Home 16 Low-Maintenance Houseplants Most Likely to Survive All Year Long Liven up your home with these winter-hardy houseplants. By Marla Christiansen Marla Christiansen Marla is a freelance home expert for RealSimple.com, where she offers eco-friendly solutions for the home. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on February 16, 2023 Fact checked by Isaac Winter Fact checked by Isaac Winter Isaac Winter is a fact-checker and writer for Real Simple, ensuring the accuracy of content published by rigorously researching content before publication and periodically when content needs to be updated. Highlights: Helped establish a food pantry in West Garfield Park as an AmeriCorps employee at Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center. Interviewed Heartland Alliance employees for oral history project conducted by the Lake Forest College History Department. Editorial Head of Lake Forest College's literary magazine, Tusitala, for two years. Our Fact-Checking Process Trending Videos Close this video player On a windowsill in a dry room is the ideal location for a succulent collection. They come in a wide array of colors and styles, so you can mix and match to create a unique grouping. “One thing to keep in mind is that temperatures tend to be cooler near windows in northern climates, especially in older buildings. In scenarios like this, it can be advised to almost not water your succulents throughout the winter months,” Hill says. Some succulents may continue to grow during this time, while others will wait at a standstill until spring. When warmer weather hits, you can resume regular (yet still infrequent) watering. Photo: Sprout Home Houseplants can do a lot to brighten spirits during the long winter months, especially in regions that tend toward cold, snowy weather. But keeping greenery in your home can be tricky. Relatively few daylight hours, fluctuating temperatures, and dry air can create a challenging growing environment. Still, we do love our houseplants, so we went in search of varieties best suited to the season. We reached out to several plant pros for their top picks of durable houseplants voted most likely to survive all year long. 01 of 16 Chinese Evergreen Costa Farms Don't be fooled by the beauty of the Chinese evergreen; beyond its handsome exterior is one tough plant. Justin Hancock, a horticulturist at Costa Farms in Miami, explains that this forgiving houseplant does well during the winter because it "doesn't mind low light or inconsistent watering, as long as it doesn't stay wet for extended periods." Its broad, decorative leaves are woven with gorgeous patterns in colors that come in an array of glossy greens, silvers, grays, and cream. Even the least experienced gardener can successfully grow a Chinese evergreen, thanks to its hardiness. Hancock promises "this air-purifying houseplant will power through the winter season and look fresh and green all year." 02 of 16 ZZ Plant Costa Farms This gem of a plant will still look green and healthy, even after months of neglect. In fact, the zz plant will often do better the more you leave it alone. "It stands up well to dry winter air, and the edges of its thick, rubbery leaves won't turn brown and crispy like those of less-sturdy houseplants," he says. Since it can thrive in low-light conditions, the zz plant looks good even during winter's shortest days. "It's virtually indestructible," says Hancock. 03 of 16 Moth Orchid Costa Farms "Orchids don't have a reputation for being easy to grow," notes Hancock, "but surprisingly, cultivating a moth orchid can be a breeze." This low-maintenance plant features bright green stems topped by elegant, long-lasting blooms. And while the moth orchid is happiest in medium- to full sun, it tolerates low light very well. And it doesn't mind if you forget a watering or two. Thanks to the moth orchid's preference for a drier climate, you can enjoy its blooms without having to shower it with attention. "Best of all," adds Hancock, "it usually re-blooms once nighttime temperatures begin to drop." 04 of 16 Snake Plant Costa Farms Adding architectural interest to any room, the snake plant is one of the most accommodating houseplants you can grow, says Hancock. "It's tried-and-true, and it holds up well in conditions that can make winter a challenge for any plant, he says. "You practically have to kill it on purpose." Low light, drought, and insects are no match for this hardy houseplant. Its blade-like leaves come in an array of colors and patterns, and provide air-purifying benefits as well as beauty. 05 of 16 Ponytail Palm Costa Farms If you're in search of a plant to add flair to your home (while handling the heat cranked up high), look no further. The ponytail palm is resilient, says Hancock. It's drought-tolerant, slow-growing, and requires very little care. The festive-looking plant has long, narrow, dark-green leaves that form a fountain-like cascade down to its base. It stores a generous amount of water in its thick, textured trunk, and makes use of its reserves during periods of drought. 06 of 16 Maidenhair Fern kf4851/Getty Images While most ferns can tolerate low levels of light, they demand high humidity and like to be watered and misted frequently. They're used to growing on forest floors, completely shaded by a canopy of trees, says de Los Angeles Rodriguez Jimenez, a floral designer for GRDN, a gardening supply shop in Brooklyn. The maidenhair fern is a nice over-winter option because while it does prefer soil that's always damp, the delicate, lacy plant is happy in a spot offering indirect light for at least part of the day. 07 of 16 Clivia Juliette Wade/Getty Images If you have a room that's chilly and doesn't get a lot of sunlight, the clivia may be its ideal match. "These durable plants actually prefer a period of cooler weather which allows their fantastic blooms—typically orange or sometimes golden yellow—to emerge," according to Stephen Hill, the creative director at Sprout Home, a garden design center with locations in Chicago and Brooklyn. Not only will this beautiful plant bloom even in a drafty home, but its vibrant colors will brighten up a chilly space. Another bonus: clivia like to be kept on the dry side, so you won't need to water them every day. 08 of 16 Moss Terrarium Sprout Home If your home tends toward chilly in winter, consider a miniature version of a greenhouse: the glass terrarium. "It will retain humidity within the glass as well as protect the plants from both hot and cold drafts," says Hill. The best plant choices for covered terrariums are mosses, ferns, and fern allies, he says. A terrarium also adds a stylish conversation piece to your home. Try it yourself: Sprout Home offers terrarium-building classes in Chicago and New York City. 09 of 16 Jade Plant Marcel ter Bekke/Getty Images The jade plant is a survivor, and a beautiful one at that. "A lot of plants don't really like the combination of cold air with hot radiator air in the winter months," according to de Los Angeles Rodriguez Jimenez. "However, some plants can tolerate temperature variations—and the jade plant is one of them." A type of succulent, it doesn't require much water; it can thrive with a watering once every three weeks. And it does just fine near an open window in the winter. This plant looks like a miniature tree, so it brings a refreshing burst of greenery into your home, even when the trees outside are leafless. 10 of 16 Christmas Cactus White Flower Farm If you're looking for a durable plant that will also bring a pop of color to your space, turn to the festive Christmas cactus. This plant is typically propagated for sale before Thanksgiving, but its pretty red and pink blooms hint at spring. Plus, it's undeniably low-maintenance. "They range in color, thrive on neglect, and can be kept indoors year-round or moved outside for the summer in full shade," says Barbara Pierson, nursery manager at White Flower Farm. 11 of 16 Philodendrons mykeyruna/Getty Images The philodendron is a favorite among drought-tolerant houseplants, says de Los Angeles Rodriguez Jimenez. (Both the split-leaf and monstera varieties are on-trend.) These plants need watering only once every two weeks or so, but remember that sometimes water evaporates faster or slower depending on room temperature. So how do you know if your monstera plant is thirsty? "Get familiar with its typical weight. If your plant feels heavy but hasn't been watered in two weeks, the soil is probably still very wet and watering it again will only cause it harm," she explains. 12 of 16 Succulents On a windowsill in a dry room is the ideal location for a succulent collection. They come in a wide array of colors and styles, so you can mix and match to create a unique grouping. “One thing to keep in mind is that temperatures tend to be cooler near windows in northern climates, especially in older buildings. In scenarios like this, it can be advised to almost not water your succulents throughout the winter months,” Hill says. Some succulents may continue to grow during this time, while others will wait at a standstill until spring. When warmer weather hits, you can resume regular (yet still infrequent) watering. Sprout Home Succulents come in a wide array of colors and styles, so you can mix and match them to create unique arrangements. Their happy place is on a windowsill in a dry room. "One thing to keep in mind is that temperatures tend to be cooler near windows in northern climates, especially in older buildings," says Hill. He advises you to water them sparingly throughout the winter months. "While some succulents may continue to grow during this time, others will wait at a standstill until spring. When warmer weather hits, you can resume regular (yet still infrequent) watering," he says. 13 of 16 Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree De Agostini Picture Library/Getty Images One thing to remember is that many houseplants—including the popular fiddle leaf fig—experience natural growing seasons and periods of dormancy. So, while it should be watered once every two weeks during the growing season, the fiddle leaf fig needs watering only once a month or so in winter, says de Los Angeles Rodriguez Jimenez. Also keep in mind that water evaporates more slowly in a chilly room than in a hot one, so do pay attention to the temperature and water accordingly. 14 of 16 Aloe White Flower Farm If your house is dry in the winter, but you're too busy to water your plants regularly (let alone turn on a humidifier for them), then aloe is a great choice. This hardy succulent stores water in its sculptural leaves, allowing it to go long stretches between watering. The only downside is that this plant won't give you any visual clues if it's parched. "You have to check the soil to see that it needs water because it won't wilt," says Pierson. While this desert plant can handle a dry environment, it also loves to sunbathe, so set it near a window that gets plenty of light. 15 of 16 Cacti and Desert Plants Linda Burgess/Getty Images If you keep your house hot and dry in winter, cacti and desert plants will love you for it. "They're native to hot environments so they thrive in them," explains de Los Angeles Rodriguez Jimenez. "The perfect place to set up a small 'cacti desert' is on a piece of wood, which is a poor conductor of heat, over a radiator. It's also super cute." Because many deserts get chilly at night, some varieties of desert plants can tolerate the cold; they may drop their leaves and go into winter dormancy. 16 of 16 Wax Plant White Flower Farm If you keep your thermostat turned all the way up in winter, and also tend to be an inconsistent plant waterer, the wax plant (aka hoya) is for you. "Hoya have thick, waxy leaves and rope-like stems that hold water and allow them to tolerate hot temperatures," says Pierson. By reserving water in this way, the wax plant is always prepared for an unexpected drought. If you forget to water it for a few weeks, this forgiving plant will bounce back quickly without turning brown. And its cascading leaves look stunning when suspended in a hanging woven basket. The Best Places to Buy Plants Online, Vetted and Approved by Real Simple Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit