Drought Tolerant House Plants
Avoid the guilt of forgetting to water by growing these drought-resistant indoor plants. All of these easy-care houseplants tolerate a little neglect (and many of them like to be kept on the dry side). So, enjoy their lush green beauty without the stress of watering them all the time.
1 Snake plant
The sword-like, dark green leaves of snake plants (Sansevieria trifasciata) provide a bold look that is often enhanced by variations of silver, cream, white or yellow. Even better, these low-water houseplants can go weeks without a drizzle of moisture, making them perfect for forgetful gardeners. Snake plants tolerate low to bright light and grow up to four feet tall.
2 Ponytail Palm
Thanks to its thick, trunk-like trunk, the ponytail palm (Beaucornia recurvata) can store moisture for long periods of time, so it can easily survive a missed watering or two. It gets its name from the long, narrow leaves that grow from the tip of its single stem, which looks like a peppy, layered ponytail. This drought-tolerant indoor plant may need a drink every two weeks during the warmer months, but in the winter, you can only water every three or four weeks. Ponytail palms are tolerant of low to bright light, and will eventually reach 10 feet tall (but you can reduce their growth by keeping them in a small pot).
3 Aloe
A spiky succulent with puffy, toothed leaves, Aloe (Caucasian) is famous for its ability to heal burns. It's an easy-care indoor plant that doesn't need much water, so you can let the soil dry out between waterings. Cactus grows slowly, like most succulents, but with patience, it can reach three feet tall and wide. Place in bright light, but don't place it in direct sunlight, or your plant will end up basking in its own sunlight.
4 Burro's Tail
With one glance at Burrow's Tail (Sedum morganianum), you can easily see how this grey-green succulent got its name. A member of the Sedum genus, Burrow's Tail has evergreen, almost jelly bean-shaped leaves that overlap on trailing stems. The small leaves fall off easily and you can pot them to start new plants if you like. Water this houseplant like any other succulent (let the soil dry out before overwatering), and place in bright light. With proper care, a burro's tail can eventually reach two feet in length.
5 Sago palm
The slow-growing sago palm (Cycas revoluta) is a popular, durable houseplant that is easy to maintain and adds a touch of the tropics to any room. On a mature plant, the leathery, dark green leaves can stretch up to three feet in length. The sago palm likes well-drained soil, so if you forget to water this plant, it won't kill it and overwater it. Give your palm a drink when it's about to dry out, and keep it in medium to bright light—eventually, it will grow up to five feet tall.
6 Pothos
A popular choice for homes and offices, pothos (Ephipremnum aureum) is a hardy, drought-tolerant houseplant with attractive, glossy foliage. Its vines can spread eight feet or more, and you can find variegated varieties (check out 'Marble Queen') and varieties with bright green leaves (like 'Neon'). Pothos owes its fame to being practically indestructible - it tolerates low bright light and drying out between waterings. Starting new plants from cuttings is very easy.
7 Haworthia
Commonly known as the zebra plant because of its white-striped foliage, Haworthia fasciata is great for decorating a window. An indoor plant that thrives with minimal care, it grows to less than a foot tall and wide, and is usually much more compact than that. Like most succulents, the zebra plant does best in bright light and prefers its potted soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Due to its unique spikes and striped color, it is a favorite for modern decor.
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