If you’ve ever killed a plant by forgetting to water it or giving it too much sun, you’re not alone. Lots of people want greenery in their space but struggle to keep plants alive. The good news is there are plants that can handle almost anything you throw at them.
These tough plants are perfect for anyone who wants low-maintenance greenery without the stress of constant care. Whether you’ve got a busy schedule or just don’t have a green thumb, these plants make it easy to enjoy nature indoors or out.
Pothos
Pothos is perfect if you often forget to water your plants. It can handle dry soil and doesn’t need much direct sunlight. You can put it almost anywhere indoors, and it will still grow. Just avoid drowning it in water, and you’re good to go.
If you’re new to plants, Pothos is one of the easiest to keep alive. It’s that tough. Find out more about why Pothos is so resilient here.
Snake Plant
The snake plant is a tough one for beginners. You only need to water it when the soil is completely dry, and even then, it’s fine skipping a week.
It grows well in low light and doesn’t need much attention. Just avoid pots without drainage or bad soil, or it could suffer. Learn more about caring for snake plants here.
ZZ Plant
The ZZ plant is perfect if you often forget to water your plants. It thrives in low light and only needs watering every few weeks, so it’s pretty low maintenance.
Just be careful not to overwater—too much water can actually kill it. Keep it in a spot with indirect light, and it’ll stay healthy with minimal effort. ZZ plants contain calcium oxalate, so you’ll want to keep them away from pets and kids. Learn more about caring for ZZ plants here.
Philodendron
Philodendrons are great if you want a plant that’s easy to keep alive. They grow fast and don’t need a ton of fuss. You can let them trail or stand upright, so they fit in almost any spot. Just give them some indirect light and water when the soil feels dry.
They’re forgiving if you forget a bit, making them perfect for beginners or busy people. For more details, check out this guide on the hardest to kill houseplants.
Peace Lily
If you’re looking for a low-maintenance plant, the peace lily is a solid choice. It can tolerate low light and only needs watering about once a week. Just watch for brown leaf tips—they usually mean your plant needs less fertilizer or softer water.
Peace lilies also help clean the air, which is a nice bonus for your space. For more tips on keeping yours alive, check this guide on peace lily care.
Cast Iron Plant
The Cast Iron Plant is perfect if you’re not great at remembering to water. It can handle low light and ignores most beginner mistakes. Just keep it out of direct sunlight, and it’ll stick around for a long time.
Plus, it even helps clean the air in your home, making it a solid choice for busy spots you might forget to care for. Learn more about the Cast Iron Plant’s hardiness.
Jade Plant
If you’re looking for a tough plant, the jade plant’s a solid choice. It thrives in dry, warm conditions and doesn’t need much water.
You can leave it alone for weeks, and it will still do fine. Just watch out for pests like squirrels if you keep it outside. With simple care, your jade plant can last for years and even become a family favorite.
Monstera
You can’t go wrong with a Monstera, even if you forget to water it sometimes. It likes bright, indirect light but can handle low light, just slower growth.
Keep the soil slightly moist and spray the leaves now and then to keep it happy. If you want tips on care, check out this Monstera care cheatsheet.
Golden Pothos
You can’t go wrong with a Golden Pothos if you want a tough, low-maintenance plant. It handles low light and irregular watering pretty well.
Just keep an eye on the soil moisture—not too dry, not soggy. Trimming dead leaves helps it stay healthy. For more tips, check out this Golden Pothos care guide.
Air Plants
Air plants are great if you want low-maintenance greenery. They don’t need soil and only require occasional misting or quick soaking to stay happy.
Just remember, some types with wispy leaves don’t like long soaks. Light is key, so keep them in a bright spot but out of direct sun. You’ll find they’re pretty tough and forgiving overall. For more details, check out this air plant care guide.
Spider Plant
If you tend to forget watering, the spider plant is pretty forgiving. It adapts well to different light conditions, so it doesn’t need a perfect spot to thrive.
Just watch out for over-watering—letting the soil dry out a bit helps keep it happy. It’s a great choice if you want a low-maintenance green buddy in your space source.
Succulents
Succulents are great if you want low-maintenance plants. They store water in their leaves, so you don’t have to water them often. Some types, like jade plants or haworthia, can handle neglect pretty well. Just make sure they get some light and don’t sit in soggy soil.
If you keep your watering in check, succulents can survive almost anywhere. For more tips on easy succulents, check out 5 indoor succulents you simply can’t kill.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is pretty tough, but it does need some care. You want to avoid overwatering since it can drown easily. It prefers bright, indirect light, so don’t shove it in a dark corner.
If you keep your watering in check and give it enough light, aloe vera can stick around longer than you might expect. For tips on aloe care, check this discussion on aloe vera challenges.
Hardy Palms
If you want a low-maintenance palm, the ponytail palm is a solid choice. It only needs bright light and watering when the soil is dry, making it easy to keep alive.
The bamboo palm is another good option. It’s tough and will grow well in pots, even if you forget about it sometimes. For more options, check out palms that handle cold down to the 20s here.
Rubber Plant
The rubber plant is pretty tough and can handle a range of light conditions, so you don’t need to stress too much. It prefers to be left alone rather than fussed over, making it great if you forget to water sometimes.
If you want to get rid of one, some people have success drilling holes in the trunk and using herbicide, but normally, simply letting it grow is easy enough. For more tips, check this Rubber Plant advice.
Dracaena
If you’re looking for a tough plant, Dracaena is a solid pick. It handles low light and doesn’t need water too often, so it’s pretty low maintenance.
Your plant might droop or get brown tips if stressed, but with simple care, it bounces back fast. Check out tips for keeping your Dracaena happy here.
Chinese Evergreen
If you want a plant that handles low light well, Chinese Evergreen is a solid pick. It’s pretty forgiving and doesn’t need much attention, making it perfect if you’re forgetful.
Your plant might lose some bottom leaves by yellowing, but that’s normal and doesn’t mean it’s dying. Just keep it out of direct sunlight and let it adjust to brighter spots slowly.
Boston Fern
Boston ferns like bright, indirect light, so put yours near a window but out of direct sun. Water it when the fronds start to droop, especially in summer when they get thirsty.
Avoid watering the crown directly or over-misting it to keep your fern healthy. For easy care tips, check out this guide on Boston fern care.
Parlor Palm
If you want a low-fuss plant, the parlor palm is a solid pick. It handles low light well, making it perfect for spots that don’t get a lot of sun. Just keep the soil lightly moist—you don’t want it to dry out completely or stay soggy.
This plant grows slowly and doesn’t need much pruning. Plus, it’s safe around pets and kids, so you don’t have to worry about toxicity. For more care tips, check out this parlor palm guide.
Fiddle Leaf Fig
You might think fiddle leaf figs are tricky, but they’re pretty forgiving once you get the basics. Just give yours bright, indirect light—too much direct sun can actually harm it.
Water carefully; overwatering causes root rot, so let the soil dry out between drinks. If you nail those two, your plant will stick around longer than you expect. For more tips, check out how to keep a fiddle leaf fig alive and happy.