Easy Plant Care: Top 5 Plants to Neglect for Busy Plant Parents

Summer is right around the corner, and lush greenery is finally popping up around the city. For those of you itching to bring some colour into your home but don’t know where to start, here are some beginner-friendly plants to get you going. Whether you’re a busy urban dweller or a plant beginner, these options are sure to make your plant parenthood easier.

Here are the best plants to “neglect”–so you can live your best life, while still coming home to refreshing, lush greenery. 

1. Snake Plant

These thick-stemmed, vertical-growing plants are low-maintenance indoor plants that thrive in bright, indirect light. Snake plants primarily grow vertically rather than horizontally, so it’s a good option for condo spaces. Although it prefers bright light, it can still survive in low-light environments. This plant is great if you tend to forget about your plants, since it can survive on infrequent watering. We’re talking every two to four weeks. This plant comes in different varieties—most prominently Laurentii, with yellow bands along the edges of the leaves and horizontal gray-green zigzag stripes across them. If you have furry friends, be aware that snake plants are considered toxic for cats and dogs.

2. ZZ Plant

The ZZ is also considered an “indestructible” plant because it can survive in low-light conditions. It actually prefers not to be in direct, bright light, as that would scorch the leaves. This plant does better if you let its soil dry out between waterings, so no need to worry if you’re too busy to water it. The ZZ also has a unique look (cute, I would say) with smaller, bulbous leaves on dense stock. Note that ZZ plants are also toxic to pets and humans.

3. Pothos

There are many Pothos varieties out there, and they’re all characterized by their vining appearance and spade-shaped leaves. Pothos are low-light tolerant, perfect for that shadowy corner in your room. You’ll only need to water your pothos plant every one to two weeks, or whenever you see the leaves start to droop. This visual indicator is great for those who don’t want to add even more to their calendar reminders.

Pothos can grow fast, with different colourings and patterns. The most common variety is the “golden pothos,” characterized by its heart-shaped green leaves with yellow variegation. Another popular option is the “marble queen pothos,” which has a cream variegation instead of the yellow from the golden pothos. Pothos plants are also poisonous to animals.

4. Cactus

This one should come as no surprise. Cacti can thrive in the desert, so surely they can thrive in your living room, right? Cacti don’t need much watering, but they do need plenty (four to six hours a day) of bright, direct light. If your home lets in bright light, your cactus plant will definitely thrive. Besides putting it by the window to simmer in the sun, the only thing you’ll have to do is water once you see it dry out. Pro tip: Ensure you pot your cactus in a drainage pot with at least one drainage hole. This will prevent your cactus from drowning if you accidentally overwater. 

5. Dragon Tree

The dragon tree is a great option for the busy bees who are looking for a taller plant for that TV nook. The dragon tree has a unique look, with spike-y, red-edged leaves that grow outward, like pom poms. It thrives in bright, indirect light and only needs to be watered every two weeks, or when you see the top one to two inches of soil dry out. This plant stores water in its thick trunk, so forgetting about watering once or twice will be fine. This plant is slower growing, so if you’re looking for a towering plant, I suggest purchasing one that is already tall. 

Read More: These Are the Perfect Patio Plants for Small Spaces