Snake plant
Stiff upright leaves that store water. It copes with dark rooms and long holidays. Let the soil dry out completely before watering again.
Beginner's guide
Easy houseplants for beginners
Most new plant owners lose their first plants to too much water, not too little. These six plants forgive the occasional mistake and still look good on a desk, a shelf or a dim corner.
Pothos
A trailing vine that tells you when it is thirsty: the leaves droop and recover within hours of a drink. Trim long stems to keep it bushy.
ZZ plant
Glossy leaves and thick underground stems make it almost drought-proof. Yellow leaves usually mean the pot is staying wet for too long.
Spider plant
Fast-growing and cheerful, it sends out baby plants you can pot up for friends. Brown tips are cosmetic and often caused by hard tap water.
Peace lily
One of the few easy plants that flowers indoors. It wilts dramatically when dry and perks up after watering, which makes it a good teacher.
Cast iron plant
Slow and tough, as the name suggests. It tolerates cool rooms, dust and neglect, and suits hallways where other plants struggle.
The one rule that saves most plants
Push a finger into the soil up to the second knuckle before you water. If it feels damp, wait. Use pots with a drainage hole and empty the saucer after watering so roots never sit in water.