New to plants, or convinced you cannot keep one alive? Start with these forgiving favourites from our greenhouse.
Everyone starts somewhere, and the kindest way to begin is with plants that forgive mistakes. The eight below cope with missed waterings, dim corners and the odd week of neglect while you find your rhythm. They are also the plants our own team give to friends who say they cannot grow anything.
For low light
The snake plant is the classic starter. Its upright, sword-shaped leaves store water, so it is happy to be watered every two to three weeks, and it grows in anything from a bright window to a shaded hallway. The ZZ plant is just as tough. It has glossy leaves that look polished all year and thick underground stems that hold water for a month or more.
For shelves and hanging pots
The money plant, or golden pothos, trails beautifully and tells you clearly when it is thirsty: the leaves go soft and droop, then perk up within hours of watering. The spider plant is equally cheerful. It sends out arching runners with baby plants on the ends, which you can snip off and pot up for friends. It is also safe for cats and dogs.
For sunny spots
Jade plant and aloe vera both love a bright windowsill and dry soil. Water them only when the pot feels light and the soil is dry all the way through. Haworthia zebra is a small, striped succulent that suits desks, since it tolerates lower light than most of its cousins.
For a touch of bloom
The peace lily is the easiest flowering houseplant we grow. It manages in medium light, produces white blooms several times a year and droops dramatically when dry, so you never have to guess.
How to give them a good start
Leave a new plant in its nursery pot for the first two weeks while it settles in. Place it where it will live and resist the urge to move it around. Water only when the top few centimetres of soil are dry. Feed once a month in the warm season, and wipe the leaves with a damp cloth now and then.
The next step
Once these are thriving, you are ready for something leafier, such as a monstera or a rubber plant. If you would like everything in one box, our New Plant Parent Starter Kit includes a plant, a pot, potting mix, a watering can and a care card.
