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No matter what the season, a bit of greenery inside your home can boost your mood and elevate your decor. In fact, some research has shown that just being around plants can make people feel better! If you can't spend time outside in your garden with your favorite shrubs and flowering vines, indoor plants can add a pop of color and bring joy to any room in the house. And even if you don't have a green thumb, there actually are many low-maintenance plants you can grow indoors. You just need to give them the basics: proper light and water.
Most houseplants have tropical origins, so they like bright, indirect light (not direct sunlight), which is typically best in east- or south-facing windows. West-facing windows often have intense light that may be too strong in summertime, so you might need to shade some of your indoor plants with a sheer curtain. North-facing windows typically don’t offer sufficient light, especially in the winter. If you don’t have the right conditions, invest in a few inexpensive grow lights so your plants can thrive indoors.
When watering your indoor plants, err on the side of too dry, rather than too wet. Most houseplants prefer to dry out a bit between waterings, so stick your finger in the soil and see if it still feels moist. If you’re in doubt, wait a day and try again. Also, choose a planter that has holes in the bottom so excess water can drain out. No plant likes soggy feet!
Ahead, you'll find our favorite indoor plants for every room in the house. Be sure to check out the best indoor trees, next!
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1
Snake Plant
This easy-to-grow plant has a striking upright shape and tolerates low light conditions. Let it dry out between waterings. Snake plants are the ideal choice for new plant parents because they're quite forgiving and can go 2 to 3 weeks if you forget to water.
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2
ZZ Plant
ZZ plants, short for Zamioculcas zamiifolia, have shiny leaves and an upright form. They're just as tough as snake plants and can handle low light, and like to be completely dry between waterings.
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3
Philodendron 'Birkin'
Philodendrons are easy to grow, but they do need bright, indirect light. There are hundreds of species, but this upright variety with white striped foliage makes a striking addition to any brightly-lit space. Let it dry out slightly between waterings.
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4
Philodendron 'Heartleaf'
This is another type of philodendron that likes bright, indirect light. It has pretty dark green heart-shaped leaves and a vining form, so it looks great draping over end tables or shelves. Let it dry out slightly before watering again.
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5
Money Tree
Purported to bring good luck (and who doesn’t need more of that?!), this plant has an upright form and glossy green leaves. It prefers bright light but will adapt to moderate light. If you try to grow it where it’s too dim, the plant will stretch and become scraggly. Let it dry out slightly between waterings.
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6
Peace Lily
Peace lilies are an old favorite for their glossy dark green leaves and unusual white spoon-shaped flowers. They will tolerate low light but prefer moderate to bright, indirect light in order to bloom. Keep yours slightly moist.
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7
Peperomia
With thick, puckered heart-shaped leaves, this little plant forms a cute mounded shape. It will tolerate low to moderate light. Let the soil dry out before watering again.
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8
Pothos
Probably one of the easiest houseplants to grow, pothos has beautiful variegated leaves and a vining form. It prefers bright light but will adapt to low light (though it won’t grow as fast). It doesn’t like to be soggy, so let the soil dry out between waterings.
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9
Philodendron 'Brasil'
This variegated form of heartleaf philodendron is an easy plant to grow. It has dark green leaves with lime green streaks and likes bright light. Let it dry out in between waterings!
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10
Peaco*ck Plant
This colorful plant, also called calathea, has pretty rounded leaves and attractive markings with red undersides. It needs bright light and constant slight moisture.
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11
Jade Plant
Resembling a tiny tree with fat, fleshy leaves, this fuss-free plant likes bright light. But because it’s a succulent, it’s forgiving about watering. Give it a drink every week or two when dry.
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12
Swiss Cheese Plant
A few different plants in the Monstera family go by this common name. They have whimsical holes (like Swiss cheese, obviously!) and like bright indirect light. Wait to water until the top few inches of soil feel dry.
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13
African Violet
These cheerful little plants with fuzzy leaves bloom almost continuously in the right conditions. They need bright, indirect light. Give them a drink when the soil feels slightly dry to the touch and water from the bottom (set the pot in water and let soak for 30 minutes) or the top, but don’t get water on the leaves to prevent spotting.
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14
Parlor Palm
Popular since Victorian times, these handsome palms add a sophisticated flair to your room—but they definitely need bright light and constant light moisture.
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15
Norfolk Island Pine
This attractive little tree has soft needles and an upright form. It will grow rapidly in the right conditions. Give it bright light, though it can tolerate moderate light levels, and constant light moisture. But don’t let it dry out or it will drop lower branches, which won’t regrow.
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16
String of Pearls
This adorable succulent looks just like a long strand of pearls. It's a bit fragile, so find it a good spot and let it be. Give it bright, indirect light, and it will grow rapidly. Let it dry out between waterings.
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17
Aglaonema
This upright plant has red or white streaked foliage. It likes moderate light but will adapt to low light. Water when the soil feels dry.
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18
Haworthia
This petite plant has striped leafy clusters. It likes bright, indirect light and because it’s a succulent, it should dry out between waterings—which may not be needed for 10 days to 2 weeks.
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19
Pilea
Also called coin plants because of their fun foliage, pilea likes bright, indirect light. Let it get mostly dry before watering again. If it sprouts tiny “pups” next to the mother plant, you can separate them and make new baby plants.
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20
Rubber Tree
Rubber trees have been popular forever because they’re hardy and easy to grow. They have glossy, leathery leaves, and a strong upright form, making them a great floor plant. The variegated types are especially eye-catching. They like bright light and need to be watered when the soil is slightly dry to the touch.
