Indoor Plants That Are Hard to Kill — Picks for My English Home

I wasn’t always a fan of flowers and plants and I actually didn’t understand my grandmother and her passion for flowers when I was little, but then my 30s happened, the pandemic happened and here we are, me telling you about the indoor plants that are hard to kill and easy to have in my English home.

Why am I using these words “hard to kill”? I’m using these words because these plants haven’t died yet, and some of them have been alive for over six years. In the past, I even managed to kill several potted bamboo plants, which are considered difficult to kill.

I am not a plant expert, I bought these plants over time, but if you are looking for easy indoor plants for beginners and don’t want to kill them, here are some ideas based on my experience. There are different reasons why I chose these plants and I will let you know in this article.

Phalaenopsis Orchid

Why did I buy it? I saw it in the shop and I fell in love with it.

My phalaenopsis orchid stays on the windowsill in my living room. It does not have direct sunlight all day, and I water it once a week or every two weeks. Don’t leave the roots soaked in water in the pot; just add a bit of water every time you water it.

If you are a beginner, don’t cut anything from the orchid. Been there, done that after watching a YouTube tutorial and it took two years for it to have stems and flowers again. Don’t repot it.

My recommendation for the orchid is to place it on a windowsill with no direct sunlight all day, water it once a week and don’t touch it, just let it be.

Ponytail Palm

The ponytail palm looks funny and it puts you in a good mood every time you see it. I bought it because I wanted another plant for the living room. Honestly, that quirky shape just caught my eye and it helps that it is an indoor plant that is hard to kill.

I placed it on the windowsill in the living room. It does not have direct sunlight all day, and I water it every two weeks.

When the ends of the leaves get dry, I cut them with whatever scissors I have on hand: no special tools, no special technique, no particular time of year. It is not sensitive at all.

Amaryllis

This amaryllis is on the windowsill in the kitchen, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you want a well-behaved plant. Its leaves grow tall and then bend, completely ignoring the support that it’s offered, although it produces beautiful flowers every year.

The amaryllis is a bulb plant known for its dramatic, tall flowers — and in my case, equally dramatic leaves.

I do not know if all of them are like that, but mine is rebellious. I offer it the window or the wall to support its long leaves, but it goes in the opposite way, bending. Sometimes, it accepts the support, sometimes it just goes its own way.

Other than that, it is doing fine. It is a big bulb in a long clear vase with soil and decorations that I water weekly or every two weeks. The point is, I do not let the bulb get soaked.

Umbrella Tree

I initially bought this umbrella tree for the bedroom because I wanted an indoor plant that purifies the air. I can’t remember exactly why I moved it — either it wasn’t doing well in there or I didn’t like how it looked in that room.

My umbrella tree is now thriving in the bathroom. Yes, I know…. I have a plant in my bathroom, maybe it sounds weird, but it gives a pop of colour.

I water it every week, I remove the dead leaves when needed and that’s that.

Dendrobium Orchid

Dendrobium orchids and Phalaenopsis orchids are among the oldest indoor plants I have in my English home.

This orchid was a gift and it blooms white flowers and stays happy on a windowsill with no direct sunlight. I water it weekly or every two weeks.

When the flower stem dries out, I trim it back, and the plant later produces a new flower spike.

Snake Plant

A friend of mine let me know that we actually call this plant in our home country The Mother-in-Law Plant. Ha ha!

Why did I buy a snake plant? It doesn’t have a nice name.

I bought it because I wanted an indoor plant that is hard to kill for the bedroom. I liked the shape of the leaves, it is one of those indoor plants that purify the air, which is exactly what I wanted for a bedroom, it is hard to kill, and I liked that.

I water it when I remember, every two to three weeks, but it can stay even longer without water. Not in direct sunlight.

Money Tree

I bought this because our dining room has a corner where a surface was filled with snacks: chocolate, popcorn, and crisps. Almost every evening over the past couple of months, I was having a snack while watching TV, and I put on weight.

I wanted to get rid of that snack-filled space and replace it with something else. Could I have thought of anything better than a plant? No.

I bought this money tree because I was looking for an indoor plant of a certain size. Based on my search, this plant was the most suitable for us. I like how it looks, with its leaves and braided trunk, it fits the corner well. Another reason I chose it is that it is a pet safe indoor plant, which mattered because we don’t eat plants, haha, nor does our dog, but she might get ideas in the future, so I wanted to be safe.

Honestly, right now I don’t know exactly what I’m doing or whether I’m watering it properly, because I bought it two weeks ago and during the first week I let it adjust.

If you are looking for indoor plants that are hard to kill, I hope this list gives you a good starting point.

Do you have an indoor plant that has surprised you? Either by surviving against all odds or by being more rebellious than expected? Let me know in the comments!

You may also like:

Visiting Oxford: A Day of History, Hidden Corners & Famous Sights in England

What Do Children Cook at School in England?

French Alps Winter Holiday: From England to Switzerland

Learning to Ski As An Adult – An Honest Beginner’s Experience

About Me