9 Indestructible Houseplants That Create a Fresh and Leafy Indoor Oasis

Create a leafy and low-maintenance indoor oasis with these nine indestructible houseplants that can thrive despite neglect.

Dreaming of a lush, green indoor oasis but worried about keeping houseplants alive?

Are you like me and have a bunch of empty macrame plant hangers around the home, reminding you of the ghosts of potplants past?

Or something similar.

A home full of houseplants is a sanctuary many of us crave, but we can be intimidated by the thought of plant care and keeping all those little darlings alive and healthy.

(Turns out, kids are easier to care for, or maybe there’s just more at stake.)

In this article, I share nine indestructible houseplants that thrive, even if you leave them to languish occassionally.

These hardy plants not only add a touch of nature to your home but also come with a host of benefits. From sorta-kinda improving air quality to boosting your mood and productivity, houseplants are a wonderful addition to any indoor space.

Can Houseplants Help Purify Indoor Air?

Poor indoor air quality, also known as sick building syndrome, is a real problem both to people’s health and the economy. According to the CSIRO, the cost of poor indoor air quality in Australia alone may be as high as $12 billion – yup, with a B! (study reference in the gov link above; it’s an old 1998 study, however).

So with the quality of indoor air playing such an important role in our health, particularly because many of us spend a lot of time indoors, people are looking at ways to improve it.

Way back in the early 90s, NASA did a study testing the air-purifying nature of common houseplants. While the study was to protect astronauts in the confined space of a rocket, the findings have been applied a little closer to home.

NASA tested a variety of household plants against six common chemicals: benzene, trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, and ammonia and found that a variety of common household plants can reduce these chemicals in the air.

Great news, right?

Not so fast.

More recent studies say no, plants can’t purify the air inside our homes – at least not to the extend as claimed by NASA.

Inside a spaceship? Yes.

Inside our living room, not so much.

Bummer.

Turns out experiments done in a small, sealed space don’t transfer that well to our homes and offices.

“The experiments often lasted for hours or even days in order to detect a significant drop in air pollution. This does demonstrate that plants will remove pollutants from the air, but they do so incredibly slowly. That creates a problem when trying to extend these results to a house or an office space…”

[source: Harvard Uni]

Wait, But…

Later studies show that indoor plants can have a postive effect on indoor air quality, especially if you live in a teeny, tiny apartment that’s all closed up because a blizzard is blowing outside.

So, plants are beneficial to indoor air quality, not to NASA standard, but if you’re living in a shut-up small space, plants make the air better.

They also have other benefits too (see below).

But first, an interesting anecdote that isn’t at all scientific and only partially relevant.

My mum has been growing a fern (Boston Fern, I think) in her loungeroom for nearly 30 years. It languished for most of them, but after my father passed, it absolutely flourished.

It’s like Little Shop of Horrors – it’s almost taking over the whole corner of the room!

Why?

Because dad was a smoker and he smoked inside the house.

That plant was sucking in a tonne of cigarette smoke, and now it can breathe freely.

Did it play a part in protecting our lungs? I don’t know for certain, but as plants can purify air, just not to the extent we thought from the NASA experiment, I like to think it did.

And now it’s living its best life.

6 Benefits of Having Potplants in the Home

While houseplants may not have the air-purifying potential as the original NASA study found, especially if you live in a big, draughty, Austrlian house, they do have other potential benefits that make them worth having.

Here are six potential benefits:

1. Improved perceived indoor environmental quality: Regardless of their air-purifying qualities, it turns out, we just like having them in our home. Houseplants make our homes look and feel better, and as a result, we feel better [source, source].
2. Stress reduction: It’s possible that having indoor plants, specifically interacting with them (in the study, they were transplanting plants), can reduce psychological and physiological stress. [source].
3. Increased productivity: The presence of plants in office environments has been linked to enhanced productivity and creativity (I wonder if the fake cactus on my computer counts?)[source, source].
4. Improved mood: Exposure to indoor plants may positively impact mood and reduce symptoms of depression [source].
5. Enhanced healing and recovery: Hospital patients with plants in their rooms have shown faster recovery rates and reduced pain medication use [source].
6. Cognitive benefits: The presence of indoor plants may improve attention capacity and cognitive performance [source, source].

5 Potential Downsides of Having a House Full of Plants + Solutions

These downsides will depend on the individual, the type of plants, and your location. But it’s always a good idea to balance the benefits with the potential cautions, just in case.

1. Possible allergies and respiratory issues. Some plants can trigger allergies or exacerbate respiratory problems in sensitive individuals, although the study noted that undisturbed houseplants contribute minimal aeroallergen prevalence in the home but can in greenhouse conditions. [source].
2. Toxicity to pets and children. Some common houseplants are toxic if ingested, posing a risk to young children and pets. This issue can be mitigated by having plants out of reach of kids and dogs (not so easy for cats) or waiting until they are older and less likely to eat random plants.
3. Pest infestation. Household plants can potentially harbour pests and diseases, often caused by….neglect [source]. Hardy plants that need less nurturing are less likely to struggle and attract pests.
4. Maintenance Time and Cost. While we’re trying to minimise maintenance time and cost in this article with indestructible plant suggestions, a house full of plants will need some nurturing.
5. Water Damage. From overwatering. Not such a problem if indestructible plants are your preference and neglect is your style.

9 Indestructible Houseplants That are Low-Maintenance

Despite the fact that plants can’t purify the air to NASA standard, I nevertheless looked at their top ‘air purifying’ plants and picked out the most low-maintenance, hardy ones that are easiest to grow.

Because…why not?

And I focus on the most hardy plants because I don’t have the skill or patience to nurture finicky fronds.

Indestructible plants are ones that can take a whole lot of neglect and stay alive. For those who are busy or have brown thumbs like me, you can still create a lush and leafy indoor oasis without filling your home with plants that need a lot of nurturing.

Tovah Martin tested the indestructibility of plants and came up with 200 tried-and-true hardy plants. She shares these plants in her book The Indestructible Houseplant, which I managed to check out of our local library. At the time of writing, it’s also available on Kindle for ‘free’ as part of their Kindle Unlimited membership.

Of course, the ultimate low-maintenance plants are cactuses and succulents, but if you want to grow NASA-approved plants that will also survive a little neglect, here’s the curated list.

Note: These plants are for indoors, but you may also want to check with your local council to make sure they aren’t a noxious weed for your area. I’ve noted whether each plant can be toxic to pets and small children, but they are only toxic if ingested. So if your kids are older, or you can put plants in hanging baskets out of reach of kids and dogs, then you don’t have to be put off by the warning.

1. Peace Lily

Also known as Spathiphyllum, Peace Lilies are resilient plants that thrive in low-light conditions. They require moist soil, so while they aren’t as low-maintenance as a cactus, you only need to water them so they don’t dry out.

We have a couple in the shade of our courtyard that have lasted for years despite looking near-dead at times. We almost never water them, and yet they survive!

For optimal growth and flowering, fertilise them once or twice a year with a fertiliser for flowering plants.

Toxic to pets and small children.

2. Sansevieria

Commonly known as Mother-in-Law’s Tongue lol, Sansevierias are (appropriately?) among the hardiest houseplants. It’s almost impossible to kill these things.

They can grow in full light or shade and only need watering when the soil is very dry. So super low-maintenance and versatile, no matter if they are in a sunny spot in the living room or the darkened den of a teenage boy’s bedroom (at least, that’s how it is in our house).

They are, however, toxic to pets and children.

3. Dracaena

Dracaenas, especially the Red-Edged and Cornstalk (Happy Plant) varieties (I checked, and these varieties are available in our local QLD Bunnings), are sturdy plants that tolerate low light.

Having said that, we have one of the Red-Edged varieties in the garden in front of our kitchen window and it is very neglected but thrives nevertheless. The old garden bed is ‘body corp’ responsibility and never gets any attention. It gets full sun all day, all year. Every now and then, it gets hacked back to nothing, and still, it thrives.

These plants don’t like overwatering, so a little neglect is good. Allow the soil to dry out a bit between waterings. These plants are perfect for beginners due to their low maintenance requirements or me, who wants plants without the work.

Toxic to pets and children.

4. Spider Plant

Spider Plants are popular and easy to grow, making them a favourite among houseplant enthusiasts. And they are just so dang cute!

Our kids’ preschool had these growing-like weeds all in hanging baskets and wrapped around the rafters, which made the room feel very foresty.

They prefer to be kept moist, and occasional trimming helps maintain their shape. Spider Plants tolerate a bit of neglect, but they do look amazing when nurtured.

Spider Plants are non-toxic, so they are safe for homes with pets and small children.

5. Ivy

English Ivy is not a plant I’ve personally grown, but it is said to thrive when the soil is kept moist. It likes the occasional trim to keep it from getting too straggly unless, of course, you’re going for the straggly look because Ivy is a climber at heart!

You can let it trail down from a shelf, which is what my daughter wants to do in her room; just keep in mind that it prefers bright, indirect light, so a spot near a window is perfect.

Toxic to pets and children.

6. Rubber Plant

Bring back the 70s!

Part of the Ficus family, Rubber Plants are known for their robust nature, which is probably why they’ve been so popular as an indoor plant for over 50 years.

They tolerate low light but prefer medium to bright light, so they are flexible. They are happiest when you let the soil dry out slightly between waterings, so don’t mind a bit of neglect. To maintain the desired height, you can give them a quick prune.

7. Philodendron

Philodendrons are forgiving plants that can survive in spaces where other plants might struggle. There are also a lot of very attractive varieties with variegated and differently shaped leaves, so you could have a whole bunch of different Phils.

We have a poor, root-bound Philodendron Xanadu, popular in our climate, stuck in our dark and dismal courtyard. It never gets watered, and yet it’s still thriving after a decade.

They require minimal care and can tolerate infrequent (read zero in our case, although it does get rain) watering.

Toxic to pets and children.

8. Chinese Evergreen

Chinese Evergreens, or Aglaonemas, are lovely-looking plants with variegated leaves of different colours, including greens, whites, yellows, and pinks.

They thrive in low light and can handle irregular watering, making them perfect for inattentive plant parents.

Toxic to pets and children.

9. Ferns

Ferns, particularly the Boston Fern, are beloved for their feathery fronds and lush appearance.

I’m pretty sure that it’s a Boston Fern taking over Mum’s lounge room, as I mentioned above. And while they thrive in bright, indirect light and high humidity, she lives in a dry, cold climate, and it survived years of dry gas heating and dad’s cigarette smoke.

For best results, keep the soil moist but not waterlogged to support their lush foliage. Ferns can be slightly more demanding with their watering needs.

Ferns are generally safe for pets and children, making them a good choice for homes with little ones.​

So if you want a home full of potplants, but you’re not sure if you can keep them alive, start with these