Houseplants 101: 12 Plants Even You Couldn't Kill
Spring has sprung and it's a beautiful time to go green in your own home. Finding houseplants in Kansas City is easy thanks to abundant nurseries including Family Tree Nursery, Suburban Lawn & Garden, John's Greenhouse, and Heartland Nursery. Darling local shop Golden & Pine hosts a curated selection of smaller house plants, and the farmer's market at City Market is always a good spot to pick up a succulent. Caring for them is another story, but luckily we've put together a guide for you:
1. English Ivy
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 55-70 degrees F.; keep evenly moist
Size: Can climb or trail 6 or more feet
Likelihood of Killing: Not likely!
Note: All parts of this plant are poisonous if eaten or chewed by pets or children.
2. Snake Plant: Robusta
Growing Conditions: Low to bright light; 60-85 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry out between waterings
Size: Can grow up too 4 feet tall and wide
Likelihood of Killing: Not likely!
3. Spider Plant
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; keep the soil evenly moist
Size: Can grow up to to 1 foot tall and 2 feet wide
Likelihood of Killing: Not likely!
4. Rubber Tree
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 60-80 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: Can grow up to 8 feet tall and 4 feet wide.
Likelihood of Killing: Not likely!
Note: The white sap can cause irritation to people with very sensitive skin.
5. Jade Plant
Growing Conditions: Bright light; 65-75 degrees F., 55 degrees F. in winter; keep moderately dry
Size: Can grow up to 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide
Likelihood of Killing: Not likely!
6. Calathea
Growing Conditions: Low light; water every two to seven days; 65-75 degrees F; avoid direct sunlight.
Size: Can grow up to 6-24 inches tall
Likelihood of Killing: Not likely!
7. Aloe Vera
Growing Conditions: Indirect sunlight or artificial light; water once every 1-2 weeks; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings.
Size: Can grow up to 24-39 inches tall
Likelihood of Killing: Not likely!
8. Snake Plant
Growing Conditions: While it tolerates low light, it grows fastest in bright conditions; Water snake plant when the top inch or so of the soil dries.
Size: Can grow up to 2-3 feet tall
Likelihood of Killing: Not likely!
9. Notocactus
Growing Conditions: Full bright sunlight; Allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: Can grow up to 2-4 inches tall
Likelihood of Killing: Not likely!
10. String of Buttons Succulents
Growing Conditions: Full or partial sun; Allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: Can grow up to 18 inches tall
Likelihood of Killing: Eh, maybe...
11. Fred Ives Succulent
Growing Conditions: Full or partial sun; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: Can grow up to 12 inches wide
Likelihood of Killing: Eh, maybe...
12. Miniature Saguaro
Growing Conditions: Full, bright sunlight; Water VERY sparingly. More of these plants die from over watering than under care.
Size: Can grow up to 12 inches tall
Likelihood of Killing: Not likely!