Best indoor plants for the time-poor gardener

We all know that indoor plants are really having a moment right now… and for good reason. No home looks complete without some lush pops of green to bring your styling together.

Not only do indoor plants look great and bring life into the home, but in these uncertain times they are a great mental health project – whether it be a five-minute green recharge or enjoying your own personal jungle.

We’ve rounded up our favourite lush yet hardy plants below, plus some tips and tricks on how to keep them looking their best – with minimal effort. Think if this as the essential starter kit for the new indoor gardener.

Monstera Deliciosa or Monstera for short or Swiss Cheese Plant

The Monstera or Swiss Cheese Plant is one of the most popular house plants – ever! With its large iconic leaves and dependable growth, it’s a mainstay of the indoor plant world. It’s a climber that can grow very large, so you need to make sure there is room for it to thrive. It enjoys a lot of bright light to develop large, lush full leaves - but don’t put it in direct sunlight as the leaves may burn. Water only when dry and every second watering, add our Indoor Plant Food Liquid Fertiliser. To enhance the right microclimate, misting the leaves can be beneficial.

Zanzibar Gem or ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia)

The ZZ Plant is one of the hardiest house plants and needs very little maintenance. It can tolerate low light and bright positions well and tolerates drought-like conditions if you forget to water it sometimes. Yet, to maximise growth and encourage glossy leaves, place it in a well-lit area avoiding direct sunlight and water sparingly, letting the soil dry out in between waterings. A good soak of our Indoor Plant Food Liquid Fertiliser and Indoor Plant Rescue Remedy every few months is all the moisture and care this hardy plant will need.

Snake Plant aka Mother in Law’s Tongue (Dracaena trifasciata + Sansevieria)

These tough plants require minimal care once established and are more commonly killed by kindness. With similar care as the ZZ plant, it can tolerate low light, but can be enhanced by a bright sunny position. Water sparingly, letting the soil dry out in between waterings. A heartly dose of our Indoor Plant Food Liquid Fertiliser and Indoor Plant Rescue Remedy every few months will keep the striking foliage full, healthy and upright.

Fiddle Leaf Fig or FLF (Ficus Lyrata)

The perfect choice if looking for a larger indoor plant, the Fiddle Leaf Fig is quite hardy and very stunning. Place your plant in bright, indirect sunlight. It enjoys these bright conditions but can burn easily if touched by the sun. Ensure it’s nice and dry before a generous watering and every second watering adding in our Indoor Plant Food Liquid Fertiliser. Take special care to not overwater as this can cause leaf drop. Wipe down the leaves once a month (or hose down the plant outside) to remove any dust. 

Rubber Plant (Ficus Elastica)

Rubber Plants are a beautiful, fast-growing plant that every indoor gardener needs in their collection. They can grow to be quite large but it’s best to start off with a young plant as it adapts to its surrounding most easily this way. They are a hardy plant but need regular watering as they mature without waterlogging the plant. Don’t let the soil dry out too much and use our Indoor Plant Food Liquid Fertiliser every second watering. Regular wiping or washing of the leaves is important. You can also use our Sharp Shooter Enviro Pest Oil as a leaf shine to really make your rubber plant stand out.

Pothos or Devil’s Ivy (Epipremum aureum)

A trailing vine, Devil’s Ivy is a must-have house plant. It looks beautiful suspended from a hanging basket or in a decorative pot atop a shelf, with its vines draping over. It’s almost impossible to kill and tolerates both high and low light conditions, although avoid sudden and dramatic changes in light conditions. It can tolerate infrequent watering but looks its best when watered more frequently as it can dry rapidly as the vines begin to lengthen and large plants can sprawl for metres. Every second watering use our Indoor Plant Food Liquid Fertiliser. This is an incredibly easy plant to propagate, just cut one of the stems off and place it in a cup of water to grow roots. Once rooted, pot the specimen and it will be growing in no time.  

Our Indoor Plant Nutrition range is here to give you an advantage in creating the ultimate indoor green space, full of healthy and vibrant plants. Consisting of six premium products specially formulated for indoor plants, the effectiveness of this new range is boosted by organics, powdered rock minerals and a crucial blend of slow-release nutrients that last up to three months. If our run down of houseplants has galvanised you to add some greenery to your abode, you can check out the entire range here. And if you're interested in getting indoor plants online, visit Cheeky Plant Co.