When feeling that our space is bland, lacking inspiration, or feeling dull, some may resort to livening their bedrooms, workspaces, or homes by adding greenery. The color of a plant can take away from the dullness of a blank room; thus, bringing them inside our homes can allow for not only decoration but an exciting and rewarding task. Caring for plants and watching their growth has the ability to result in a calming and fulfilling sentiment. For those who want to take care of houseplants and are unsure of where to start, I will be discussing plants with minimal care requirements that will guarantee beauty and fun.

Popular for their beauty and drought-resistant nature, succulents are perfect plants for those beginning to keep them within their homes. Succulent plants have the ability to store water within their tissue, allowing them to not require much watering. Succulents are also able to withstand many home climates and do not necessarily require bright sunlight. Depending on the species of succulent, watering only needs to take place from about once a week to once a month. Further instructions for providing the proper care for your succulent vary slightly, but they generally are low-maintenance and adaptable to their surroundings, making them excellent choices for those beginning their journey of caring for houseplants. Usually only needing a minimal amount of sunlight and little watering, succulents are low-commitment plants. Blake Hardison (12) has recently begun caring for a jade plant. He enjoys how “this type of succulent requires bi-weekly watering and brings a vibrant shade of green to [his] bedroom.” Succulents also come in an endless amount of species, causing many to care for a unique plant. This extensive number of species also allows for one to find a succulent that suits their likings and their home’s climate. Thus, for their low-maintenance requirement and beauty, succulents are the perfect choice for someone looking to begin caring for indoor plants.

If one is looking to care for a larger or non-succulent plant, they must expect a little more care needed to keep these plants healthy. Because other houseplants do not have a succulents’ ability to store much water in their tissue, they require more attention. However, these plants tend to grow larger in a home environment. A Chinese money plant is a great example of a non-succulent, indoor plant that requires a doable amount of maintenance. While it needs weekly watering, it does not need direct sunlight. In fact, this plant grows best in the shady locations of one’s home, allowing an individual to spruce up a darker corner of their space. Another low-maintenance houseplant is the Asparagus Fern. Its fluffy leaves add much texture to a space, brightening any room it’s placed in. While it does need its soil kept moist, it thrives in almost any location in a home, whether it be dark corners or bright window-sills (goodhousekeeping.com). While these are just two examples of non-succulent houseplants that are perfect for beginning owners, many other species are just as simple.

Indoor plants are a simple and inexpensive way to brighten our homes and provide us with the rewarding task of caring for a creature. Their beauty and simplicity can be enjoyed through little attention. I hope these examples of low-maintenance options will allow you Mustangs to begin caring for some houseplants!