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!