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Easy care houseplants

If you are just beginning to grow indoor plants, selecting an easy-care plant is the obvious first choice. They will tolerate a wide range of positions and conditions in the home, and are usually forgiving if watering is occasionally forgotten; if they are not placed in the best light, or not given the optimum temperature in which to grow.  No plants will tolerate a site in complete darkness like a windowless room, as they need daylight to produce food for themselves

Sanseviera

Sanseviera will tolerate some drought. They are happy in sun or part-shade, grow in low humidity and need a well-drained compost.

Dracaena 

  • Best in bright light, but will tolerate some shade
  • Tolerant of low relative humidity
  • Happy in average room temperature
  • Intolerant of fluoride in tapwater, use rainwater

Spathiphyllum

  • Tolerates bright light through to full shade
  • Happy in average room temperatures
  • Tolerant of lower relative humidity
  • Happy in most potting media as long as they are moisture retentive and well-drained

Philodendron

  • Prefers ericaceous compost
  • Tolerant of lower relative humidity
  • Grows well in shade or brighter light
  • Happy in average room temperatures
  • Tolerant if under-watered occasionally
  • Use rainwater, if tapwater is hard

Hedera

  • Unfussy as to soil type as long as it well drained
  • Will tolerate hard tap water
  • Will grow in bright light or shade
  • Prefers cooler rooms, but will also grow in average room temperatures

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The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.