The Top 10 Easy Care Indoor Flowers
If you’re looking for beautiful indoor flowers that won’t require a lot of maintenance, look no further. In this article, I’ll share the 10 best low maintenance indoor flower varieties that practically take care of themselves. From my personal experience as an amateur gardener and flower lover, these flowering plants are practically foolproof to grow inside your home. Keep reading to discover which low fuss blooms are perfect for even the busiest indoor gardeners with limited green thumbs.
1. Pothos
At the top of the list for low maintenance indoor plants is pothos. This trailing vine is basically indestructible – it can go days or even weeks without water and still come back strong. I have many pothos plants scattered throughout my home, and they always seem to thrive with minimal care. Pothos comes in various leaf color varieties like green, gold, and variegated. Its trailing vines look lovely hanging on a bookshelf, dangling from a pot, or trained up a moss pole. With its hardiness and versatility, pothos has got to be one of the easiest indoor flowers to care for.
2. Peace Lily
The peace lily is another flowering plant famous for its trouble-free nature. Its white blooms that resemble calla lilies emerge from the center of its leaves and last for weeks. Because the peace lily indicates when it needs water by drooping its leaves, it’s almost foolproof to care for. I like keeping a peace lily in my kitchen, as it seems to thrive off the humidity. Just be sure not to overwater it – these lilies prefer to dry out slightly between waterings. Overall, the peace lily is a great pick for effortless indoor beauty.
3. Chinese Evergreen
If you love lush, thick foliage, you’ll dig the Chinese evergreen. This plant comes in a rainbow of green hues like burgundy, dark, and variegated. Chinese evergreens prefer medium to low light and need watering only when the topsoil becomes dry. I find these evergreens thriving after years in my home office space near an east-facing window. They basically take care of themselves with limited TLC from me. As long as you avoid overwatering, Chinese evergreens are super simple to maintain indoor flowering plants.
4. Snake Plant
- Snake plants, also called mother-in-law’s tongue, are notorious for being virtually unkillable. These upright, grass-like plants can go weeks without water and still bounce back. Their stiff, sword-shaped leaves come in solid green or striped varieties. Snake plants release oxygen at night, making them great plants for bedrooms. I keep several snake plants through my home that require nothing more than an occasional drink. They’re basically the definition of low maintenance indoor flowers.
- Dracaena, sometimes called corn plants, are close botanical relatives of Snake Plants that share their tough-as-nails nature. Like snake plants, dracaenas can tolerate long periods without water and a wide range of light conditions from bright to low indirect light. Their striped, solid green, or variegated strap-like leaves add architectural interest to any space. Of all the indoor plants I’ve tried, dracaenas have proven to be some of the most carefree.
5. ZZ Plant
If you want a near-foolproof indoor plant that hardly ever needs watering, look no further than the ZZ plant. Also known as the zanzibar gem, this plant forms dense clumps with thick, waxy green leaves in braided patterns. ZZ plants can go forever seemingly without a drop of water. They do best in medium to low light and prefer to dry out between waterings. I find ZZ plants thriving year-round on my bathroom counter with just occasional splashes from the sink faucet. Their botanical name alone, Zamioculcas zamiifolia, shows how rugged these beauties are – basically zero maintenance required.
6. Jade Plant
Jade plants typify the set-it-and-forget-it approach to indoor gardening. These succulent plants with thick, fleshy leaves are so undemanding that they’ve become an icon of carefree houseplants. Jade plants adapt to various light conditions from bright to quite low. I’ve kept jade plants through multiple moves that went weeks without water while getting settled into new homes, and they bounced right back without a sweat. Their sculptural leaves come in shades of blueish green. Jade plants are must-haves for anyone seeking practically effortless indoor flowers.
7. African Violet
Don’t let their daintiness fool you – African violets are resilient bloomers that don’t demand much work. Their cute, colorful flowers in pinks, purples, whites, and reds last for months. As long as you give them plentiful bright, indirect sunlight, keep the soil slightly moist, and fertilize occasionally, African violets will reward you with constant blooms. Sure, they may require a bit more attention than succulents or vines. But their stunning blooms are well worth the minimal effort. In my experience, African violets thrive on my kitchen windowsill where they get plenty of natural morning light.
8. Orchid
Yes, orchids have a reputation for being finicky. But certain low-maintenance varieties like moth orchids are surprisingly simple to care for indoors. As long as they receive lots of bright, indirect sunlight, you water them just enough to keep their moss medium slightly moist, and fertilize periodically, moth orchids will bloom non-stop. Key is finding the right growing medium – I’ve had most success with bark mixes versus soil or spagna moss. Their exotic flowers in white, purple, pink and more last for months. With minimal TLC, orchids can thrive indoors and reward you with stunning tropical blooms.
9. Gerbera Daisy
For continuous color, nothing beats gerbera daisies. Also called transplant daisies, these flowering plants come in eye-catching shades of reds, oranges, pinks, and yellows. Gerbera daisies adapt well to indoor conditions as long as they get lots of sunshine. In a south- or west-facing window, these daisies will bloom non-stop for months on end. Just water whenever the soil becomes slightly dry. Gerbera daisies stay compact, so they fit nicely on most indoor surfaces. Their cheerful blooms will brighten up any space with very low upkeep.
10. Begonia
There are hundreds of hybrid begonia varieties to choose from, many well-suited for low-maintenance indoor growing. Wax begonias tolerate low-light conditions and stay compact. Their colorful flowers in pinks, reds, oranges and bi-colors provide constant blooms through the year. Rex begonias also do well indoors with their fleshy, patterned leaves. In my experience, keeping begonia soil slightly moist is key, watering whenever the top inch or so begins to dry out. Place in a bright spot away from direct sun, and these begonias will reward you with lush greenery and ongoing color. Their easy care nature makes them a great pick for continuous indoor flowers.
So in summary, pothos, peace lilies, Chinese evergreens, snake plants, ZZ plants, jade plants, African violets, moth orchids, gerbera daisies and begonias are virtually foolproof choices for effortless indoor flowers. In most cases, these plants simply need occasional water, moderate sun and occasional fertilizer to thrive. Do any of them spark your curiosity? From my experience growing all these varieties, any of them would make a fabulous low-maintenance addition to liven up your indoor spaces. Hopefully this guide has inspired you to bring a touch of living greenery indoors with very little upkeep required.
Low Maintenance Indoor Flowers
| Plant | Watering | Sunlight | Bloom Time | Care Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pothos | Once every 1-2 weeks | Low | No blooms, grown for foliage | Very easy |
| Snake plant | Every 2-4 weeks | Low | White blooms in summer | Low maintenance |
| Peace lily | When soil is dry | Medium | White blooms sporadically | Easy |
| ZZ plant | Every 2-4 weeks | Low | No blooms, grown for foliage | Very low maintenance |
| Chinese evergreen | Once a week | Medium | White or pink blooms | Moderate care |
FAQ
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What indoor flowers are easy to take care of and don’t need much sunlight?
Basically, pothos and snake plants are like practically unkillable. You can forget to water them for weeks and they’ll sort of survive. Peace lilies are also kinda easy – they’ll droop when they need a drink then perk back up.
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Do flowers need fertilizer and how often should I fertilize them?
Houseplants do need nutrients from fertilizer occasionally to stay healthy. Nevertheless, most low-maintenance indoor flowers like pothos and snake plants only need fertilizing during their active growing season in spring and summer. On the other hand, you might fertilize something vigorous like peace lilies every few months. At the same time, it’s easy to overdo it, so go light.
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How do I know when an indoor plant needs water?
The number one cause of houseplant death is overwatering, so it’s important to watch for signs of dryness rather than just watering on a schedule. You can stick your finger an inch into the soil to check moisture levels. Despite my dead laptop, I seem to recall my grande-mere used the knuckle test – she’d stick her finger in the dirt up to the first knuckle. If the soil is dry, it’s time to water.
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What kind of lighting do most indoor flowers prefer?
Plants like snake plants, pothos and peace lilies are amazing because they basically thrive in low light. However, giving them some indirect sunlight, like near an east or west-facing window, does seem to make them grow a little more robust. On the other hand, direct sun might sunburn their leaves. Perhaps move them slightly as the light changes with the seasons.
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How do I know if a flower is dying and what can I do to save it?
Signs of ailing houseplants include drooping or yellowish leaves. Sometimes the only way a revive a sadly wilted flower is through drastic action! You could cut off completely dead or drying parts, repot it in fresh soil for a “new start,” or move it to a spot with more or less light. But is it worth it when pothos and snake plants are so inexpensive to replace? For sentimental favorites, it’s worth a shot.
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What’s the best way to transport an indoor plant if I’m moving houses?
When moving plants from one home to another, the best way is to place the potted plant in a cardboard box. This helps protect the plant and soil from jostling and spills in the vehicle. You may want to tie or tape the pot securely in the box. For extra protection, surround the pot with crumpled newspaper to prevent shifting. Water the plant thoroughly before moving day but don’t let the soil be soggy. With some TLC in transit and at the new home, your plant buddies should survive the move.
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How often should I repot my indoor flowers?
As a general rule, repotting houseplants into larger pots is needed every couple years as their roots fill out their containers. But signs that a plant is “pot bound” and needs transplanting include little new growth, wilting or drooping even when the soil is moist. You may also notice many thick crowded roots growing from the drainage holes. Pothos and snake plants can go quite a while between repotting though. It depends on the plant! Is that fair?