8 Low-Maintenance Indoor Plants

Aloe Plant

Aloe vera

There are hundreds of different types of aloe plants, and overall they’re a pretty chill bunch. Aloe vera is a big favorite around here, with its cute, spiky, plump leaves. They’re packed with water, helping these low-maintenance plants to withstand periods of drought—and yes, it’s the same stuff they put in after-sun gel! 

If you get a small burn on your hand while cooking, you can snap off an aloe leaf and squeeze the gel out for some instant relief. While these succulents don’t grow exceptionally fast, with time, they can spread out if you replant them in a slightly larger container every two years.

Snake Plant

Sansevieria hahnii

These upright-growing plants have such interesting leaves. They kinda look like modern art sculptures! It doesn’t take much to keep snake plants looking amazing. Seriously, they are about as low-maintenance as it gets. If anything, you might encounter more issues from caring too much for them! Overwatering is way more likely to hurt a snake plant than underwatering it, so feel free to wait a couple of weeks before giving it a soak. Low light isn’t a problem either—even if you only get a bit of indirect window light, a snake plant can handle it no problem. 

Visit OC Succulents to see some of our most stellar sansevierias, like “Ocean Star,” “Silver Star,” or “Misty Star.”

Tradescantia

Tradescantia zebrina

We can’t get over how gorgeous the foliage is on this fast-growing trailing plant. This tradescantia has jewel-toned purple and green leaves streaked with metallic silver that glints in the sun. It’s easily one of the best low-maintenance hanging plants—just hang it somewhere with bright, indirect light, and its vining leaves will cascade down and multiply. 

To make sure you don’t overwater or underwater it, just do the knuckle test: stick a finger in the soil, and if it’s dry up to the second knuckle, it’s time to water. They do like humidity, so it helps to spritz them with a fine mist of water now and again to keep their vibrant leaves from losing their color.

Spider Plant

Chlorophytum comosum

The stringy, shaggy spider plant is great if you want to continue to multiply your indoor plant collection. As they mature, they start to produce “spider babies” at the ends of the long stems. If you pluck them off and replant them in a separate pot of soil, they’ll grow into a whole new plant! No need to repot them regularly—having cramped roots actually encourages spider plants to sprout their little mini plants. 

If that wasn’t cool enough, they also have natural air-purifying properties, so they’ll help filter out toxins released from household cleaners and appliances that emit fumes. We really dig the variegated varieties, striped with white down the length of each skinny, sword-like leaf.

ZZ Plant

Zamioculcas zamiifolia

Okay, they really don’t get more low-maintenance than this. Honestly, we’d be impressed if you couldn’t keep a ZZ plant alive because they’re nearly indestructible. They’re extremely tolerant of low light levels and infrequent watering and can even handle next to no sunlight if there’s a fluorescent bulb in the room. 

Don’t entirely neglect it—it’s still going to need water once in a while. Aim to water it every 2–3 weeks, but it won’t be a travesty if you go a little longer. Sprinkling a little bit of slow-release fertilizer onto your ZZ plant’s soil or watering it with liquid soluble fertilizer once a month will encourage it to sprout more of its glossy, forest green leaves.

Dracaena

Dracaena deremensis

We love the bright, neon colors this tropical houseplant adds to the scenery. It’s an instant mood booster! Varieties like “Lemon Lime” live up to their name with their bright, citrusy stripes, while others like “Limelight” will literally light up the room with their electric yellow-green leaves. 

Dracaena can grow up to 3 feet tall, so they’ll make quite a bold statement when they reach full maturity. The best part? They can handle low light, so they’re perfect for brightening up the dimmer corners of your room that get limited sun. They like less moisture than the average houseplant, so let that soil dry before you water again.

Pothos

Epipremnum aureum

Every indoor plant collection needs to have a pothos. There are just so many reasons to love them! They grow fast, they’re easy to propagate from cuttings, and there are endless colorful varieties to choose from. For a trendy, sophisticated accent to add that perfect touch to your home decor, choose a silver accented variety like “Snow Queen.” 

For a warmer palette that compliments the yellow and gold tones in the room, try “Golden” or “Neon” pothos. Bright, indirect lighting and watering every 1–2 weeks should be enough to keep this plant producing its prolific vines. Let them hang, or train them around a trellis!

Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia seguine

Dieffenbachia remains an all-time favorite for first-time plant owners. Their large leaves, streaked with gorgeous variegation, make a huge impact on your home decor. This variety can grow as high as 10 feet tall, so they’re perfect for putting in the corner of your living or dining room area. Don’t place them in direct sun, or it could scorch the leaves. 

They’re tolerant of low light levels and moderate watering, and if you’re patient, your dieffenbachia might even sprout some flowers! We recommend giving your plant a 90° turn every couple of weeks, just to help it grow evenly, so it isn’t lopsided.