In today’s fast-paced world, where time is a luxury, and urban living often leaves us with limited outdoor space, indoor plants have become a stylish and rejuvenating solution to bring nature into our homes. Clean lines, minimalist design, and effortless aesthetics are the hallmarks of contemporary interiors. We’ve put together a list of the top trending low-maintenance plants that perfectly complement contemporary interior aesthetics to assist you in adding greenery to your living spaces while keeping the modern vibe.
The String of Hearts adds an elegant touch to any modern setting with its delicate cascading vines adorned with heart-shaped leaves. It’s a drought-tolerant plant requiring minimal care and looks stunning in hanging planters or perched shelves.
It has a lengthy lifespan and grows quickly. Pruning it regularly for bushier growth can make it appear fuller. The string of hearts prefers more frequent watering than some succulents but still needs the soil to dry between watering to avoid issues like swollen foliage and leaf drop. Ensure excellent drainage to prevent standing water, which can be fatal for the plant.
- Common names: String of hearts, rosary vine, chain of hearts, Chinese lantern
- Type of Plant: Succulent, vine
- Light requirements: Partial
- Toxicity: Non-toxic
A poster child for low maintenance, the Snake Plant is not only aesthetically pleasing with its upright, sword-like leaves but also an air-purifying powerhouse. It can thrive in low light and irregular watering, making it ideal for busy urban dwellers. These plants can be ignored for weeks at a time and yet appear beautiful, thanks to their architectural shape and strappy leaves.
As an ornamental indoor plant, it’s an excellent container plant that gives vertical structure and appeal. Snake plants grow well in warm temperatures and are resistant to drought, but they are sensitive to excessive watering and suffer in cold climates. Water the plant when the soil is dry, with a winter interval of up to two months and a maximum of every two weeks during warmer months.
- Common names: Snake plant, Viper’s bowstring hemp, Mother-in-law’s tongue
- Type of Plant: Evergreen, perennial
- Light requirements: Shade to partial sun
- Toxicity: Toxic to dogs and cats
3. Zz Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
The Zz Plant’s glossy, dark green leaves add a touch of modern elegance to any space. It’s practically indestructible, thriving in low light and enduring periods of neglect. It’s a must-have for those who crave greenery without the hassle. It is a slow-growing plant and can grow up to 3 ft long indoors. The plants are also known as Zanzibar jewels because of their immaculate, waxy foliage that is so dark green that they are frequently mistaken for artificial. ZZ plants thrive with moderate light and can be watered every couple of weeks; they’re drought-tolerant due to water-storing rhizomes, so occasional forgetfulness won’t harm them.
- Common names: ZZ plant, Zanzibar gem, Eternity plant
- Type of Plant: Perennial
- Light requirements: Partial to full shade
- Toxicity: Toxic to humans and pets
4. Scindapsus
Scindapsus, a symbol of low maintenance luxury, perfectly suits modern interiors. Its trailing vines adorned with heart-shaped leaves create a graceful ambiance. Flourishing in diverse light conditions and needing minimal care, Scindapsus epitomizes both style and ease in contemporary living spaces. The most common types have green, heart-shaped leaves with silvery overlays or variegation. They’re fairly adaptable indoors because they can survive low light well but they thrive best in bright areas. Water the plant when the top 2-3 inches of soil is dry, avoiding both complete drying and overwatering. In summer, water weekly; reduce watering significantly during winter.
- Common names: Satin pothos, silk pothos, silver pothos, silver philodendron
- Type of Plant: Perennial vine
- Light requirements: Partial to full shade
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
5. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
The Spider Plant’s arching foliage with white stripes brings a dynamic element to modern interiors. It is best for beginners as it can survive in any kind of environment and is neglect-tolerant. The leaves might be pure green or variegated with white or yellow streaks running lengthwise. Little white star-shaped flowers appear at the tips of the stalks. Following flowering, additional leaves grow at the tips of the stems, generating miniature plantlets. It’s known for its air-purifying qualities and ability to thrive in various light levels. Spider plants prefer lightly moist soil, rainwater, or distilled water to avoid leaf tip browning, and can tolerate occasional inconsistent watering due to their moisture-retaining tubers.
- Common names: Spider plant, spider ivy, ribbon plant
- Type of Plant: Herbaceous, perennial
- Light requirements: Partial to full shade
- Toxicity: Non-toxic
Also known as Pothos, this trailing plant adds a lush vibe to modern spaces. Its heart-shaped leaves come in various shades, from classic green to variegated patterns. It’s a great choice for hanging planters or placed on shelves. According to NASA`s Clean Air Study it removes air pollutants from the air. It can also be grown in aquariums where it can absorb nitrates for growth making water cleaner. It is the easiest and fastest growing plant. It can be easily be propagated from stem cuttings. Allow the pothos plant’s soil to dry completely between watering to prevent root rot; signs like leaf drooping indicate it needs water, but avoid waiting until leaves shrivel, and dry, brown edges suggest it was too dry for too long.
- Common names: Pothos, Golden Pothos, Devil’s Vine, Devil’s Ivy, Money plant
- Type of Plant: Vine
- Light requirements: Full sun, partial shade
- Toxicity: Toxic to cats and dogs
The iconic Monstera’s large, fenestrated leaves create a bold statement in modern interiors. While it appreciates bright indirect light, it can tolerate lower light conditions, making it versatile for different spaces. It grows best in indirect light in summers and in winters with direct light. It prefers warmer and humid conditions. Roots of monstera deliciosa do not damage surfaces unlike other houseplants and they can be propagated easily from stem cuttings. Water the plant every one to two weeks during the growing season, allowing the soil to slightly dry out between watering; reduce watering in fall and winter. Increase indoor humidity by misting the foliage with demineralized or rainwater.
- Common names: Split-leaf philodendron, Hurricane plant, Swiss cheese plant, and Mexican breadfruit.
- Type of Plant: Vine
- Light requirements: Partial
- Toxicity: Toxic to humans, dogs, and cats
With its graceful white blooms and glossy green leaves, the Peace Lily adds a touch of sophistication to modern décor. It’s known for purifying indoor air and can thrive in low-light conditions. Peace lily normally blossom in the spring, although this can vary because a healthy peace lily can produce flowers twice a year. They are shade loving plants but they prefer filtered light indoors. For peace lilies, water when the top inch of soil is dry, using filtered or distilled water if your tap water is highly chlorinated, and ensure soil doesn’t dry out completely in winter.
- Common names: Peace lily, Spath lily, White Anthurium
- Type of Plant: Perennial
- Light requirements: Partial
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets and humans
Chinese Evergreens come in a variety of striking leaf patterns and colors, making them a fantastic choice for adding visual interest to modern spaces. They are ideal for beginners as they can tolerate any indoor conditions. They can handle low light and irregular watering, but they do require some warmth. They cannot tolerate low temperature (below 15ºC). They are slow growing plants so, they don’t require much attention. It is NASA recommended air purifying plant that is know to remove toxic chemicals from air like benzene, formaldehyde, and other VOC’s through the process of phytoremediation. Chinese evergreen plants thrive with consistently moist soil, but not waterlogged, so water thoroughly and let it partially dry between watering, reducing frequency in winter without allowing complete dryness.
- Common names: Chinese evergreen, Painted Drop-Tongue, Philippine evergreen, Poison Dart Plant, Pewter, Silver Evergreen
- Type of Plant: Herbaceous, perennial
- Light requirements: Partial to full shade
- Toxicity: Toxic to dogs and cats
10. Philodendron Micans
Philodendron Micans, with its velvety, jewel-toned leaves, is the embodiment of a low-maintenance plant perfectly suited for modern interiors. Its heart-shaped foliage adds a touch of sophistication, thriving in low to moderate light. Infrequent watering and easy propagation make it an excellent choice for busy urban dwellers looking to elevate their interior decor effortlessly. It is a fast-growing plant that requires minimum care.
It thrives best in bright, indirect light. Direct light can cause crispy edges and discoloration in leaves. The color of leaves is highly influenced by light, if there is increased light the leaves will turn red or maroon while low light can result in deep green color leaves. Water your philodendron micans when the top 2-3 inches of soil are dry or when the leaves begin to droop and curl inward slightly, but avoid overwatering and ensure good drainage to prevent root saturation.
- Common names: Velvet-leaf philodendron
- Type of Plant: Perennial
- Light requirements: Partial
- Toxicity: Toxic to dogs and cats
Conclusion
Incorporating these low-maintenance plants into your modern interiors not only enhances the aesthetics but also brings a breath of fresh air and tranquility into your living spaces. Remember, while these plants are relatively undemanding, a little care and attention ensure their longevity and vitality. So, embrace the green revolution and let these plants breathe life into your modern haven.