5 Easy Houseplants For Any Home

When it needs water: Water snake plants every 3-4 weeks, or when the soil is completely dry. Overwatering is the biggest threat to snake plants. Choose a heavy pot or planter for the taller varieties because the weight of their sword-like leaves can topple the plant, especially when the soil is dry.

How much light: Snake plants can handle very low light easily, although their growth may slow considerably; they thrive best in medium, indirect light.

Why it’s great: Their drought-tolerance, combined with their ability to thrive in semi- dark corners, means that snake plants may win the award for “easiest houseplant”.

When it needs water: Like the snake plant, the ZZ plant is drought-hardy, and only needs to be watered every 3 weeks or so. ZZ plants have thick roots, called rhizomes, that help it store water for dry periods.

How much light: ZZ plants can tolerate medium to low amounts of light. Wild ZZ plants originate from the shady forests of southeastern Africa — these places tend to be dry but not very sunny.

Why it’s great: The shiny, almost plastic-looking leaves of the ZZ plant are visually attractive, but also serve an important function — the waxy coating on the leaves is an adaptation to help it avoid water loss.

Want more tips for terrific snake and ZZ plants? Watch below:

When it needs water: Spider plants like lightly moist but not soggy soil — water once a week or so. Dry crispy tips often point to underwatering while dark brown tips indicate overwatering.

How much light: Spider plants grow best in a bright room, although they will tolerate medium levels of light. Variegated varieties will develop bolder stripes under brighter conditions.

Why it’s great: It's clump-forming shape and graceful arching leaves means allow the spider plant to be displayed in a variety of ways, from windowsill to hanging planter.

When it needs water: As a desert native, aloe prefers a deep drink of water at infrequent intervals — aim for a thorough watering every 3 weeks or so. To ensure your plant isn't sitting soggy, plant your aloe in gravelly, porous soil and make sure your container has adequate drainage holes.

How much light: Like most succulents, aloe plants appreciate plenty of bright light. No sunny windows? Get your aloe under a full-spectrum grow light instead.

Why it’s great: Aloe vera is known for its soothing, medicinal gel, which can be squeezed out of plant leaves onto minor scrapes and sunburns. Pet owners take note: despite its skincare benefits, aloe is poisonous to pets.

When it needs water: Like many houseplants, pothos plants like to be deeply watered and then allowed to dry out beween waterings. Water once a week or so 

How much light: Pothos plants are extremely tolerant of all light levels. These vigorous trailing plants grow happily in low light conditions, however variegated varieties may revert to all-green foliage.

Why it’s great: Pothos are extremely easy to propagate from cuttings. Simply snip a healthy stem below a leaf node and set in a glass of fresh water until roots appear. Then pot up your new pothos!