Best Indoor Plants in India: A Beginner Guide
Indoor plants brighten a home, but not every plant suits every room. The right choice depends on how much light you have and how often you remember to water. This guide lists easy indoor plants for Indian homes and what each one needs.
First, Check Your Light
Stand in the room in the middle of the day. If you can read easily without a lamp and the sun does not hit the plant directly, that is bright indirect light. If it feels dim, you have low light. Direct sun for several hours is a sunny window. Match the plant to the light, not the other way round.
Easy Indoor Plants by Light
| Light | Good plants |
|---|---|
| Low light | Snake plant, ZZ plant, pothos (money plant), peace lily |
| Bright indirect light | Rubber plant, areca palm, monstera, philodendron, peperomia, spider plant |
| Sunny window | Succulents, jade plant, aloe vera, cactus |
Browse our indoor plants, or start with low light plants if your home is dim.
How to Water Indoor Plants
Overwatering kills more indoor plants than neglect. Push a finger into the soil. If the top few centimetres are dry, water until it runs out of the drainage hole, then empty the saucer. If it is still damp, wait. Succulents and snake plant need less water than leafy plants such as peace lily.
Pots and Soil
Always use a pot with a drainage hole. Use a light potting mix with compost, and a gritty mix for succulents. Repot when roots grow out of the bottom holes, usually every year or two.
Feeding and Cleaning
Feed lightly every month or two in the growing season, and not in winter. Wipe dusty leaves with a damp cloth so the plant can use the light it gets.
Indoor Plants and Pets
Several popular houseplants, including pothos, peace lily, monstera and snake plant, are toxic to cats and dogs if chewed. Spider plant, areca palm and peperomia are generally listed as non-toxic. See our pet friendly plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which indoor plant is easiest to keep alive?
Snake plant and ZZ plant. They survive low light and irregular watering.
How often should I water indoor plants?
When the top few centimetres of soil are dry. It can be once a week or once every two weeks, depending on the plant, pot and season.
Which indoor plants need no sunlight?
None grow in complete darkness. Snake plant, ZZ plant and pothos tolerate low light but still need some.
Why do indoor plant leaves turn yellow?
The most common reason is overwatering. Check the soil and make sure the pot drains.
Do indoor plants clean the air?
They can help a little, but a few plants will not noticeably clean a room. Grow them for their look and the pleasure of caring for them.
See also: office plants and air purifying plants.
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