The Best Houseplants For First-Time Plant Parents

Thinking about purchasing your first plant but not sure where to start? We've got you covered! Below is a list of the best plants for beginners and some information on how to care for them.

1. ZZ plants

ZZ plants are perfect for any first-time plant parent, especially if you're a busy person. They don't require a lot of light or water and they aren't as prone to pest infestation like some other plants are. I like to call these guys the "thrive on neglect" plants. They also come in multiple variations including the Black Raven ZZ, the ZZ compacta, and the regular green ZZ.

2. Sansevieria (AKA Snake Plants)

These guys are another plant that doesn't require a lot of light or water. The cool thing about Snake plants though, is they are very tolerant of brighter or darker light environments, making them perfect for a beginner who's still trying to figure out the whole plant and light requirement situation. They also come in so many variations: with stripes, without, light colored, dark, etc.

3. Spider Plants

One of my personal favorites are spider plants. They require medium to bright light, weekly watering, and they grow super fast! They are also perfect if you're thinking about dappling into the hobby of propagation (AKA growing baby plants from an existing plant). Spider plants are super easy to propagate in both soil and water, and they also make the perfect plant for hanging baskets. Honestly, what's not to love about them?

4. Burro's Tail

If you're looking for a more unique plant that's also beginner friendly, this plant should definitely be at the top of your list. They prefer brighter light and don't need much water. They are part of the succulent family, meaning they have short roots and are very drought tolerant. I can usually get away with only watering mine every two weeks! These guys are perfect for those with a busy schedule and pretty forgiving if you forget to water them here and there.

Image from Coplay/Shutterstock

5. Pothos

Pothos are an extremely popular plant and can be found at pretty much every plant store. They are perfect for propagating, grow fairly quickly, prefer medium to bright indirect light, and look amazing in hanging baskets or macrame. They are definitely a safe choice for any beginner plant parent and only need to be watered about once a week. There are so many varieties of pothos in different colors and patterns, but some of my personal favorites are the silver satin, marbled queen, and hawaiian pothos.

Of course there are so many other plants that may be considered "beginner-friendly", but these are just a few of my top picks. Whether you have barely any light in your space or can never remember to water your plants, I am sure there is a plant in this list that will work for you.

To all the new plant parents out there, best of luck and welcome to the community!

- Uprooted ATL