Easy Plants to Grow Indoors

With so many tempting types of indoor plants, even experienced gardeners can be lured by impractical choices. Trial and error is part of gardening, but success always feels a little more fun. So before you run to the garden center and fill your cart with far-flung tropical flora, get our top picks for easy plants to grow indoors, along with what to consider before bringing them home. Let's find the right indoor plants for you.

Stop Before You Shop for Indoor Plants

Even the greenest thumb has ended up buying a plant based on looks alone—it's the gardening equivalent of judging a book by its cover. However, when you shop smart, you're setting yourself, and your plants, up for success. Whether you research online before you go or read the plant tags upon arrival, here are some essential tips to consider when shopping for new indoor plants.

• Your space: Be realistic about what your home can accommodate. Do you actually have a spot for that massive monstera? Are your window sills lined with books, meaning it's better to go vertical with a hanging pot?
• Your light: Unfortunately, you can't coax a full-sun plant to perform in low light (trust us, we've tried). Take a day to observe the lighting in places you want to put your plants—if you realize it's lacking, you'll want to choose low-light plants for your home.
• Your time: Are you up for regular pruning and feeding, or are you more of a once-a-week waterer? Know how much time you're able to dedicate, and choose a houseplant with needs that fit your schedule.
• Your crew: Do you have fur or human children who may dig in the dirt or gnaw on leaves? Consider them when deciding what plants are safe and where to place them.

Easy Houseplants You Can Grow Indoors

When you picture indoor gardening, chances are houseplants come to mind. They often hail from warmer parts of the world and are grown for their decorative foliage or flowers. Care tips vary by plant, but generally speaking, houseplants enjoy a nutrient-rich planting medium with good drainage, such as Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix, and do best in a plastic or ceramic pot.

The good news–bad news: There's a houseplant for virtually every type of growing situation, which means it can be difficult to narrow down your options. Here are a few easy-peasy favorites to start you on your houseplant journey:

Trailing Philodendron

As a low-light lover, philodendrons grow in a wide variety of indoor settings. Their trailing habit makes them ideal for hanging baskets. Keep the soil consistently moist, and you'll have a container overflowing with Insta-worthy vines.

Snake Plant

Despite spiky leaves and a reptilian name, there's nothing scary about snake plants. These easy houseplants prefer to dry out a bit between waterings and are happy to live with low light.

ZZ Plant

If you have a rough history with houseplants, this one's for you. The ZZ plant features shiny leaves that grow on upright branches. It's forgiving when it comes to fluctuations in temperature and, as another high performer in low light, ZZ makes a great officemate.

Easy Succulents You Can Grow Indoors

Stylish succulents could be what drew you to the wonderful world of indoor gardening in the first place. If you're ready to swap out faux plants for the real deal, succulents add botanical flair without a lot of effort. Get your green thumb growing with these tried-and-true favorites:

Jade

Jade is the ultimate entry-level succulent. Just give it full sun, the right soil, and a drink every 2 to 3 weeks, and it's good to go.

Flowering Kalanchoe

For a pop of color, flowering kalanchoe offers the leaves you'd expect from a succulent plus a host of cheerful blooms during their flowering season. Just give it H2O every 2 to 3 weeks and place it in the sunniest spot you've got.

Aloe Vera

Grow aloe vera in bright, indirect light, water weekly, and snip off a section near the base whenever you want the cooling effect of the skin-soothing gel it naturally produces.

Easy Herbs You Can Grow Indoors

An indoor herb garden is an ideal way to add aromatic zest to your kitchen all year long. Pot up a container or two of your favorite herbs next to your sunniest window, or create a hanging garden for visual interest. Settle your herbs into a quality potting mix, in a container with a drainage hole, and make sure they get plenty of light. You'll have fragrance and flavor at the ready in no time at all (especially if you start with young vigorous plants.) Our top indoor herb picks include:

Parsley

Put vitamin C-packed parsley in everything from frittatas to roasts, and soups to salads. Start this brightly flavored herb from seed and then let it grow in a sunny spot.

Mint

Rough-and-tumble mint will grow just about anywhere—including in your home. A pot of mint means you're just a few steps away from the perfect mojito. Cheers!

Rosemary

Rosemary adds savory flavor to meat, soups, and more, making it a great herb to have on hand during the colder months. Careful not to overwater this Mediterranean native.

Easy Veggies You Can Grow Indoors

There are some veggies you can nurture indoors if you want to extend the edible gardening season into the winter months. (Hi, lettuce!) Simply fill a container full of nutrient-rich potting mix (like Miracle-Gro® Indoor Potting Mix), keep the soil consistently moist, and give your plants plenty of natural or UV light. Or, for less stress and mess, enlist the help of a hydroponic system which comes with a built-in grow light.

When it comes to indoor vegetable gardening, it's important to realize that for many types, even the best setups won't yield the same plant size or harvest volume as those that hang outside all summer. That's why it's best to opt for smaller veggies or those that don't require as much sunlight. Our favorites include:

Leafy Greens

Skip the store-bought greens that go mushy before you get the bag open and, instead, fill your crisper drawer full of fresh lettuce, kale, arugula, and Swiss chard grown in your own kitchen.

Wheatgrass

If you can keep plants alive for a week, you can grow wheatgrass. Ideal for juicing and smoothies, this nutritional powerhouse is typically ready to harvest in just 7 days.

Radishes

Beginners with a penchant for adventure should give radishes a try. These root veggies are one of the easiest to grow in soil (hydroponic growing isn't an option here)—just make sure the container is at least 10 inches deep and know you'll need a grow light if you don't have a south-facing window. Bonus: You can eat both the crunchy root and its leafy top!

The world of indoor gardening is filled with possibilities, especially for newbie plant parents. With the right plants for your home and lifestyle, you can grow lush houseplants, succulents, herbs and even veggies without ever setting foot outside. Isn't it exciting to know you're just a few plants away from a home full of rich colors, textures, and flavors? We think so!