There’s nothing like lush houseplants, whether they’re ultra-green and sleek or bold and flowering. But we often receive one question from those who aren’t home often: How can I enjoy these amazing house plants when I travel frequently, or don’t have a green thumb?
Thankfully, we’ve got you covered with our top 6 low-maintenance houseplants, perfect for jetsetters and black thumbs alike.
6. Weeping Blue Ginger – Tropical look without the hassle
Pair your Blue Ginger with similar tropical and subtropical evergreen plants like Plumeria and Bromeliads. In warmer climates, your Blue Ginger plant can be incorporated into your landscape - in areas with cooler winters, keep your Blue Ginger in a patio pot that you can easily transfer indoors and out, or maintain it as a house plant.
A true jack-of-all-trades, this tropical beauty brightens up gardens, living rooms, and walkways equally well. And it's incredibly easy to maintain - the Blue Ginger plant tolerates drought conditions and dry air, needs only partial sun and can be easily pruned to control its height.
5. Aloe Vera Plant – Low maintenance and great for skin
Aloe Vera is a type of succulent—meaning, it stores its own water! You can go a month (sometimes longer) without watering it. In other words, you won’t have to worry about rushing home from your European tour to keep it alive.
Plus, this plant is used medicinally! Many use the gel inside the Aloe Vera’s leaves to treat minor skin irritations. Got a bad sunburn at the beach? You can cut open a leaf and apply the aloe gel to soothe your skin naturally.
4. Xanadu – Effortlessly fast-growing
Lush and tropical, the Xanadu Philodendron is effortless to grow and maintain. No matter where you place it—kitchen, bathroom, entryway—this plant will dazzle (without all the upkeep). This houseplant also spreads out quickly, but it won’t grow taller than 4 feet.
Like other low-maintenance houseplants, the Xanadu just needs slightly moist soil. There is no need to water your Philodendron until you have a full inch of dryness starting from the top of the soil (use your finger to check the soil’s moisture!).
3. Monstera – Won’t complain if you miss a water date
This adaptable houseplant thrives in bright, indirect light (or even fluorescent lighting!). And when you’re gone on business trips, your Monstera won’t miss you too much—it can go quite a while without a good watering.
We still recommend spraying your Monstera’s leaves with water in the winter (or, if you live in a dry climate, spritz it a little throughout the year). It loves humidity, but you can let its soil dry out about 2 inches down.
2. Pothos – You’ve got one, you’ve got a dozen
We LOVE pothos—it is one of the best houseplants for beginners and experts alike. You don’t need any special type of soil for it, it doesn’t need frequent watering, and it thrives in many different light conditions. While it will grow a bit faster with more water and sunlight, you can plant and forget this one.
One of our favorite things about the pothos: it’s super easy to propagate. All you have to do is cut off a piece (making sure you include a few root nodes) and place it in water. It’ll start growing roots in no time. And because those babies will be in water, you only need to make sure the water hasn’t evaporated after a few weeks.
1. Snake Plant – Neglect it to make it happy
Chic, charming, and an absolute breeze to grow, the Snake Plant is our #1 pick for frequent travelers. We mean it when we say “neglect it to make it happy.” It barely needs water or light, and it doesn’t require any specific soil type.
It’s a popular choice in interior design because of its contemporary look, hard-to-kill nature, and air-purifying properties. Whether you’re new to the houseplant world or a seasoned plant lover, this exotic species will elevate your space with zero stress.
