Top Five Most Chill Plants

One huge reason people shy away from indoor plants is the misconception that they require tons of time to maintain. While there are definitely high maintenance plants out there, most plants prefer their space, and the list of plants that thrive on neglect is actually pretty long. I’ve narrowed it down to my top five most chill houseplants, in order from least to most amount of time and effort they’ll require from you.

1. Snake Plants (Dracaena trifasciata) 

Snake plants are my go-to recommendation for houseplant beginners. The easiest way to kill them is by giving them too much attention, and there are a ton of varieties to choose from. They can tolerate any lighting situation, making them excellent options for low light spaces. They’re sensitive to overwatering, so they love their space. You only need to give them a good drink once every 1-2 months when the soil is very dry and has been for a while.

Side note for the nerds - these used to be classified in the Sansevieria genus, but recent molecular discoveries have moved them over to Dracaena. 

2. ZZ Plants (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

ZZ plants are really similar to snake plants in terms of what they like. They’re up for any lighting situation as long as it’s indirect light. Bright, direct sun can burn the leaves, so keep these guys in the shade. They’re also most easily killed by overwatering, meaning we want very dry soil before watering, sticking to a cadence of once every 1-2 months. There’s also a more rare Black Raven variation, where the stalks grow in bright green and turn black as they mature. Super chill and super cool. 

3. Cacti (Cactaceae)

Cacti don’t need a lot of attention, but they do require a bit, which is why they rank third on this list. They prefer bright, direct light, so if you have the sunlight, a cactus can chill and thrive in your home. Their natural drought tolerance is what makes them so low maintenance. They follow the theme so far, preferring very dry soil and needing water once every 1-2 months. When you do water, though, soak them thoroughly. Plants do best when their environment is as close to natural as they can get. The desert stays dry for a long time until a monsoon comes through, so for indoor cacti we want to mimic that as closely as possible. 

4. Pothos (Epipremnum)

Another go-to recommendation of mine for beginners is any variety of Pothos plant. These are vining plants, so they grow a little differently than the others listed, and make great hanging or shelf plants. They also love being staked to grow upwards, so they’re versatile as far as how you want to decorate with them. I was able to find about 25 different species, ranging from really common and inexpensive to extremely rare and a decent investment. Again, versatility. 

Care for any variety of Pothos plant is simple. They’ll grow their best with bright, indirect light, but can handle most lighting situations, including artificial light like in an office. They like their soil to dry out between waterings too, but since the leaves are thinner than the other plants on this list, they don’t retain water for as long. This requires slightly more frequent attention, but a watering schedule of once every 1-2 weeks should do. Still only minutes of your time.

5. Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia)

Although these are super chill, they are pretty toxic to pets and people, so if you or your pets can’t help but eat plants I’d avoid this one. 

These tropical dudes can be small table plants or large floor plants, and there are again, several varieties to choose from. They will be happiest and grow the fastest with bright, indirect light, but can tolerate lower light areas as well. Just avoid direct light so the leaves don’t get burn and you’ll have a happy plant. They like to dry out between waterings, but they don’t like to be dry for long. When the soil is mostly dry, they’re ready for a drink, usually once every 1-2 weeks. 

These are really good starting options for those who love plants but can’t commit a ton of time to taking care of them. It’s worth noting, friends, that I had to narrow down this list a lot. There are so many different types of plants that prefer infrequent attention, only requiring minutes of your time each month.

I hope this is an exciting surprise and encourages you to dedicate the bare minimum to a new plant, because that’s what most of them want!

As always, Slow Green Death is here to help with whatever you may need along your planty ventures into the green unknown. We’d love to hear from you over on the Services page.

May all your plants’ deaths be Slow and Green, 

Lindsey

Original post date: February 10, 2023