Hard to Kill: Plants For The Inept

Plants are good for the environment, they add life to a dull space and some even cleanse the air. But the work that goes into raising a pot of greenery from a simple seed is unknown to someone who is always on-the-go. One may try to take on this task, whether it's for decorative or pleasurable pastime purposes, but for reasons such as forgetting to water, not knowing how to deal with infestations or not being able to tell when a plant has crossed over to the point of no return, makes it almost impossible to keep a plant alive. For those not born with the green thumb, expert Holly Olson from French Peas has narrowed down her list to the top five plants that are Hard To Kill.

5. Nephthytis This plant, which comes from the family of elephant ears, is low-maintenance and can easily be taken care of when grown indoors. Although the Nephthytis needs to be watered frequently, Olson said the plant can withstand room temperatures and does not require a lot of sunlight. The Nephthytis is a variegated, or two-tone plant, with light and dark green leaves. Nephthytis’ range from 15-35 centimeters long and are usually arrowhead shaped with three lobes. It is native to tropical western Africa and very popular in the gardens and lawns of the United States.

4. Orchids Although Orchids have a reputation of needing a little more attention than other plants, Olson stresses their beauty and a few simple rules for anyone to grow or maintain an orchid for their home. Orchids need light but not directly. Perhaps putting the orchid in a south facing window in order to make sure it gets enough morning and afternoon sun would be best. Orchids only need to be watered once a week; feel free to mist in between maintenance. Another good thing about the Orchid is that most are non-parasitic so you do not have to worry about infestations in your pots or gardens.

3. Bird's Nest Ferns Also called the genus Asplenium. Bird's Nest Ferns look as if there is an actual birds nest in the center of the plant. Olson explained that the Bird’s Nest Fern has an average core, only needs to be watered once a week and requires only a little bit of sunlight. This plant is perfect for someone who needs to add a simple, green element to their home and not worry about too much maintenance.

2. Bromeliad The Bromeliad, or pineapple plant, stays in bloom for three months and is nice and showy, as Olson explained. They don’t need to be watered but once every two weeks and are not finicky about sunlight. The Bromeliad is colorful and exotic and is described by many florists as giving a home a dramatic foliage.

1. Spathiphyllum For gardeners who want the best of both worlds, the "Spath" is a recommended and popular house plant primarily because it flowers; which can be produced at any season. Its common name, the Peace Lily, is from the resemblance of the white flag for truce during battles. Olson described the Spath as being nice, full and having a good height. She jokingly called it the 'closet plant' considering the Spath can be kept in a dark room and still be maintained. The plant only needs to be watered once a week, but for those who are busy or just simply forget, the Spath will droop and possibly turn yellow when it is becoming too dry. This plant is smart, grows flowers and is easy to maintain, that is why it is the number one hardest-to-kill plant on the list.