20 starter houseplants anyone can keep alive

Aloe vera, commonly known as medicinal aloe, is a good plant to grow at home not just because of how easily it propagates, but for its medicinal properties, from everyday use as a moisturizer to the cooling, healing effects of its gel-like sap. Aloe grows best in sandy, well-drained pots and needs little care beyond avoiding overwatering. You'll know it's thriving when offsets start appearing at the base of the parent plant; these can be removed and replanted.

Despite the name, this plant isn't a fern; its stems are covered in needle- or grass-like leaves, and small white flowers bloom between the foliage. Asparagus fern does equally well indoors or out, and its cascading foliage looks great in a hanging basket. Indoors, mist it regularly to keep the leaves from yellowing; otherwise, it just needs regular watering and repotting every few years.

These herbaceous perennials are native to Tanzania and Kenya and produce clusters of violet, purple, or white flowers that brighten a living room or dining space immediately. Plant in loose, organically rich soil, keep it in indirect light, and water lightly and occasionally. Replanting in fresh soil once a year keeps it healthy.

The true name of this plant is Tillandsia, but it has gained popularity as an "air plant" because of its ability to get most of its nutrient requirements directly from the air. While it looks like a high-maintenance plant, it is very simple to care for. Experts advise soaking the plant in water for 15 minutes the first time. Then shake and let it dry before placing it in any setting that you prefer. Mist or soaking it in water every week is the only attention this exotic-looking plant seeks later on.

These herbaceous perennials are from Southeast Asia and are recognizable from their variegated silvery-white and green leaves. This plant prefers diffused sun or indirect light and thrives well in warm temperatures with high humidity. Low watering from fall to winter is preferred.

Coral cactus is a hybrid plant. It is not a cactus but a succulent that looks like one. Its most attractive feature is its coral reef-like crinkled appearance with pink or ruby edges. It is an especially good choice for those who are looking for an unusual type of houseplant. It grows well in partially sunny spots and doesn't need much watering. A good trick is to check the drainage hole of the pot for wetness. If it is dry, then it is a good time to water moderately.

Christmas cacti produce bright-colored flowers in red, providing a perfectly bright setting during Christmas time. In its natural habitat, the cactus is found growing on the tree branches in the forests of Brazil. They have flattened leaves with rounded teeth on the margins. Like all cacti, its water requirement is minimal and it is good to keep the pot well-drained. A pruning in June ensures that there are more branches and more flowering around December.

The corn plant is quite popular for homes and offices because of its easy care and maintenance. There are a few varieties of the plant, but the most common one has green outer edges and yellow in the center of the long leaves. The plant itself grows approximately four feet. It needs indirect light and moderate watering. Excess watering may cause the leaves to droop.

This plant is also known as the ballroom plant, or the haran plant in Japanese. It is a good choice for those who do not have much time to tend to their plants at home. Although a slow grower, the plant can live for a number of years without much requirement for constant watering. Small purple flowers appear in mature plants near the soil surface, but it is the attractive foliage for which the plant is known rather than its flowers.

The glossy green leaves with perfectly shaped veins give the fiddle-leaf fig its reputation as a popular house plant. This plant can grow up to six feet at home. It is originally from the tropical jungles of Africa, where it grows as epiphytes, meaning by embedding its seeds on another tree and using its nutrients to grow. At home, though, they grow quite easily in the soil with regular watering.

Over the last decade, the trend of growing lucky bamboo's elegant, twisted stalk arrangements in glass and ceramic pots has only increased. The plants are not really true bamboos but two species, namely the Dracaena sanderiana and Dracaena braunii. For feng shui enthusiasts, the plants offer peaceful home energy. They do not require any soil and grow easily inside a pot with rocks and pebbles, filled with water. The only care they need is proper water level and moisture.

In its natural habitat, the parlor palm can grow as tall as 16 feet. As an indoor plant, though, it has adapted well to a maximum growth length of two to six feet. The added advantage of growing this plant at home is that it can stay green even after being cut for about 40 days, making it ideal for flower arrangements and Palm Sunday decorations.

This is a large genus of flowering plants, with more than 600 recognized species. They are known as no-fail plants because of the ease with which they can be grown. You can choose a variety that is upright or the more popular climber varieties that look pretty in any corner of the house. They only need to be moved occasionally to a sunlit spot and watered once every two or three days, or when the topsoil feels dry.

These plants are semi-succulents native to Central and South America. There are thousands of varieties that grow well as indoor plants and have similar care requirements, including indirect sunlight and moderate watering from the bottom to prevent sogginess of the topsoil and leaf disease. Peperomia has also been known to grow well under fluorescent lighting. The leaves are thick, shiny, and may be glossy green, red, or cream depending on the variety.

The beautiful plant is easy to care for and a popular choice when it comes to indoor plants because of the beautiful flower cluster surrounded by a white leaf. While peace lilies were once touted for air-purifying properties based on NASA research, more recent studies have found that in real-world home environments, plants have negligible impact on indoor air quality. Still, peace lilies remain beloved for their aesthetic appeal. They require moderate watering and light conditions to grow well.

These plants are called rose succulents because of their tiny blooming appearance, so much so that if they did not have a green tinge, you could easily mistake them for a rose. They are native to the Canary Islands located off the coast of Spain. Unlike other plants, these succulents grow more during the winter than during summer. They can tolerate wet soil better than other succulents but need a pot with good drainage.

The spider plant has small plantlets that dangle from the mother plant, and can simply be cut and replanted. Spider plants are very easy to grow and thrive well in all conditions. The elongated leaves are a beautiful light green with white borders. These hardy plants can be easily grown indoors in well-drained pots.

The snake plant is one of the most tolerant indoor plants, and thus very popular. You can recognize its elongated, thick leaves with yellow borders. It is also known as mother-in-law's tongue and is native to tropical Africa. Once classified under the genus Sansevieria, snake plants have been reclassified into the Dracaena genus following molecular examination. As an indoor plant, it can be grown in medium-sized pots by directly planting a leaf cut through vegetative propagation or a rhizome cut from the root. The best part is that you can forget to water it for weeks, and the plant still looks fresh.

This is a drought-tolerant plant with sword-like leaves and beautiful white inflorescence. This plant fulfills most of its water needs from its bulbous base or stalk. While it is a slow-growing plant, it requires zero care other than exposure to sunlight. If you are looking for a plant for a terrace garden or an open space with ample sunlight, this one is a good choice.

This eclectic little plant is sure to become a point of conversation with anyone who visits. It is also known as the fishbone cactus or the ric rac because of the alternate pattern of leaves across its central spine. The plant is originally from Mexico and grows in groups, hanging from trees in a tropical, moist environment. At home, you can use a hanging basket or a pot with low soil and a good compost mix.