{"id":32251,"date":"2026-03-07T14:00:47","date_gmt":"2026-03-07T19:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/?p=32251"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:43:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T16:43:34","slug":"the-best-low-maintenance-houseplants-for-busy-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/the-best-low-maintenance-houseplants-for-busy-people\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Best Low-Maintenance Houseplants for Busy People"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>img#mv-trellis-img-1::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-1{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-2::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-2{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-3::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-3{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-4::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-4{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-5::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-5{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-6::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-6{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-7::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-7{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-8::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-8{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-9::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-9{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-10::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-10{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-11::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-11{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-12::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-12{display:block;}<\/style><p>Life is busy, I get it! So adding another living thing to your home may seem like a bad idea. But what if I said you could be a plant owner even if you&rsquo;re always on the go?<\/p>\n<p>It&rsquo;s true. There are so many plants out there, you&rsquo;re bound to find a few that are so easy to care for that if you don&rsquo;t even blink in their direction for a week, they&rsquo;ll still be there thriving. The key is choosing the right varieties.<\/p>\n<p>So what are these miraculous plants, you ask? Here are a few that plant lovers around the world swear by.<\/p>\n<h2>ZZ Plant<\/h2>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Zamioculcas-or-zamiifolia-zz-plant-in-a-gray-ceramic-pot-on-a-light-background-home-gardening-and-minimal-home-decor-concept-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"Zamioculcas, or zamiifolia zz plant in a gray ceramic pot on a light background, home gardening and minimal home decor concept \"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20300%20300'%3E%3Crect%20width='300'%20height='300'%20style='fill:%23e3e3e3'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" alt=\"Zamioculcas, or zamiifolia zz plant in a gray ceramic pot on a light background, home gardening and minimal home decor concept \" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-1\" loading=\"eager\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Zamioculcas-or-zamiifolia-zz-plant-in-a-gray-ceramic-pot-on-a-light-background-home-gardening-and-minimal-home-decor-concept-1200x675.jpg\" class=\"eager-load\" data-svg=\"1\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\">Image Credit: Shutterstock.<\/p>\n<p>The ZZ plant is a beautiful variety that stands straight up with thick stems and glossy, dark leaves. It&rsquo;s considered one of the most indestructible plants in the world, which is great if you happen to forget you own one.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to watering, the ZZ plant only needs it once every two to three weeks unless it&rsquo;s in direct sunlight. Then, it needs to be watered more frequently. It needs some light, but if you move it to a dimmer area, it&rsquo;ll still be okay. However, if you have pets, this probably won&rsquo;t be the best option for you as it&rsquo;s toxic to both cats and dogs.<\/p>\n<h2>Chinese Evergreen<\/h2>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Aglaonema-Maria-houseplant-cuttings-in-a-red-glass-vase-in-front-of-a-white-wall-Chinese-Evergreen-house-plant-indoor-plant-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"Aglaonema Maria houseplant cuttings in a red glass vase in front of a white wall, Chinese Evergreen, house plant, indoor plant\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Aglaonema-Maria-houseplant-cuttings-in-a-red-glass-vase-in-front-of-a-white-wall-Chinese-Evergreen-house-plant-indoor-plant-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"Aglaonema Maria houseplant cuttings in a red glass vase in front of a white wall, Chinese Evergreen, house plant, indoor plant\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-2\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" lazyload\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\">Image Credit: Shutterstock.<\/p>\n<p>The Chinese Evergreen is one of those plants that comes in multiple varieties, each bearing its own patterns on the leaves. Some are tinged with pink, others with white; all are beautiful with glossy leaves that command attention.<\/p>\n<p>The plant can be picky in two ways. Don&rsquo;t store it in temperatures under 60 degrees Fahrenheit or in a drafty area. Chinese Evergreens also don&rsquo;t care much for soggy soil, but are often forgiving if you forget to water. It also doesn&rsquo;t need much sunlight to thrive. Like the ZZ plant, it&rsquo;s toxic to pets.<\/p>\n<h2>Spider Plant<\/h2>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/hanging-spider-plant-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"hanging spider plant in bloom.\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/hanging-spider-plant-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"hanging spider plant in bloom.\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-3\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" lazyload\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\">Image credit: Depositphotos.<\/p>\n<p>The spider plant aptly looks like the arachnid, with long thin leaves that droop as they grow. It&rsquo;s truly a mesmerizing addition to any home. Plus, it grows babies that you can then re-pot and raise alongside the original; how cool is that?<\/p>\n<p>Spider plants don&rsquo;t need a ton of water, requiring hydration about once a week, but they should have at least moderate sunlight.<\/p>\n<h2>Money Tree<\/h2>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Succulent-houseplant-Crassula-ovata-in-a-pot-on-a-wooden-shelf-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"Succulent houseplant Crassula ovata in a pot on a wooden shelf.\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Succulent-houseplant-Crassula-ovata-in-a-pot-on-a-wooden-shelf-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"Succulent houseplant Crassula ovata in a pot on a wooden shelf.\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-4\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" lazyload\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\">Image Credit: Shutterstock.<\/p>\n<p>Sadly, you won&rsquo;t be able to pick dollar bills off this plant, but the money tree is a worthy addition to your home anyway. It&rsquo;s also said to bring good luck, and we could all use a little bit of that, right? It can grow up to eight feet tall and has a beautiful braided trunk with large, glossy leaves sprouting out the top.<\/p>\n<p>The money tree only needs watering every one to two weeks, but it does need some bright light; just don&rsquo;t put it directly in the sun.<\/p>\n<h2>Bamboo<\/h2>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Dracaena-sanderiana-or-lucky-bamboo-aka-bamboo-fortune-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"Dracaena sanderiana or lucky bamboo aka bamboo fortune\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Dracaena-sanderiana-or-lucky-bamboo-aka-bamboo-fortune-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"Dracaena sanderiana or lucky bamboo aka bamboo fortune\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-5\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" lazyload\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\">Image Credit: Shutterstock.<\/p>\n<p>Bamboo is another variety that is said to bring good luck, and it&rsquo;s so easy to care for that you could neglect it for an extended period of time and likely still have one to come back to. It needs a bit more care getting established (meaning frequent watering), but once it&rsquo;s growing, it only needs to be watered when the soil dries.<\/p>\n<p>As an alternative, you can absolutely grow bamboo in water only. Just keep it clear and free of algae.<\/p>\n<h2>Peace Lily<\/h2>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/peace-lily-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"peace lily.\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/peace-lily-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"peace lily.\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-6\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" lazyload\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\">Image credit: Depositphotos.<\/p>\n<p>Have you ever wondered how much water is <em>too much<\/em> water, and then had to watch a beautiful plant die? You need a peace lily. They can handle a bit too much water, although you don&rsquo;t want to drown them.<\/p>\n<p>This gorgeous plant has spade-shaped leaves that grow big and thick. The peace lily does prefer bright light, but if you&rsquo;re okay with fewer leaves, you can store it in low-light conditions, too.<\/p>\n<h2>Ferns<\/h2>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Adiantum-capillus-veneris-the-Southern-maidenhair-fern-black-maidenhair-fern-maidenhair-fern-and-venus-hair-fern-is-a-species-of-ferns-in-the-genus-Adiantum-and-the-family-Pteridaceae-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"Adiantum capillus-veneris, the Southern maidenhair fern, black maidenhair fern, maidenhair fern and venus hair fern, is a species of ferns in the genus Adiantum and the family Pteridaceae\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Adiantum-capillus-veneris-the-Southern-maidenhair-fern-black-maidenhair-fern-maidenhair-fern-and-venus-hair-fern-is-a-species-of-ferns-in-the-genus-Adiantum-and-the-family-Pteridaceae-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"Adiantum capillus-veneris, the Southern maidenhair fern, black maidenhair fern, maidenhair fern and venus hair fern, is a species of ferns in the genus Adiantum and the family Pteridaceae\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-7\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" lazyload\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\">Image Credit: Shutterstock.<\/p>\n<p>I love ferns because no two varieties are the same. The long leaves are stunning and might be spiky, wavy, or a combination of the two.<\/p>\n<p>This plant doesn&rsquo;t need a lot of sunlight to thrive and can go without water until its soil is dry. They do well in hanging baskets or in pots around the home.<\/p>\n<h2>Christmas Cactus<\/h2>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/christmas-cactus-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"Christmas cactus flowers.\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/christmas-cactus-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"Christmas cactus flowers.\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-8\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" lazyload\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\">Image credit: Depositphotos.<\/p>\n<p>We couldn&rsquo;t leave cacti off the list, but rather than include them all, we singled out the Christmas cactus. This stunning plant grows flowers in the early winter months.<\/p>\n<p>It can thrive in low-light conditions but blooms more in brighter light. The best part? If you forget to water it from time to time, it won&rsquo;t really hurt the plant. This cactus only needs watering once every two to three weeks.<\/p>\n<h2>Snake Plant<\/h2>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/snake-plants-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"Potted snake plants.\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/snake-plants-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"Potted snake plants.\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-9\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" lazyload\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\">Image credit: Depositphotos.<\/p>\n<p>Here&rsquo;s a fun fact: snake plants are also known as mother-in-law&rsquo;s tongue. They are extremely adaptable and make wonderful additions to busy households where they might go ignored for days.<\/p>\n<p>They are tough to kill, requiring water only approximately once a month because the leaves are able to store so much water. It&rsquo;s a slow grower, but requires bright to moderate indirect sunlight. It&rsquo;s also toxic to cats and dogs.<\/p>\n<h2>Orchid<\/h2>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Photo-of-Doritaenopsis-Orchid-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Doritaenopsis Orchid\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Photo-of-Doritaenopsis-Orchid-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Doritaenopsis Orchid\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-10\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" lazyload\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\">Image Credit: Shutterstock.<\/p>\n<p>As dainty as it looks, you might think the orchid is high-maintenance, but you&rsquo;d be wrong. It&rsquo;s a stunning flower that can last through nearly anything, except overwatering.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to watering, just once a week will do. It also needs bright, indirect light to thrive, so find a spot near a window and let it be.<\/p>\n<h2>Pothos<\/h2>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/woman-holding-potted-pothos-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"woman holding a potted pothos.\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/woman-holding-potted-pothos-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"woman holding a potted pothos.\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-11\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" lazyload\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\">Image credit: YAY Images.<\/p>\n<p>Looking for a plant that you will be extremely hard-pressed to kill? Pothos, also known as devil&rsquo;s ivy, is the one for you. It can stand up to all types of neglect, from inadequate lighting to forgetting to water it.<\/p>\n<p>Pothos comes in a few different varieties, including green and golden, the latter of which also has yellow leaves. The plant is toxic to pets.<\/p>\n<h2>Aloe Vera<\/h2>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Aloe-Vera-closeup-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"Aloe Vera closeup\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Aloe-Vera-closeup-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"Aloe Vera closeup\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-12\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" lazyload\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\">Image Credit: Shutterstock.<\/p>\n<p>Aloe vera is a succulent known for its resilience. Its long, spiky leaves contain the soothing clear gel known for aiding in sunburns and as an ingredient in cosmetics.<\/p>\n<p>It can go long periods without water, needing hydration every two weeks, though sometimes it can go longer. Bright, indirect light is the way to keep this plant blooming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Life is busy, I get it! So adding another living thing to your home may seem like a bad idea. But what if I said you could be a plant owner even if you&rsquo;re always on the go? It&rsquo;s true. There are so many plants out there, you&rsquo;re bound to find a few that are &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":67376,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_stopmodifiedupdate":false,"_modified_date":"","rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"no","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","disable-in-feed":false,"article-schema-type":"","disable-critical-css":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8029],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[8077],"class_list":["post-32251","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-indoor-gardening"],"authors":[{"term_id":8077,"user_id":31,"is_guest":0,"slug":"bonnieferrero","display_name":"Bonnie Ferrero","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/bonnie-ferrero.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/bonnie-ferrero.jpg"},"0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"mv":{"thumbnail_id":67376,"thumbnail_uri":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Shutterstock_2428640729-300x169.jpg"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32251","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32251"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32251\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67378,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32251\/revisions\/67378"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67376"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32251"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32251"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32251"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=32251"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}