A Beginner’s Guide to Indoor Plants in India 2024

Beginners Guide to Indoor Plants in India 2024

Indoor plants have become an essential part of home decor and wellness in India, offering aesthetic beauty along with numerous health benefits. In this article, we’ll explore the 20 best beginner-friendly indoor plants for Indian homes in 2024. From easy-to-care-for succulents to air-purifying greens, these plants are perfect for adding natural beauty and fresh air to your space.

This comprehensive guide will help beginners understand the basics of indoor gardening. After reading this guide, you’ll be able to choose the perfect plant for your space and get a quick care guide to help your plant thrive under India’s mixed weather conditions.

Why Choose Indoor Plants?

Indoor plants are not just decorative elements; they provide numerous benefits, including:

1. Improved Air Quality: Plants like peace lilies, snake plants, and spider plants are known for their air-purifying properties, removing toxins like formaldehyde and benzene from the air.
2. Stress Reduction: The presence of plants has been shown to reduce stress levels and promote a sense of well-being.
3. Humidity Control: Plants can help maintain indoor humidity levels, which is especially beneficial in dry regions.
4. Aesthetic Appeal: Indoor plants add a touch of nature to your home, enhancing the aesthetic appeal and creating a calming environment.

Choosing the Right Indoor Plants for Indian Homes

When selecting indoor plants, consider factors such as light availability, space, maintenance level, and climate. Here are some popular choices for Indian homes:

1. Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)

My number favorite indoor plant. They don’t complain when ignored and require minimal care. I have the one in the image and I love it!

• Light Requirements: Low to bright indirect light
• Watering: It requires minimal watering. Water it when soil is dry. Just water it in 10 to 15 days under normal temperature condition, but if you live in either in a place that is either too hot or too cold or too humid then definitely check the dryness of the soil before watering. Too much water will kill it and ignoring it for too long will slowly dry it out.
• Benefits: Excellent air purifier, very low maintenance
• Varieties: The snake plant shown in the image is just one of the many forms of this beautiful plant. Snake plant comes in many forms and shades of green, and each has it own unique exotic feel to it.
• Beginner friendly: It is 100% beginner friendly. In fact this plant wants it’s owner to ignore it, but not forget about it entirely.

2. Money Plant (Epipremnum aureum)

Call it money plant or pothos (though I think it would be best to call it pothos and I’ll tell you why in another more in-depth article) or call it by the various other names this plant is known by, but you and I can both agree that we have seen or had this indoor plant at least once in our life.

In India, especially, this plant can be found in majority of homes and spaces. My favorite amongst it’s many varieties is most definitely the Golden Pothos. Sadly mine died because I couldn’t properly take care of it as an absolute beginner. I didn’t know what went wrong…until now. It’s the lack of nutrition I failed to provide my plant. So people keep in mind that plants don’t just want water and sun, they also need timely feeding of nutrition.

• Light Requirements: Low to bright indirect light
• Watering: Moderate; water when the top inch of soil is dry
• Benefits: Easy to grow, can be placed in water or soil
• Varieties: Comes in many different shades and varieties. The green money plant of pothos plant is the most common, and now you may be able to find its two more types that are becoming quite common one is the golden pothos and marble queen pothos.
• Beginner friendly: Yes it is, but requires more care than a snake plant.

3. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

Another one of my favorites. Trust me this indoor plant is a style statement, however, I’ll be honest, this plant is a tricky one. Beautiful but tricky. Yes, it is beginner friendly because it requires minimum indirect light so you can keep it indoors, and you’ll easily know when it needs water because it’ll appear to be drooping if you don’t but it does require care and proper nutrition feeds at proper intervals.

• Light Requirements: Low to moderate bright indirect light
• Watering: Keep soil moist, avoid overwatering. You’ll know when you aren’t watering enough when you see it droop. It’s amazing to watch plants like these just perk up as soon as you water them.
• Benefits: Improves indoor air quality as it is an air purifying plan and it has such beautiful white blooms that they will definitely become a style statement to your home decor.

4. Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)

Another beloved plant I’m sure we all have seen everywhere in India. Areca Palms are a classic beauty to add to your homes. They are a multi style statement plant. They are the vintage, the modern and the minimalist home decor you’ll want to have. Areca palm are refreshing to look at and they definitely enhance the esthetics of your space.

• Light Requirements: Bright indirect light
• Watering: Moderate; keep soil slightly moist
• Benefits: Adds tropical vibes, acts as a humidifier
• Varieties: There are many varieties of Areca Palm family, about 50 species are there. The one we are talking about right now is the Dypsis lutescens, the one found commonly in India.
• Beginner Friendly: Yes, it is beginner friendly, budget-friendly, however, make sure to give timely interval in-between watering so that there is no root-rot. Water when the soil dries out. Make sure to give indirect sunlight and timely nutrition by fertilizing.

5. Aloe Vera

Apart from the soft spikes that can slightly prick you as you tend to it or move it around when necessary, aloe vera is an excellent plant to have as an indoor plant in your homes! Not only is it easy to care for but it is filled with medicinal and DIY beauty benefits. The aloe plant in the image is the most common variety of aloe plant family found around the world, especially in India.

• Light Requirements: Bright indirect to direct light
• Watering: Infrequent; allow soil to dry out completely. See the leaves? Yeah, they act like camel humps. Plants like aloe vera, cactus and fiddle leaf fig store water. So be sure not to over water or else you’ll cause root rot.
• Benefits: Medicinal properties, easy to maintain
• Varieties: The aloe plant family has a good number of varieties and aloe vera is one of them.
• Beginner friendly: Yes, it is definitely beginner friendly. Just stick to the schedule of watering and nutrition. Apart from that it can work fine either out in the open or under bright indirect light.

6. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

The spider plant in the image is still just a baby. This plant will grow bigger if planted in a bigger pot and will become much fuller will. The plant is beautiful and a big yes to being beginner friendly.

• Light Requirements: Bright Indirect sunlight
• Watering: Regularly but don’t over water; keep soil slightly moist. It will do good if watered in 4-5 days gap.
• Benefits: Air purifying plant, produces “pups” (baby plants hanging from vines as it becomes bigger and fuller)
• Varieties: There are about 11 to 12 commonly known variety of spider plants. The one in the image is Chlorophytum comosum.
• Beginner friendly: Yes, you can easily take this one home. Just make sure to give it bright indirect light and water it just enough to keep the soil moist.

7. Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)

Rubber plants are pretty indoor plants. They have this exquisite exotic and unnatural feel to it which might lead people to believe it isn’t real which is the beauty of it. Having them in your homes is a delight as they add an exotic touch to your place.

• Light Requirements: Bright indirect light
• Watering: Moderate; water when the top inch of soil is dry
• Benefits: Large, glossy leaves, easy to maintain
• Varieties: Has many different varieties
• Beginner friendly: Yes

8. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

• Light Requirements: Low to bright indirect light
• Watering: Minimal; ZZ plants are highly drought tolerant so they can handle infrequent waterings. Try to water them once the soil dries out completely around every 2 weeks.
• Benefits: Low maintenance, suitable for low-light areas
• Varieties: There are around 20 varieties of ZZ plants we know of
• Beginner friendly: Yes

9. Philodendron

The plant varieties for Philodendron are many. The one in the image is just one of the many species of this plant family. They are exotic and each having their own unique vibe. Big leaves, small leaves, and various colors of leaves.

• Light Requirements: Indirect sunlight
• Watering: Moderate; keep soil moist but not soggy
• Benefits: Easy to grow, attractive foliage
• Varieties: There are about 24 known philodendron plant varieties. Each of which is stunning to look at.
• Beginner friendly: Yes, and makes a wonderful style statement if planted in area receiving indirect light. You can place this in a corner that receives good amount of indirect light and this will give your home an exotic glow.

10. Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)

• Light Requirements: Bright indirect light
• Watering: Infrequent; allow soil to dry out between waterings
• Benefits: Considered a symbol of good luck, easy to maintain

11. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

• Light Requirements: Indirect light
• Watering: High humidity; keep soil moist
• Benefits: Great for humidifying air, lush appearance

12. Dracaena Plant Varieties

The Dracaena plant species are a genus comprising of hundreds of varieties of shrubs and trees that are native to Africa, South Asia, Central America and the North regions of Australia. Popular varieties of family include:

Fun Fact: the Dracaena genus is a part of the asparagus family. Other members of this plant family include Snake plants and Spider plants!

The Dracaena have large varying varieties of leaf shapes, colors and patterns. The best part of Dracaena plants are that many of them make for great beginner friendly indoor plants because they are low maintenance and have amazing air purifying qualities.

• Light Requirements: Low to bright indirect light
• Watering: Moderate; avoid overwatering
• Benefits: Various types with striking foliage, air purifier

13. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)

• Light Requirements: Low to moderate light
• Watering: Moderate; water when the top inch of soil is dry
• Benefits: Tolerates low light, attractive variegated leaves
• Varieties: There are about 40 different varieties of Chinese Evergreen
• Beginner friendly: Yes. Just water it when soil absolutely dries out. Don’t over water it or it will die. let it sit near bright indirect light. Don’t forget plant food/ nutrition/ fertilization after a month or so.

Fun Fact: The Chinese evergreens are attracted to light. You’ll see them growing towards your source of light near them. So, be sure to keep turning them once in a while so it grows fuller.

14. Calathea

• Light Requirements: Low to medium indirect light
• Watering: High humidity; keep soil moist
• Benefits: Ornamental foliage, good for low-light areas
• Varieties: It has about 60 varieties to choose from. A definite style statement for those who like their plants bigger and having varying patterns on leaves. People will notice this gorgeous plant when they see it in your space.
• Beginner friendly: Yes.

15. Ivy

• Light Requirements: Ivy plants thrives in bright, indirect light. They can tolerate low light conditions. Avoid direct sunlight, which can burn the leaves.
• Watering: Water ivy plants when the top layer of soil feels dry. Keep it’s soil evenly moist but do not over water. Ivy does not like soggy soil. Reduce watering in winter.
• Benefits: Ivy are easy to propagate, and are good for beginners. It is also an air purifying plant.
• Varieties: They one in the picture above is just one of it’s varieties. You’ll usually see them of a bright green color growing on walls of buildings or crawling trees.
• Beginner friendly: Yes, they are just don’t over water or leave it hanging in sun for too long.

16. Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata)

You can call this plant my childhood crush and forever love. I have loved this plant since I saw it outside my window. I have 4 tall trees of fiddle leaf figs in the park adjacent to our home. They are gorgeous but a handful.

I have, however, come to realize that each plant, like us humans and animals, have their own personality and the personality of the fiddle leaf is moody. The plant parents for this plant can be divided into two – half are those who fail to make it prosper no matter how much they try to care for it, and the other half seem to grow it so big that it becomes a tree inside their homes.

You have to be very careful if you decide to get it. If it comes to like the humidity, the amount of indirect bright light, and the regular watering and nutrition you give it diligently then it will definitely prosper.

• Light Requirements: Bright indirect light
• Watering: Moderate; allow soil to dry between waterings
• Benefits: Large, violin-shaped leaves, popular for decor
• Varieties:
• Beginner Friendly: Yes, they are but don’t be disheartened if it doesn’t prosper. It’s a 50/50 prospering plant. Very moody. If adapted and cared for nicely then it will become your new center of attention as well.

17. Lucky Bamboo Plant (Chinese Bamboo Plant)

Lucky bamboo is a well known indoor plant. Over the years we we have seen it become common staple in homes and offices around the world. In India you will find them being sold almost everywhere. Even street vendors have them on sale apart from their main goods. And who can blame them? It is indeed a plant you would want to have in your home or on your desks. It is beautiful and elegant. It adds a refreshing look to your overall esthetic and gives you that evergreen vibe.

Lucky bamboo, as it is called, however, is surprisingly not actually a bamboo genus. As it’s scientific name Dracaena sanderiana suggests it is in fact a part of the Dracaena genus. As we discussed earlier, Dracaena is a genus comprising of hundreds of species of shrubs and trees that are native to Africa, South Asia, Central America and the North regions of Australia. Lucy Bamboo is one of them.

The Dracaena have large varying varieties of leaf shapes, colors and patterns. The best part of Dracaena plants are that many of them make for great beginner friendly indoor plants because they are low maintenance and have amazing air purifying qualities.

• Light Requirements: Low to moderate light
• Watering: Keep soil moist
• Benefits: Variegated leaves, easy to care for

18. Croton (Codiaeum variegatum)

• Light Requirements: Bright light. Just keep it under the sun.
• Watering: It loves water. Moderately water it every other day; keep soil evenly moist.
• Benefits: Brightly colored foliage, adds an array of vibrant colors to your space.
• Varieties: There are about 15 different varieties of croton.
• Beginner friendly:

19. Succulents (Various species)

• Light Requirements: Bright light
• Watering: Infrequent; allow soil to dry out completely
• Benefits: Low maintenance, wide variety of shapes and colors
• Varieties: It has many many fantastic varieties. There are about 50 plus identified.
• Beginner friendly: Definitely Yes. Easy to propagate as well. To propagate means to recreate the same plant from it’s parts like leaves or stems.

20. Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)

• Benefits: Air purifying, adds a tropical feel
• Light Requirements: Low to bright indirect light
• Watering: Moderate; keep soil slightly moist
• Varieties: The bamboo palm plant family has more than 100 varieties. This includes Chamaedprea elegans and Chamaedprea microspadix. The most common amongst these and perfect for use as a houseplant is Chamaedprea seifrizii. 
• Beginner friendly: Yes.

Before purchasing anyone of these household beauties do consider factors such as available light in your homes or wherever it is you wish to place them, and the amount of space being offered to them, and do strictly keep up your maintenance level okay? Don’t worry, I’m sure once you have them you’ll grow to love them as a part of your family.

Keep all this in mind to ensure you choose the best plants for your space.

If you liked our little talk on the best beginner friendly indoor plants for India (though I think it became a general discuss for anyone to consider), then, I’d love for you to check out my other works.

Do share the pics of your new plant babies with me, I’d love to see them!

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