We all have that friend who comes round to your foliage-filled house and says sadly that they can’t keep plants alive. Two years ago I was that person.
Often plant failures are more to do with biting off more than we could chew. I was devastated when my first maidenhair fern died a death – but now I’m a lot more forgiving on my inexperienced self!
Beginner’s houseplants
When recommending plants to friends, I usually start with the toughest of the tough to ease them into plant parenthood. My criteria for beginner plants are basically:
- Tolerant of a wide range of conditions
- Easy and cheap to get hold of
These are my go-to’s – before I suggest more delicate foliage plants, or even succulents.
1 | ZZ Plant
The ZZ’s reputation for putting up with neglect is well-earned. It’ll put up with a relatively wide range of light, temperature and attention. The only thing that’ll do it some serious damage is over-watering, but the risk can be lowered by repotting into a terracotta pot.
2 | Sansevieria
Much like ZZ plants, sansevieria are incredibly tolerant and unlikely to cause any problems. They’re also widely found in many DIY and home stores and are affordable – large plants in IKEA often sell for around £7. Low cost means low guilt if anything goes wrong!
3 | Spider plants
Easy to get hold of and easy to grow, these are great first foliage plants for a beginner to learn with. Read more on spider plant care.
![](https://www.southseajungle.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Ocean-spider-plant-1024x768.jpg)
Best of all, these plants seem to suffer from few pests, and will put out new stems and leaves (sometimes slowly) – making them easy and rewarding gateway plants.
What next?
If you’ve had these for some time, and are looking for a challenge, it might be time to add some not-quite-beginner plants to your collection! Watch this space for more suggestions…
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