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Indoor plants offer a chance to avoid the winter doldrums by bringing a touch of nature indoors and offering a relaxing atmosphere. Unfortunately, a reason many choose not to grow houseplants includes not choosing the correct plant for where it will be grown. Of the spectrum of house plants available, here are a few that are most often easier to grow as long as they get the water and fertilization they need.
Snake Plant: Sometimes called mother-in-laws' tongue due to its leaf shape, this plant tolerates low light conditions and is relatively drought hardy. Depending on the variety, size ranges from 6 inches to a few feet tall. Both green leaved and variegated form are available. Allow the soil to dry out between irrigations, especially during the winter.
Dracaena: This group includes several useful, closely related species and cultivars. Size varies from 18 inches tall to several feet. Dracaenas are sometimes confused with palm trees, having a similar look. Most also have variegated leaves. They do tolerate low light but will eventually lose their variegation if left there for too long. Allow them to dry out moderately between irrigations.
Pothos: Pothos forms vines that hang over the sides of their growing container. They can be staked to keep them upright. The vines are also often trained along walls. Pothos tolerate low light and thrive with little care. However, they will lose their variegation, like dracaena, if grown in excessively low light for a long period of time. Allow pothos to dry out moderately between irrigations. Vines can reach several feet long over a period of years.
Spider Plant: This is one of the most stereotypical house plants in existence. However, it thrives almost anywhere as long as it gets some light. Spider plants come in both green and variegated forms. Allow it to dry out between irrigations and fertilize lightly in the summer. It commonly grows new shoots that form plantlets that will root if repotted. Otherwise they can be removed or allowed to stay on the mother plant.
Cast Iron Plant: Cast iron plant tolerates very low light levels, and it is commonly used in commercial building such as malls because it is so easy to grow. Allow it to dry out moderately between irrigations, and fertilize it periodically in the spring and summer. It is often slightly more expensive than other plants, but it is worth it.
