You’re in the grocery store shopping and a beautiful flowering orchid catches your eye. You think, “Should I try again? Could I finally keep an orchid alive?”
You take it home and after reading a few short snippets from the web about plant care, you consider yourself ready. This time it’s going to work out. A month goes by…
And you’ve done it again. Another houseplant has died in your care.
You consider yourself horticulturally hopeless, a poor sap without a sapling in the world that can survive your care.
But fret not, you’ll be glad to know that there are plant species that survive harsher conditions than what you might provide. Keep reading to find out which houseplants you’ll likely have a hard time killing.
We all know plants can be good for our health, but not all of us are always good for our plants' health.
The people who have difficulty growing plants are often referred to as having “black thumbs” and their plant prolific counterparts are referred to as people with “green thumbs.” The key difference between these two distinctions is ideology and practice.
Having a “green thumb” isn’t a magical ability that graces you at birth, and green thumbs are aware of this.
It’s work. It’s routine. It’s the practice of keeping an organic lifeform alive.
Most people have difficulty finding houseplants that are hard to kill because some plant species have particular needs.
No plant species is alike and some require more attention than others. All plants require some level of knowledge and handling. You may need to establish a routine to care for some plants, while others are more independent and thrive on their own.
Issues that may be causing your houseplants to die might include:
If you have had difficulty keeping houseplants in the past, know that you are not a lost cause. Avoid plants that require a lot of knowledge, time, and skill — start with the basics!
Whether you are looking for beginner plants to help you learn how to establish a plant care routine or someone who prefers plants that require less attention — these hard-to-kill houseplant species may work for you!
These resilient house plant species require:
Some of the plants on this list are toxic to humans and/or pets. If you have either, it is recommended to keep them out of reach.
Once you get the knack of it, you’ll need a local plant enabler to fuel your plant addiction.
If you are in the Portland area and need botanicals, consider Botanical Floral + Home your one stop shop for all your plant needs.
Whether you need a hard-to-kill houseplant, a floral arrangement for any occasion, or a service that helps design and maintain plant installations — we are Portland's premier botanical providers!
Click here to shop our floral delivery Portland/Vancouver Metro area today!
Dracaena trifasciata, commonly referred to as “snake plant,” is an evergreen perennial plant native to West Africa.
Snake plants require very little water and can survive on little light exposure, making them great plants for apartments. During the winter, they may require less watering than usual. Snake plants are succulents so they store water in their leaves, rather than the soil.
Snake plant care requirements include:
Zamioculcas zamiifolia, commonly referred to as a ZZ plant, is a tropical perennial plant that is native to Eastern Africa.
ZZ plants store water in their roots, allowing them an evolutionary advantage over droughts and forgetful plant keepers. There is a common phrase shared amongst gardeners that is, “If you water a ZZ plant more often than you pay your rent, it’s too much.”
ZZ plants require indirect sunlight but can survive in areas with a lot of shade.
ZZ plant care requirements include:
Aspidistra elatior, commonly called a cast iron plant, is a species of flowering plant native to Japan and Taiwan.
Cast iron plants are known for their ability to withstand neglect. This hard-to-kill houseplant is tolerant of low light, irregular watering, and temperature fluctuation.
Cast iron plants will develop root rot if overwatered and burnt leaves if overexposed to sunlight. A sign that this plant needs more water is drooping leaves.
This resilient plant species is not prone to developing diseases or pest infestations making them excellent beginner plants.
Cast iron plant care requirements include:
Philodendrons are a large genus of flowering plants that are native all over the world.
According to The World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP), there are 489 different species of Philodendron. There are two main types of philodendron which are vining and non-vining. Both types grow fairly fast, so some pruning may be in order from time to time.
Philodendrons prefer bright, indirect sunlight but can tolerate low levels of light as well. Philodendrons only require watering when the first top inch of their soil is dry.
A popular species of Philodendron that makes a great hard-to-kill houseplant is the heartleaf philodendrons. This type of philodendron can grow up to four feet in length.
Philodendron plant care requirements include:
Pothos is a genus of flowering plants native to China, India, Australia, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and islands in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
There are 55 different species of pothos. Golden and Silver Pothos are two common houseplants from the genus Pothos. This genus of this plant is known as one of the hardest-to-kill house plant species.
Pothos are prone to thrive in indirect light but can manage to grow in low-lit areas under artificial light. Pothos do not require much water which can be perfect for beginners who may have a knack for forgetting to water their plants.
Pothos plant care requirements include:
As one of the most known hard-to-kill plants, cacti make excellent plant friends without being too needy or picky.
Cacti are perennial succulents and are found all over the world in arid climates. There are nearly 2,000 species of cactuses, meaning you’ll never run out of choices when it comes to variety!
Cactuses are low maintenance and only need to be watered when their soil is dry. Unfortunately, cacti are one of the few plants on this list that do not do very well without plenty of sunlight.
Common household cactuses include:
Cactus plant care requirements include:
Spathiphyllum, commonly known as spath or peace lily, is an evergreen herbaceous perennial that is native to tropical America and Southeastern Asia.
Peace lilies prefer indirect sunlight. An easy way to tell this house plant is not getting enough direct sunlight is a lack of blooming. This plant species prefers moist, not wet, soil and fortnightly feeding with a liquid houseplant food.
Peace lilies respond the best to humidity. You can place a bowl or tray of pebbles under a draining plant pot to achieve this effect. If you are in a dry climate regular misting is recommended to ensure that your peace lily is getting enough water.
Peace Lily plant care requirements include:
Chlorophytum comosum, commonly referred to as spider plant, is an evergreen perennial flowering plant native to Southern Africa.
The spider plant may be one of the easiest plants to keep alive. While it is hardy and low-maintenance, it is not invincible. Overwatering is one of the most common ways to kill a spider plant.
Spider plants have succulent-like roots where they hold their water. They can grow up to 12 inches tall and do not require much pruning. Spider plants prefer plenty of sunlight, but can survive under slight shade.
Spider plant care requirements include:
Aloe Barbadensis, commonly known as Aloe vera, is a succulent plant species of the genus Aloe.
Aloe vera plants originate from the Arabian Peninsula but are widely distributed around the world. This has resulted in them becoming invasive species in some areas.
Commonly used as houseplants, Aloe vera plants are a robust species of plant that require little water.
They enjoy partial sunlight, so placing them in areas that receive some shade is recommended. If your Aloe vera plant feels like it’s not getting enough sunlight, it will angle itself toward the light.
Aloe vera are excellent plants to keep around if you get a minor burn from cooking or get sunburnt from spending too much time outdoors (especially while gardening).
Aloe Vera plant care requirements include:
Ficus elastica, also known as the rubber plant, is a species of plant native to South and Southeast Asia.
In the wild, rubber plants can grow sixty to eighty feet tall. So this is a plant that grows quickly and can take up a bit of space.
While this plant is hardy, it may require a little more sunlight and water than the other species of plants in this list. Rubber plants prefer plenty of indirect sunlight and damp soil, but are hardy and can survive an infrequent care routine.
Rubber plants are excellent introductions for beginners who are looking to practice caring for needier plant species.
Rubber plant care requirements include:
Consider these tips when caring for your hard-to-kill houseplant:
Your plant may often visibly show you what it needs. Some signs and identifiers to look out for include:
Are you still a little hesitant about trying your luck with keeping one of these plants alive? If so, you can always ask a local botanist or plant specialist. Along with providing you with a hard-to-kill houseplant of your very own, they should be able to give you some advice and guidance related to plant care.
After all, they’re plant-people and plant-people are always glad to talk about plants. Do you know who else loves to talk about plants?
Botanica Floral + Home in Portland, Oregon! If you’re in Portland and need to find the perfect hard-to-kill houseplant for your home or office — we have you covered!
We provide our beautiful city with a variety of plant species and accessories. But we do not just stop there. Want to beautify a space with botanicals but don’t have the knowledge or expertise to design or maintain it?
At Botanica Floral + Home we provide an Urban Greenery installation and maintenance service for your:
Contact us today for more information about all of the botanical services that we provide.
Click here to shop our floral delivery Portland/Vancouver Metro area today!
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