Want to impress your friends and family with minimal effort? Dress up your home with these easy care houseplants! We'll walk you through exactly how to keep each one of them happy.
Hoya Wax Plant
There are over 200 different kinds of Hoya, but they have similar care needs.
Light:
Takes moderate to low light conditions (100-400 foot candles,) but appreciates 1-2 hours of direct sunlight during the cool season.
Water:
Allow top 1/3 of soil to dry out in spring and summer. Allow top 1/2 to dry out otherwise.
Provide a pebble tray for humidity.
Temperature:
If you’d like your Hoya to bloom, put it in a spot that’s 54-64℉ during winter.
Fertilizer:
Feed with houseplant fertilizer once every four waterings year round.
Dracaena fragrans 'Compacta' Janet Craig Dracaena
Janet Craig is the easiest Dracaena (indeed, one of the easiest houseplants) to care for!
Light:
Janet Craig withstands relatively low light, (50-200 Foot Candles) and grows slowly into a “tree” form.
Water:
Allow top 1/2 of soil to dry out. Reduce watering a little more in fall and winter. Use tepid water to avoid root shock, and never overwater, as this leads to root rot. Err on the dry side.
Fertilizer:
Fertilize with houseplant feed every 4 waterings in spring & summer. Reduce to every 6 weeks fall and winter.
Mangave
Rugged and sculptural, Mangave is an intriguing cross between Agave and Manfreda. Can be grown outdoors as long as temperatures are above 50℉.
Light:
Needs a few hours of direct sun per day.
Water:
Allow to dry out between waterings.
Fertilizer:
Fertilize every few months with cactus or houseplant fertilizer.
Crassula ovata Jade Plant
Although it grows into an impressive specimen, Jade Plant is a type of succulent, and just as easy to grow! If you’d like your Jade Plant to bloom, put it in a spot that’s 54-64℉ during winter.
Light:
Bright, with 2+ hrs of sun.
Water:
Allow to dry out between waterings, then soak the pot in a saucer of water to rehydrate. Reduce watering and fertilizer somewhat during winter.
Fertilizer:
Feed every few months using a cactus fertilizer. Pre-moisten the soil first.
Hypoestes phyllostachya Polka Dot Plant
Polka Dot Plant adds year-round living color to your houseplant collection!
Light:
Provide bright light, but no direct sun. (200-400 Foot Candles)
Water:
Allow the top inch of soil to dry out before watering again. Water slightly less in fall & winter. Appreciates a pebble tray for humidity
Fertilizer:
Fertilize every four waterings spring & summer, every six in fall & winter
Homalomena sp.
Queen of Hearts
Although not as common as, say, a Pothos, Queen of Hearts is just as easy to grow, or maybe easier!
Light:
You'll need a spot that gets moderate to bright light. (150-400 foot candles.) A little light sunlight is okay.
Water:
Allow top 1/3 of soil to dry out. Reduce watering in fall & winter.
Likes humidity. Benefits from a pebble tray beneath the pot.
Fertilizer:
Use houseplant fertilizer once every 4 waterings Spring-Summer, and every 6 waterings Fall-Winter.
Sansevieria sp.
Snake Plant / Mother-In-Law Tongue
The awesome but awfully named Sansevieria makes a great starter plant/gift for the houseplant challenged (but think twice before giving one to your mother-in-law.)
Light:
Grows practically anywhere! Takes as little as 50 foot candles of light.
Can be slowly acclimated to up to 6 hours full sun.
Water:
Allow soil to dry out between waterings.
Water less in fall and winter.
Fertilizer:
Feed every 2 months with cactus, succulent, or houseplant fertilizer.
Callisia repens String of Turtles/Inch Plant
This lush creeping vine looks attractive cascading over the side of a container or hanging basket.
Light:
Provide bright light, but no direct sun.
Water:
Provide even moisture from below. Google “wick watering system” for a simple method.
Fertilizer:
Fertilize every four waterings spring & summer, every six in fall & winter. Use houseplant fertilizer.
Monstera deliciosa Swiss Cheese Plant
This is the only monster you want in your house! Iconic but surprisingly easy to care for, Monstera deliciosa grows to make a big impression.
Light:
Takes moderate to low light conditions (100-400 foot candles,) but appreciates 1-2 hours of direct sunlight during the cool season.
Water:
Allow top 1/3 of soil to dry out.
Reduce watering a little more in fall and winter.
Benefits from a pebble tray for humidity.
Fertilizer:
Feed houseplant fertilizer every 4th watering spring & summer, every 6 weeks fall & winter
ZZ Plant
Hailing from Zanzibar, ZZ Plants are sculptural and easy to care for, provided you don’t overwater them. They're also a great choice for the light challenged! Will grow with as little as 50 foot candles. (Use a light meter app to check.)
Light:
Moderate to Low (50-200 foot candles)
Water:
Allow to dry out completely before watering again.
Fertilizer:
Fertilize every 3 months
You can find these plants and more in the Container Cove Greenhouse at Hoerr Nursery. We've got a great selection of unique plants in stock!
Peoria's own Green Thumb Gardening Show is on 1470 WMBD at 7am on Saturday mornings! Tune in to hear Ethan Wise and Dan Diorio talk gardening for Central Illinois.
