Do you consider yourself someone with a “black thumb”? (Whatever that is.) Well, whether you have a black, pink or even a purple thumb you can easily grow these hard to kill house plants with minimal effort and maximum results. Plants are one of the quickest, easiest and affordable ways to brighten a space. They bring so much value to a room and if you choose the right ones to begin with, you can have a houseful of hard to kill houseplants in no time. The following list of plants are not only easy to maintain, but they are prolific and you’ll feel like a master gardener by being able to maintain and propagate them with very little input.
In this post about hard to kill houseplants you will learn about what houseplants will be the heartiest in almost any environment, as well as some basic instructions on how to care for and propagate these plants, so you can begin to fill your spaces with texture and dimension with minimal effort and investment. So, even if you have a long and murderous history with houseplants you can rest assured that even you can achieve success with these hard to kill houseplant varieties.
1. Pothos Ivy – The Resilient Beauty
Pothos ivy is one of the heartiest and most prolific plants I have ever owned. Their waxy tender looking leaves are much sturdier than you might think. They also come in shades of green ranging from deep solid green to light and variegated with white splotches. They are tough and tender, and boast a low maintenance temperament. You can be a beauty school drop out and still be a great plant parent to a pothos ivy. They only need attention when the soil feels dry in the first inch or so. Even if you start to see droopy, thirsty leaves, not to worry, you will gain redemption by simply giving it a good drink of water.
To propagate:
Simply take a piece of the plant, preferably with part of the stem and not just a leaf, and place it in water. This sounds too good to be true! Can it really be that simple? Yes! It really is that simple. This cutting will grow roots and new growth and you can rinse and repeat as many times as you like.
2. Wandering Jew – A Sparkling Gem
Truly one of my favorite house and garden plants. Wandering Jew comes in several gorgeous colors including deep solid purple and light sage green. The variegated variety with both deep purple and soft green in it, shimmers like my 4 year-old when she’s gotten into glitter. Not only is it one of the most gracious and forgiving plants you can own, but it reproduces quicker than rabbits on a hot summer night. No matter how much neglect it suffers, it always comes back with the slightest bit of attention. I have had these in low-light, some light, or no light and it always thrives. I would steer clear of over-watering rather than under watering. Watering once every 1-2 weeks indoors has been a good rhythm for me.
To propagate:
This one is as simple as the first. No need to fuss too much over it. In fact, you can take a piece off of the original plant and stick it straight into some soil and it’ll take over from there. It is that simple! To make my wandering Jew more bushy, I just pinch off pieces from it’s long and luxurious tendrils and place them straight into the soil.
3. Snake Plant (mother-in-law tongue) – Rigid Beauty
Don’t let either name fool you, this guy is oozing with charm and style. Clearly it is not on the list for being cowardly and faint of heart. No sir. Perhaps the heartiest on the list, this one might also be the MOST low maintenance plant in existence. It could probably grow in a closet (I haven’t tried it, but maybe you have). You can water this plant as much as once a week or as little as once a month. If you water once a week, just a little will do and if you water once a month a good soaking is in order. I love how long and slender the leaves are and that it can give just the right amount of texture to a room when you tuck it in a corner. Like wandering jew and pothos ivy, it comes in a variety of shades of green including variegated versions. No matter which version you choose you can’t go wrong by choosing this sleek, low-maintenance beauty that is definitely a hard to kill houseplant.
To propagate:
Just like it’s list predecessors, propagating the sleek leaves of this hard to kill houseplant is simple and easy. Cut a leaf near the soil and place it in water. It is a good idea to change the water when it begins to get murky, but once you see roots forming, let them mature slightly and then place in soil.
4. Pencil Plant (euphorbia) – “Please Forget” Me Plant
This hard to kill houseplant actually can thrive in the most neglectful of environments and care and propagation are a breeze. The euphorbia is a variety of cactus, so neglect is almost a must in order to maintain a pencil plant. The long and spindly leaves of this hard to kill houseplant lends itself well to a contemporary vibe, while still finding itself at home amongst other more lush plants. It is really all about texture with a pencil plant. They are easy to maintain and need very little water. If you see some of the leaves shrinking a bit, you know it is time to give it a good drink. The most I water mine is every 2 weeks to maintain it. I have found that no matter if I have it in direct indoor light or low light it thrives.
To propagate:
When I see that my pencil plant is getting a little “bushy” I pinch off a few shoots near a natural branching point and place them in water. Once I see roots have developed I place the “new plant” in some healthy soil and well draining pot and “BOOM”! I have a new plant to gift or keep.
5. English Ivy – Charming and Elegant
I love me some English ivy! Its lush, deep green (or soft green variegated) leaves nods to a bit of an elegant feel. English ivy reminds me of a secret garden that is wild and a bit un-tamed if left to its own devices, but can easily be reigned back in with a few snips off here and there. Although it is a low-maintenance houseplant, it does thrive in medium light and doesn’t love too much water. While it can be over watered, keeping the soil moist and well drained will keep it lush and happy. Not only is this a great indoor plant, but you can plant this directly into the soil in your garden and watch it take off. Some consider it a bit of a parasite plant, but with some training it can be kept in check in a more permanent setting like on a trellis or as a ground cover in a low traffic area.
To propagate:
I know I sound like a broken record, but it is just so easy to propagate this whole list of hard to kill houseplants and English ivy is no different. Simply remove a length of it from the plant and place in water and allow to grow roots. Once roots are present place the cutting in well drained soil.
Bonus Plant – Surprise! It’s Avocado
I bet you didn’t see that one coming? Oh avocado how I love thee…let me count the ways. Avocado toast (one of my favorite breakfasts), guacamole, avocado pudding and so many more. I know what you are thinking…avocados shouldn’t be on this list. Oh, but my friend they are. These are hands down one of the most affordable on this list. If you enjoy eating fresh avocados then you have the opportunity to root and grow a plant. Now, I am not saying that you will begin to grow an avocado tree, but this small plant can be maintained in a home and is a lovely and unexpected addition to any greenery grouping.
The process is simple. Here are the steps to success:
- Extract the seed as carefully as possible
- Place in a glass of water for several hours or overnight
- Remove the outer brown “skin” by gently peeling it away
- Place the now naked seed into a plastic zip top bag with a moist paper towel
- Put it in a drawer or somewhere away from light for about 2 weeks
- Check that a root and shoot have started to grow in the now cracked seed
- Place the root end of the seed over water once the white root is long enough to touch water
- It will begin to establish more roots as long as water is present and the shoot end will develop a stem and leaves
This type of system can work indefinitely. I like to use old bottles or vases with small openings so that the seed can sit independently on top. If you do not have a vessel with a small enough opening for the seed to sit on, try using toothpicks pierced into the seed and set over the vessel, kinda like that potato growing experiment from the second grade. So before you pitch that next avocado seed, consider rooting it and adding it to your collection of hard to kill houseplants. (Disclaimer: this method for propagating an avocado plant for indoors, is merely for decorative purposes and will not yield fruit.)
Plant care basics re-cap for 5 hard to kill houseplants:
All of the hard to kill houseplants on this list live up to their title – they are definitely hard to kill.
- Light – Medium to low light will suite each of the aforementioned plants just fine
- Water – Water each of when the soil is dry on the first 1-2 inches
- Container – A well draining container will work for each of these plants
- Soil – Loose, well draining soil is always a great go-to for any houseplant
- Propagation – Cut as little or as much as you like from the “mother plant” and place directly into water and wait for roots to form. Place the “new plant” in soil and repeat as many times as you like.
Whether you are a novice or long time plant parent these hard to kill houseplants are definitely worth the investment of both time and money. Not only are they low-maintenance, but also very prolific, so you are able to continuously reproduce each one many times over and soon have a space full of gorgeous and friendly plants. These plants will become a great opportunity to share and gift to friends and family and I know you will enjoy every minute of the process.
Which plant will you start with? Or perhaps you have grown one of these before and would like to share a tip with other readers? I always learn so much from others and I value other’s experiences.
