Best Houseplants for Beginners

October 30, 2023

Beginner houseplants are low maintenance plants that are easy to grow. They thrive in tons of different places and can withstand some neglect, uneven temperatures, inconsistent or poor lighting, and the occasional missed watering day.

Each of these easy-to-grow plants still requires specific watering and lighting needs to live their best life… but these undemanding, beginner friendly houseplants are a great start!

Beginner Plants: Pros and Cons

Sansevieria plants, also known as a Snake plants.

PROS

CONS

Extremely adaptable
Can grow in low light conditions, even surviving in fluorescent lighting, which makes them versatile to be placed really anywhere
Alright with irregular watering patterns
Clean and filter indoor air by removing toxins
Doesn’t grow very tall

Doesn’t do well in direct sunlight

Easily overwatered

Toxic to pets if ingested

PROS

CONS

Prefers indirect light
Can survive low light conditions
Withstands lack of water: water once a month during the winter and once every three weeks during the summer
Purifies air

May irritate skin, so make sure to wash hands after contact
Only a few ZZ plant varieties to choose from

PROS

CONS

Many beautiful color varieties from shades of green to blue
Does well in almost any light, but best in low to bright indirect light conditions
Rarely has issue of root rot

Sunburnt in direct light
Toxic to humans and pets if ingested

PROS

CONS

Bright light is best for this plant
Easy to grow
Purifies air

Burns in direct sunlight
Toxic to humans and pets if ingested

A person cleaning the leaves of a rubber plant.

PROS

CONS

Purifies air
Low risk of contradicting disease
Many varieties
If you’re looking for height it grows up to ten feet tall

Sap is toxic to humans and pets if ingested, and can cause skin irritation
Temperamental with temperature changes
Grows between six to ten feet tall

Various cacti and succulents.

PROS

CONS

Drought resistant, thrives in dry conditions
Requires little attention
So many unique varieties
Versatile and can be placed relatively anywhere

Easily overwatered
Requires at least eight hours of bright light a day
Needs well-drained soil

You may have noticed, but many of the cons are “easily overwatered,” as it is a common mistake with most plants. By using the Good Dirt Indoor Potting mix, you achieve the optimal balance of moisture and aeration for the ideal drainage. We always recommend planting in pots with drainage holes.

Good Dirt Potting mixes have excellent nutrient holding capabilities. We recommend feeding the plants regularly with the Good Dirt Plant Food because there is no need to water through as our plant food is low in soluble salts and will not burn the roots.

The #1 reason plants die is overwatering. We recommend you err on the side of the dry vs. overwatering, because it’s easier to revive a dehydrated plant than to salvage an overwatered one that may be damaged by root rot. You can read more about water and how it affects the plant in Everything you Need to Know about Watering Plants.

Hard to kill plants for new plant parents

Have you been on the fence about becoming a plant parent? Not exactly sure where to start? Here at Good Dirt, we are telling you this is your sign you should dive into the world of plants and go for it!

Let’s develop that green thumb together.