I need a house plant that doesn't die easily

[catinboots123]

All my house plants die. Always. I've been given a nice pot and am looking for a medium sized plant.

Bonus points if I can order it online.

Any recommendations?

Monstera. My Swiss Cheese plant inspired my username. Bought as a little plant from B&Q and now it’s a massive Triffid in my lounge. DH hates it and wants to prune it but I’m not letting him touch it as it’s the first plant ever that I’ve not killed. It seems to tolerate a bit of over-watering which is good as I suspect I am too generous with it.

Snake plant (otherwise known as Mother In Laws Tongue) - bit sculptural, but thrives on gentle neglect. I'd also suggest looking at where you keep plants. I've got a house where some windows face south and where others face north, and the house plants are all much happier on the north facing windowsills.

@Ughmaybenot

Peace lily. It starts looking floppy, you water it, it thrives on… or seems to 🤷🏼‍♀️

I agree, they're the only thing I can keep alive!

Peace Lily.

They're absolute drama queens and will wilt dramatically like they had never been watered. Thing is, this will tell you to give it a drink. It takes a hell of a lot more than the flopping and wilting to kill it. Mine lived in the bathroom and when it did this, I chucked it under a cold shower for a few seconds. Sorted.

Calathea. Bomb proof.

@TangerineDreams

Peace Lily.

They're absolute drama queens and will wilt dramatically like they had never been watered. Thing is, this will tell you to give it a drink. It takes a hell of a lot more than the flopping and wilting to kill it. Mine lived in the bathroom and when it did this, I chucked it under a cold shower for a few seconds. Sorted.

This, plus as they grow you can separate into new plants. I bought one, and now have 10 just from the one plant I bought. I have never kept a plant alive longer than 2 weeks before this.

Also, in about 3 years, cut the whole thing in half, roots and all, and repot in two pots, with added porting compost. Halve two, or gift one. The following year they will both be the same size as the original.

Agree

Christmas cactus or poinsettia. Amaryllis. All pretty or soon to be pretty

Peace Lily, we can go away for 3 weeks and it still doesn't die. When it looks half dead water it and it will just come back to life.

@IntemperateSpirits

www.patchplants.com has an "unkillables" section which should give you some ideas.

This website is brilliant thanks

@girlmom21 lol it hasn't flowered in over a year though!

Don't water any house plant until it feels really light when you pick the pot up. Don't let it stand in water. In winter it probably only needs watered every other week. Put it in light but not above a radiator.

But crucially don't water it too much.

The bigger the plant the easier to keep alive - they need less watering.

Have I got my point across about watering?

I have the blackest thumb ever, but Kalanchoe can survive me. It's not the most beautiful plant, but if your house gets struck by an atom bomb and everything else gets vaporised...the Kalanchoe will be squatting in the rubble looking exactly the same as usual.

Mother in laws tongue, only plant I’ve ever kept alive. Water it once a month or so.

@SavoyCabbage

I've got an aloe Vera from IKEA that I forget is there it's so neglected.

I got one of those about 6 weeks ago . It's already dead - all the stalks have detached 😬

I have a Dracaena which I have managed to not kill with 25years of general neglect.
It was from IKEA and was a house warming present from my ex's parents - it's now 4houses on and lasted way longer than ex.
Occasionally it gets a little sparse which is when I usually water it.

Nobody’s said aspidistra!!!
They don’t call it the cast iron plant for nothing …
Granted it’s a bit dull but it stays alive!
My DD is a notorious plant killer so I got her one a few months back and it lives!
www.patchplants.com/gb/en/plants/aspidistra-44/

I agree snake plant and ZZ are nearly indestructible. You can get some amazing colours of snake plants.

I actually find the spider plants a bit tricky and thirsty.

Another shout for spider plants. I started off with one. It sprouted 3 spiderling plants. I potted them. The beggars are thriving and the original is sprouting more! Anyone know a fool proof way of killing them? I'm running out of pots and soil!

I've killed 2 calatheas and a tradescantia in the last year :( The latest tradescantia is on its shrivelly way out.

And my cheeseplant is not looking too great either :(

Is there a prize for blackest thumb?

However, our pilea is lovely and is surviving my abuse. They seem to be sold everywhere now, although I'd not heard them called Chinese money plants before (I thought that was the name for a different succulent). www.patchplants.com/gb/en/plants/chinese-money-plant-238/

I second peace lily...those things are virtually indestructible. Got loads in my house that I've had years and years and inadvertently tried to kill off. Still hanging in there.

Aloe Vera, hard to kill and great for minor oven burns too.

Please are really easy to keep alive or resurrect if they look a bit ropey. And they multiply! Pothos are great and need very little love. I have one thriving even in a darkish room. Inchplants (tradescantias) are pretty and just keep growing and growing. Although I have it in a bright place.

Money plant! Still goin strong after ten years. Totally neglected.