The Coolest Houseplants That Are Actually Easy To Take Care Of

The name alone sounds cool, right? “If you love the Monstera plant, you’ll definitely love this more interesting climbing aroid,” says Puneet Sabharwal, CEO & Co-Founder of Horti, a monthly plant subscription service designed to build confidence in plant care. “It has robust vines that can grow up to 40 inches.” To care for the Rhaphidophora Decursiva, Sabharwal suggests giving it bright, indirect light (filtered sunlight) and water it once a week.

Welcome to the jungle! If you’re looking for a houseplant that pretty much wants you to neglect it (okay, within reason!) then get yourself a ZZ Zenzi. “The less common and super cool cousin of the easy to find Zamioculcus Zamiifolia, this plant is a dwarf variety with plumper stems and leaves,” says Sabharwal. “It thrives in direct sun, but can adapt to slightly lower light conditions.” Water when the soil is fully dry, and as a rule of thumb, it’s better to underwater this plant than to give it too much.

If you rarely ever remember to water your plants, the Ric Rac will be your BFF. It’s one of Hewitt’s absolute favorites. “I love the shape of the leaves paired with a taupe pot,” she tells us. It would work well in almost any environment, and it’s incredibly easy to keep alive. Hewitt recommends making sure your Ric Rac gets lots of bright, direct sunlight. “And to avoid overwatering, let it dry out completely between waters.”

Looking for something super cool to decorate that empty shelf? “The Xerographica curls around its pot, and for something so low maintenance, adds so much to a space,” notes Hewitt. Because air plants aren’t planted in soil, they just need a dip in water every now and then. Hewitt advises misting regularly without saturating, and then every few weeks dunk them in water for about 15 minutes, making sure to shake off any excess water.

If you’re a fan of succulents, you’ll love the aloe vera, especially considering how long they last. Hewitt has had one for 30 years that she inherited from a fellow florist. Even cooler, “their leaves can be used for skin care, and if they’re really thriving they’ll bloom the most incredible flowers,” she says.

Because the aloe is a succulent, it prefers drier soil. “Water is only necessary when the soil has completely dried. Also, aloes really thrive in bright direct sunlight, but ironically, they can get sunburned,” she points out. Try to put yours in a spot where it isn’t getting too much direct sunlight throughout the day.

Brighten up your space with this rare, fast-growing plant that’s hard to kill. “A variety of Pothos that’s fairly new to the market, the leaves are more narrow with neon yellow and green variegation all over them,” says Sabharwal. Care is pretty straightforward too. “Just give it bright indirect light, and water weekly,” she advises. “Keep the soil lightly moist but never soggy.”