5 More Best Beginner House Plants

One of the best things about collecting house plants is the variety. You don’t have to like what other people like, and if you look around you’re almost sure to find something you do like. With that in mind, here are five more, great beginner house plants.

These plants are listed in no particular order. They were chosen, as were the plants in the first list, because they are easy to find, inexpensive, and fairly forgiving.

Oh no, more scientific names. I’m including the scientific names. You don’t have to learn them to grow and enjoy plants. Most plants have common names, nicknames, but those can differ widely. If you’re looking for a particular plant, knowing the scientific name can lead you to exactly what you want.

Schlumbergera

You may know these as ‘Thanksgiving cactus’ or ‘Christmas cactus’ based on when they bloom, and although they are a cactus, they are very different from the desert varieties. They are jungle cacti, and typically grow on rocks and trees in humid areas.

Plant them in well-draining soil and give them a good amount of bright light, but not direct sun, and you won’t be disappointed. They want a drink when the soil is dry, but don’t treat them live a desert cactus. Mine get watered about every week.

They are easy to propagate and share with friends, and they bloom with no special effort. I have one that has been growing happily for twenty years

Syngonium podophylum

There are so many varieties of Syngonium it’s hard to single out just one. They are commonly called ‘Arrowhead Vine’. Most are very easy to find, and your local big box store probably has trays of them. Because they are readily available and inexpensive they are a good starter plant. Some varieties are trending and can be expensive, but you can find good starter plants for less than ten dollars.

If you give them a support they can be trained upright, or you can let them trail from a pot or hanging basket. There are lots of colors to choose from.

They like a standard mix with a bit of bark or perlite mixed in. A bit of early morning sun or bright indirect light will suit them best. Wait until the soil is just dry before giving them a good drink.

Streptocarpus

Very few people know them by their scientific name, almost everyone simply says ‘African violets’. A lot of people think that they are a fussy, delicate, and hard to grow plant, but that’s not the case.

You can usually find these at every big box store in lots of colors. Sometimes you can find them in the markdown section for next to nothing; and they respond well to just a little bit of care.

They prefer a standard potting mix and to be near a bright window. They don’t want direct sun unless it’s the early morning light of an eastern window. Give them a drink, and then let the soil start to get dry before watering again. Once they start blooming, you’ll get months of blossoms, and you’ll probably start looking for more of these great plants.

Peperomia obtusifolia

With all the Peperomia to choose from, and there are over 1500 recorded species, why did I choose this one? Almost all Peperomia are easy, but for me this one has been the easiest, and it’s a good introduction to the Peperomia genus.

Peperomia like a well-draining soil and can take a little bit of sun. What they don’t like is being over-watered. Their roots will rot quickly in soil that stays too wet for too long. Wait until the soil is dry before you water.

Once you get the watering down, Peperomia make great houseplants, and as I mentioned, there are a lot and lots of varieties. They’re popular but not trendy, so they are easy to find, even at a big box store. Because they’re not trendy the prices fit most any budget.

Philodendron scandens

This is the quintessential houseplant. Your mother, aunt or grandmother probably had one.

They’re in this list because they tick all the boxes for a beginner house plant. You can find them for sale almost everywhere, and they should never be expensive. They are super easy to take care of, and they will live in almost any light situation. They are pretty hardy and can survive almost any condition a beginner grower could send their way.

Let the soil dry out a bit between waterings, and then give them a good drink. Find a shelf and just let those beautiful dark green leaves tumble down. You can also give it something to climb and watch it grow. It’s easy to propagate from cuttings and the cuttings are great to share with friends.

And there you have it, five more, best beginner houseplants; any one of which would be a great way to start or grow your collection.