Our Top 5 Beginner-Friendly House Plants
Which plants to start with as a beginner plant parent.
Are you interested in house plants but too nervous to buy one because you’re afraid of killing it? Have no fear, we have a list for you! Not all house plants have the same requirements, some can be quite high maintenance. That's why we hand picked some fabulous house plants that you can start your plant parent journey with!
Things to Know as a Beginner Plant Parent
Don't be afraid to water your plants! Now, there is a balance between thoroughly watering and over-watering. Over-watering your plants is what we want to stay away from, soggy, muddy soil can lead to root rot and pests (ew). Thoroughly watering is making sure your plant gets a good drink but doesn’t stay soggy all the time. Every plant will have different watering needs, but these 5 Beginner Friendly House Plants all have similar needs so no need to worry. For more steps on how to avoid over watering, visit our “ How to: Properly Water Your Plants, Without Over Watering”.
You will get bugs, and that's ok! We take steps to ensure that you take home a happy, healthy, pest-free plant. If you do get bugs, there are lots of sprays and treatments that can help mitigate the issue. There are also lots of things that you can do at home to prevent them! Check out our “Common House Plant Pests” page to see what to watch out for.
Low light does NOT mean “no light”. Some house plants can do well in low-light conditions, but that doesn’t mean you can put them in the darkest spot of your house. Look at your living space and see where the sunlight hits through your windows and where it casts shadows. For more information on finding the right light for your plants, visit our “Lighting In Your Home” page.
Re-potting your plants is easy! You want to repot your plants whenever they start to grow out of their current pot! As a general rule, while repotting your plants, you don't want to put them in a pot that is too big. To see if a pot is too big, you’ll need to see how big the root system is and go 2-3” wider than the root system. Be careful about getting pots that are too deep if your plant's roots aren't super long. For more information on the best pot to put your plant in, check out our “Re-pot and Refresh” page!
A good soil makes for a happy plant! You’ll always want to check and see what soil your plant prefers, but as a general rule, you're going to want to make sure your soil drains fairly well and doesn't stay soggy for too long. You can ensure that your soil is suitable for your plant by either getting specific soil such as Cactus Mix or Orchid Mix for Cactus and Orchids, or you can add extra drainage to your soil. We also have our homemade house plant soil mixes if you don't want to do it yourself! If you’re not sure what soil you need for your plants, check out our “What Soil Suits Your Plants” page, or bring your plant into the shop for a free personalized care walkthrough!
Blue Spruce Pond’s Top 5 Beginner Friendly House Plants
Sanseveria “Snake Plant” or “Mother-In-Law Tongue”
2. Pothos
3. Philodendron Moonlight
Sanseveria are one of the top most beginner-friendly plants. They come in a variety of colors and styles and are fairly drought-tolerant! Since they are a succulent type plant, their leaves are thick and help hold water! Water when 50-75% of the soil is dry, or once they feel light. They like plenty of light but can also be in low light conditions. These plants are fun to re-pot as well, once your plant is ready to be re-potted you can also divide the main clump to get more plants!
Name: Sansevieria “Snake Plant”
Light: Bright, Medium, or Low indirect light
Water Needs: Low
Toxic: Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Size: 2-5’ Tall
Pothos are an amazing beginner friendly plant. They come in so many different varieties it's hard to pick just one! They like lots of light but can do well in medium light too.The more light they receive, the more consistent their variegation will be.They are a trailing plant and can have a beautiful cascading look when placed in a hanging pot. These plants require little to no maintenance, except for the occasional “hair trim’, as they are fast growers. Water when the soil is roughly 50% dry. Fun Fact: When trimming your pothos, keep the cuttings with a node and place it in a glass of water to grow a whole new plant! Visit our “How To: Propagate Your House Plants” page to learn how!
Name: Pothos
Light: Bright direct or, Bright to Medium indirect light
Water Needs: Moderate
Toxic: Toxic to dogs and cats
Size: 3-6’ wide, 20-40’ long
4. Holiday Cactus
5. Philodendron Micans
The Philodendron Moonlight is a stunning plant with new leaves being bright neon yellow that fades to a rich dark green over time. These are a more bushy plant and will climb if given a support. They love their bright indirect light but can tolerate medium light as well. These are tropical plants so water when the soil is roughly 25-45% dry, or once they feel lighter. During the spring and summer, fertilize with a water-soluble fertilizer to give it a boost. When it comes time to re-pot you can also split off babies if the plant has given any!
Name: Philodendron Moonlight
Light: Bright to medium indirect light
Water Needs: Moderate
Toxic: Toxic to people, dogs and cats
Size: 1-2’ Tall and Wide
Holiday Cactus are a very popular house plant due to their unique flowers and different types. There are 3 types of holiday cactus, Thanksgiving Cactus, Christmas Cactus and Easter Cactus. They all have beautiful vibrant colored flowers with unique deep green leaves. They love bright indirect light, and can tolerate direct sunlight but watch for burning on your leaves! Even though they have “cactus” in their name, you’ll want to water them when the soil is roughly 50% dry. During the spring after flowering is over, you can trim and fertilize them to encourage new growth. Re-pot them once they start to not retain water as long. Fun Fact: When trimming you can propagate your christmas cactus cuttings! To learn how, visit our “How To: Propagate Your House Plants” page.
Name: Holiday Cactus
Light: Bright to medium indirect light
Water Needs: Moderate
Toxic: Non-toxic to cats and dogs
Size: 1-2’ Tall and Wide
The Philodendron Micans is a beautiful, lush beginner friendly plant with velvety dark green leaves. They are a trailing plant that can also climb if given something to climb on. They love bright indirect light and can tolerate medium indirect light as well. Like the Philodendron Moonlight, these are tropical plants so you’ll want to water them when the soil is around 25-50% dry or once their leaves start to curl. During the spring and summer, fertilize with a water-soluble fertilizer to give it a boost. You’ll know it's time to re-pot once they stop retaining water as long. These are fairly fast growing plants, so they do require a little bit of trimming. Fun Fact: Keep your trimmings to propagate more Philodendron Micans plants! Unsure how to propagate your Philodendron Micans? Visit our “How To: Propagate Your House Plants” page!
Name: Philodendron Micans
Light: Bright to medium indirect light
Water Needs: Moderate
Toxic: Non-toxic to cats and dogs
Size: 8” Tall and around 2’ long