The Myth of a Black Thumb: 6 Sturdy Houseplants for Beginners

What are some sturdy houseplants that even a beginner could grow?

1. Aglaonema Snow White
2. Dwarf Croton San Francisco
3. Dapo
4. Ficus Nana
5. Njoy Pothos
6. Sanseveria Hybrid

Do you dislike plants? Are you “not a plant person”?

It might seem strange that we, of all people, are asking those questions, but there’s a reason for them. Time and again, we’ve heard people say that they don’t like plants, they can’t grow plants no matter how hard they try, or all the plants they’ve ever owned have simply died on them.

We’re not discouraged by it, though, because we know that those people simply haven’t met their OTP (One True Plant) yet.

Well, there’s no need to look any further! With this list of sturdy houseplants for beginners, you’re sure to find a plant that’s resilient enough to last, as long as you take proper care of it.

Here are the plants you can try your hand at growing—so are you ready to give it one more shot?

Aglaonema Snow White

One of the best tabletop plants, these dark green plants with a splash of white on their foliage are drought tolerant, low maintenance, and able to grow in bright, indirect sunlight.

With those very minimal requirements, you really don’t need to do much except water the Aglaonema Snow White once a week, or when the top 2 to 3 inches of its soil have dried out.

In fact, this plant would rather be underwatered than overwatered, so forgetting to water it occasionally wouldn’t even hurt it (which is not to say that you should neglect your plants completely—of course not).

Dwarf Croton San Francisco

This plant with its multicolored foliage and leathery texture is about as versatile as it gets. It grows in different shapes and colors under part-shade or bright indirect light, is fairly easy to maintain, and just needs to be evenly moist.

The soil of the Dwarf Croton San Francisco shouldn’t be too soggy, as that will ruin its root system, so frequent misting during its growth period will do wonders.

If you have pets, though, make sure to keep them away from your plants as this one, in particular, can be poisonous if ingested in large quantities.

Dapo

The Asplenium Nidus, known internationally as the Bird’s Nest Fern and locally as the Dapo, has wavy, rippled leaves that grow outward from the middle. Unlike the previous plant on this list, it’s non-toxic, so it’s safe for pets—but still, don’t let them consume this new member of your family.

This low-maintenance plant thrives best under bright, indirect sunlight. Exposing it to harsh sunlight can burn its leaves and dry its soil. This plant likes consistently moist soil, so watering can be done once the top inch of soil is dry already. Additionally, remember to water directly on the soil—not on the plant.

Ficus Nana

When you think of leaves, the shape you likely have in mind is that of the Ficus Microcarpa, also known as the Green Island Ficus or Ficus Nana. These small tabletop plants with round and glossy deep green leaves thrive best in medium to bright indirect sunlight, and like their soil well-drained yet moist.

Like many other plants on this list, the recommended watering schedule is once or twice a week, and make sure to drain out the excess water to prevent root rot. A yellowing leaf or two at the bottom is fine since it likes to eliminate old leaves to accommodate new growth every so often—out with the old, in with the new, as they say.

Njoy Pothos

A plant with variegated green and white splashes, the Njoy Pothos—that’s not a typo—came from its parent plant the Marble Queen, making its sisters the Pearls and the Jade plant.

Maintenance tips for this one are pretty familiar: it thrives in medium to bright indirect sunlight and likes its soil well-draining, and its recommended watering schedule is once a week or when its leaves start to become limp. Also, as always, make sure that excess water flows out of the pot to avoid root rot.

Sanseveria Hybrid

The Sanseveria Francissi, commonly known as the Sanseveria Hybrid, are compact snake plants with pointed conical blade-like leaves that resemble the top of a pineapple. Just like the snake plant, it’s a beginner-friendly plant that requires minimal care.

It thrives best in bright indirect sunlight but is tolerant of low to medium light conditions as well. And then, you know the drill: the suggested watering schedule is once a week, or when needed. As a plus, however, Sanseveria plants are drought-tolerant because of their huge water storage, so missing a watering schedule now and then won’t harm this little baby too much.

Key Takeaway

As you can see, that whole idea of having a black thumb—that is, being unable to keep a plant alive—is a total myth! You might be watering it wrongly, giving it too much or too little sunlight, or simply not taking care of it the right way.

No need to worry, however, as each of our plants has maintenance tips on its corresponding product page, and if you really have a hard time, you can always call us for help! Additionally, check out the rest of our blog for more tips and tricks on maintaining your indoor and garden plants.

With enough patience and perseverance, you’ll be a plantito or plantita in no time, and you can kiss those “black thumb” worries goodbye!