My Top 6 Favorite Gorgeous, Low-Maintenance Houseplants
Julie Bawden-DavisJanuary 10, 2025Some stunning houseplants swivel heads, but if they’re a challenge to keep alive indoors, their beauty soon fades. That leads to a lot of disappointment. Indoor gardeners tend to want to grow eye-catching houseplants, though. I know I do!
So, I’ve put together a list of my favorite eye candy, easy to grow houseplants. To give you an idea of what I mean by easy, their top attributes are medium light requirements, forgiving of watering “mishaps” (too much or too little), and resistance to pests and diseases.
Here is my fav list of low maintenance houseplants.
African Violet
Despite their gorgeous blooms, which make them seem exotic and possibly hard to grow, African violets are one of the easiest of all flowering houseplants. They come in a wide variety of striking bloom colors that can light up your home throughout the year.
African violets require medium light to bloom. The ideal location to bud them up is a northern exposure window. Once blooming, you can display them in a place of prominence and then move them back to the window to bud up once again.
African violets should be kept moist but not soggy, and are best bottom watered, as you want to avoid wetting the foliage. For frequent blooming, fertilize monthly with a half-strength solution of an organic liquid fertilizer for African violets.
These blooming beauties can occasionally get mealybugs, so keep an eye out and treat by spraying with 70% or 91% isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. After 20 to 30 minutes, remove the dead mealybugs with a soft brush.
Arrowhead Plant (Syngonium)
Of all houseplants that are easy to grow, Arrowhead plant seems to be one of the least known. This gorgeous indoor plant features distinctive arrow-shaped leaves that come in shades of green, as well as varieties featuring pink in the leaf veins and around the edges.
Arrowhead plant requires medium light and will thrive in many locations of the home, including northern exposure windows and fairly dim corners. Water the plant when the soil is approaching dryness, which would be 4, almost 3 on the moisture meter and when the first inch to two inches of soil has dried.
This plant is not a heavy feeder. Fertilize every three months, spring through fall with a well-balanced, organic fertilizer.
Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)
Of all indoor plants with colorful, variegated foliage, I think Chinese Evergreen is one of the stars. I mention this beauty in Apartment Guide’s “Top 23 Houseplants for Apartment Living.”
You’ll find Aglaonema with leaves that are green and silver or white, as well as green and red or bright pink—all stunning color combos.
Chinese evergreen requires medium light to thrive. Avoid placing the plant in too bright a location, as that can lead to scorched leaves. If you place the plant in front of southern or western exposure windows, put it several feet back or protect with window coverings.
Fertilize Chinese evergreen every three months spring through fall with a well-balanced, organic fertilizer. Water when the plant is approaching dryness, which would be when the moisture meter reads 4, almost 3, or the top inch to two inches of soil has dried out.
Coleus
If you are familiar with my indoor gardening journey, you know my love affair with houseplants started with a coleus I found in a drugstore and bought with my allowance money when I was 7 years old.
My love for this beautiful plant hasn’t waned over the years. In fact, it has increased as more and more gorgeous varieties with colorful, intricate variegated patterns are now available for indoor growing. You can find coleus in nurseries in the summer months, or grow them from seed.
Coleus grows well in medium light, including in front of a northern exposure window. They also do really well under full-spectrum lighting. Keep the soil moist but not soggy and watch out for mealybugs. Treat by spraying with 70% or 91% isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. After 20 to 30 minutes, remove the dead mealybugs with a soft brush.
Fertilize monthly spring through fall with a well-balanced, organic fertilizer.
Croton
My top choice for showstopping, easy to grow houseplants is the Croton. This tropical houseplant thrives in just about any indoor garden and is nearly impervious to pests and diseases.
Croton likes frequent watering, but if you forget to water and the plant droops, it will quickly spring back once you rehydrate it. Keep the soil moist but not soggy and grow the plant in medium light. An eastern exposure window is ideal for growing croton, and they do well under full-spectrum lighting.
Fertilize crotons once every month to two months spring through fall with a well-balanced, organic fertilizer.
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
Another easy to grow houseplant that flowers is the Peace Lily. This beauty requires medium to low light and won’t flower if kept in too bright of light. Place in front of a northern exposure window or two to three feet away from an eastern window.
Keep Peace Lily soil moist but not soggy. This plant is well-known for coming back after you forget to water, so it will withstand droughting. Fertilize every two months, spring through fall with a well-balanced, organic fertilizer.
