Here in the Pacific Northwest winter is hard without flowers. The gardens are bare and the long cold, grey days beg for life and colour and growth. I used to fill those cold winter days with colorful supermarket bouquets. These days, knowing what I do about the toxic chemicals imported blooms are coated in, not to mention the environmental cost of flying them half way around the world I just can’t bring myself to do it anymore. But still, I need life around me, especially in the dead of winter. These days I turn to house plants. There is something so reassuring and life affirming about having something green and growing to care for. A subtle reminder that despite the weather outside, spring really is coming.
I may have a green thumb when it comes to growing things outdoors but boy can I kill a houseplant in a hurry. Not out of malice but from simple neglect. Between the kids and the farm I just don’t remember to fuss over them as much as they would like and anything that is not extra resilient tends to die a slow death in our house. The flip side of that is that in my long career of killing house plants I have stumbled on a pretty good list of plants that are nearly unkillable. I’m excited to share these with you and hopefully spare you some of the heartbreak that comes from bringing home a big beautiful houseplant only to watch it wither and die. Arm yourself with this list and head to the nursery with confidence this time!
5 Favorite Bulletproof Houseplants to Bring Your Space to Life
Pothos Plant (Epipremnum aureum)
The easiest and most carefree of houseplants. This vine is lovely trailing over the edge of a fireplace mantle or shelf and is the perfect choice for hanging planters. Pothos handles neglect admirably well, tolerating dry soil and low light levels with ease. One more reason to love this trailing beauty is its ability to root readily in water. Simply drop freshly cut stems into clear vases full of water and set in a bright window. Stems will develop roots and can either be grown indefinitely in water or can be potted up to give away to friends. Pothos comes in a straight green form or a variegated version with leaves striped and speckled with cream or gold.
2. Umbrella Plant (Schefflera actinophylla and Schefflera arbicola)
While not exactly topping the charts on trendy house plants, umbrella plants are another easy care option that bring a lush tropical vibe to your space and are remarkably difficult to kill. Umbrella plants root easily from cuttings so increasing your stock is a breeze. When your plant needs a trim simply strip the lower leaves off each cutting and drop into clear vases of water to develop a new root system then pot up. Tolerant of dryer soils and not picky about humidity, umbrella plants are a great match for the absent-minded gardener. While they prefer bright indirect light they will survive in low light areas though they may become leggy.
3. Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)
This tropical looking fern looks like it belongs in a rainforest but luckily it’s tougher than you might expect and much less of a diva than most ferns grown as houseplants. Ferns tend to be a bit picky about how much water they receive and the humidity levels of their environment but with a birds nest fern you get the same tropical look in a plant that is much more tolerant. While they don’t require high humidity like most ferns they do like to have fairly moist soil. However, unlike most other ferns they bounce back quickly if accidently left to dry out. They are also a solid choice if your house doesn’t get a lot of natural light as they prefer low light conditions. Place this one in a spot where you can keep a closer eye on how much water it gets and enjoy the beautiful shape the new leaves make as they unfurl from the center one by one.
4. Sansevieria (Dracaena ssp.)
Also known as snake plant or Mother In Law’s Tongue, with its long narrow leaves it’s easy to see where the names came from. With their easy care nature and strong architectural lines sansevieria is making a big come-back and the fact that they are practically bulletproof doesn’t hurt. If you are prone to forgetting to water your houseplants this might be just the one for you. Tolerant of both low light and very dry soil, sansevieria is more likely to rot from too much water than wither away from the lack of it so be sure to pick a pot with a hole in the bottom. Water only once every two weeks in the spring and summer and once a month through the winter.
5. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
The deep emerald green leaves and striking architectural lines of the ZZ plant are incredibly appealing on their own but add the fact that it is dead easy to grow and you’ve got the perfect houseplant. Not picky about light conditions, humidity or consistent watering ZZ plants thrive on neglect. Like sansevieria they are highly drought tolerant and go somewhat dormant in the winter. ZZ plants can be left to dry out between waterings especially during the winter. Needing a good watering only every few weeks, they are a great choice for that tucked away guest room or little-used sitting room where they might be forgotten on occasion.
A few tips I’ve learned along the way:
1. Buy the biggest plant you can afford or that will fit in your space. Larger plants are better established, have more soil in the pot to hold moisture in case you forget to water for a few days (or a few months) and are generally harder to kill. While you might think those tiny little plants you find at the nursery would look adorable lining a windowsill or mantle they dry out in a heartbeat and are a serious pain to keep alive. In the case of house plants, bigger is most definitely better.
2. Buy pots with a hole in the bottom and a saucer to catch extra water. I know this is not always the popular choice. We drool over those trendy pots on spindly legs, beautiful baskets and modern streamlined creations without a saucer in sight but here’s the thing; those saucers are a life saver. Literally they will save your plant’s life. Sitting in extra water is a very quick way to kill a plant, so whenever possible use a saucer.
3. Save your water. A few years ago I started taking notice of just how much perfectly good water I was throwing down the drain. From the kid’s water bottles after school to the 10,000 half-finished cups they leave scattered all over our house each day it seemed like I was constantly dumping out water. Until one day it finally clicked: I could be using all that lovely water on my houseplants. There are a few benefits to this, not only do we waste less water now but in trying to find a plant that needs water when I’ve got it I find myself checking in on them way more often than I used to. And having water when they need it instead of when I happened to remember to water them means much happier plants.
Favorite Places to Buy Houseplants in the Lower Mainland:
If you live locally in Langley, Vancouver or the Fraser Valley these places are worth the drive:
Cedar Rim Nursery: a huge selection of houseplants along with nursery and bedding stock, gifts and houseware; always beautifully displayed. Cedar Rim is a plant lover’s dream, the perfect place to wander on a sunny afternoon. Go to their website here for more info.
Devan Greenhouses: Located in Abbotsford, this is one of the first places I go when I’m on the hunt for a new houseplant. Prices are affordable and the selection is incredible. Check out their website here for their hours and address.
The Plant Junkie: a lush gem of a shop located in downtown Langley, loaded with gorgeous moss wall art, modern pots and every size of houseplant imaginable. For hours of operation and location click here.
If you are interested in growing outside check out our other blog posts The Easy Cut Flower Garden and Sweetbriar’s Top 10 Annual Flowers to Grow From Seed for a little inspiration.
Happy Growing!
