its soil dry out fully before watering again. Just bear in mind that this plant is slow-growing, so you’ll have to give it plenty of time to witness it thriving.
Peace Lily
Peace lilies are one of those plants that will forgive a lot of mistakes, hence their hippy name. Low light and irregular watering won’t be a problem for them, although admittedly, they‘re not quite as drought-tolerant as others. Even if the leaves start drooping, a quick drink of water will usually perk them back up, showing off their elegant white flowers and glossy green leaves.
Philodendron
Another houseplant that is surprisingly easy to care for is the philodendron, a highly adaptable plant that thrives in low light and is quite tolerant of missed waterings. Best of all, their adorable heart-shaped leaves grow on long vines, making them great for hanging baskets or climbing up shelves.
Rubber Plant
For a sturdy, low-maintenance option that will light up your home, consider getting a rubber plant, which won’t be too bothered if you forget about it now and then. It does prefer bright, indirect light, but it can still handle lower light conditions as well. Its thick, waxy leaves also store water, so even if you forget to water it, it can grow into a striking, tall plant.
Christmas Cactus
Unlike most cacti, the Christmas cactus enjoys more frequent watering, but it’s still pretty resilient. Staying true to its name, it blooms with beautiful flowers around the holidays, even if you’ve been a little forgetful about care. Just ensure that it gets at least some indirect light, and it should be all good, even in humid environments.
Boston Fern
Boston ferns add a touch of classic greenery to any space and are much hardier than they look. While they prefer a bit more humidity and regular misting, they can survive some occasional neglect. Place them in indirect light, and with a little care, their lush green fronds will thrive. If you’re unsure where to put them, a bathroom or humid room would be ideal.
Chinese Evergreen
Popular for their striking leaf patterns, Chinese evergreens are incredibly easy to care for. They tolerate low light, dry air, and infrequent watering and will develop beautiful silver, white, or red patterns, even in these conditions. Ultimately, they’re tough, decorative, and low-maintenance–what’s not to like about that?
Lucky Bamboo
Perhaps the easiest plant to grow on this list is lucky bamboo, which does not need much more than a vase of water. It doesn’t even need much light, so you could quite literally forget about it for weeks without any major repercussions. Simply change its water occasionally, and it will be good to grow.
Parlor Palm
Parlor palms bring a tropical touch to any home, and they’re surprisingly hardy. You won’t need to give it much light, so they’ll even survive in the corners of your home or office. However, they do prefer their soil to be kept slightly moist, so don’t let it dry out for too long.
Dracaena
Tall, narrow, and full of spiky leaves, dracaena is another plant that you’ll struggle to kill, adapting to a wide range of conditions, including low light and infrequent watering. Their ability to tolerate a bit of neglect makes them a great option for busy households, as long as you can give them a little care every so often.
Air Plant
Finally, busy people can’t do much better than an air plant when it comes to low-maintenance growth. They’re unique in that they don’t even need soil to grow, and they’re very forgiving if you forget about them. This is because they absorb moisture and nutrients from the air, so all they need is a quick misting or occasional soak in water. You can also place them just about anywhere, whether that be a terrarium, a dingy room, or a wall-mounted holder.