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By BRENDA Plantssss
I am and will always be fascinated by the healing and calming effect they have on me.
Besides feeling at home while riding my bike in a lush green forest, I will not hesitate to turn my actual home into a jungle.
Science backs up this fondness.
According to Physicists Jerry Faughn and Raymond Serway, under daylight conditions, the average normal sighted human eye is most sensitive at a wavelength of 555 nm — which is predominantly green light, resulting in the fact that green produces the impression of highest “brightness” when compared to light at other wavelengths.
Halo halo, we clearly evolved to have some sort of connection to this kingdom of species.
Some of us more than others, decided to take this relationship on another level.
I personally love the idea that one of the things that help me connect to my inner child is gardening.
Gardening as a hobby didn’t come easy, NOP.
It started as a chore I loathed when I was young because you see, in Uganda, agriculture being the backbone of our economy, most homes happen to have some sort of subsistence farming going on and mine was no exception.
And now, here we are, I just can’t imagine a lifestyle that doesn’t involve tending to plants.
Anyone that wants to start being a plant parent but don’t know where to start.
This is the blog post post for you.
I will be sharing 10 houseplants that are great for anyone that seeks to start their own plant kingdom.
1. Pothos
From left to right: Jade Pothos, Golden pothos, Cebu blue pothos, Marble queen pothos
Hands down to the easiest of easy plants to grow.
This vine is a fast growing plant that can grow in any spot as long as watered regularly.
With a great deal of varieties, this plant is a stellar add to your interior design plan.
It is easy to propagate and will best beautify your space when left to hang freely.
Its best growing conditions are watering it twice a week in the warmer seasons and medium to bright light, with the variegated cousins preferring bright but not direct sun.
2. Snake Plant
Okay, when it comes to making it to the list of easy plants, the snake plant definitely gets a medal.
It’s one of those plants that if you forget about it, it will still grow.
Like hide it in the darkest spot and don’t water it in 2 weeks, it will grow.
Moreover, it has air purifying properties and sometimes comes variegated giving you different choices to beautify your space.
Its best routine care thus involves you watering it once a week in the warmer seasons and placing it in any space you reckon might need a plant with air-purifying properties.
3. Heart-leaf philodendron
The heart-leaf philodendron is a beautiful and easygoing houseplant, perfect for beginners that want a lush, tropical vibe indoors.
As the name suggests, its leaves are shaped like little green hearts — soft, smooth, and vibrant.
They have such a cozy, homely energy and are often seen as a symbol of love and warmth, making them a sweet gift for someone close.
The classic variety has deep green leaves, but there are cultivars with variegated patterns and lime-green hues.
This “sweet green love of a plant” prefers low to indirect bright, indirect light, and would prefer to be watered twice a week in the warmer seasons.
4. Monstera Deliciosa
The plant that inspires art when it comes to portraying plant artistry.
Native to the rainforests of Central America, it’s a popular houseplant due to its bold split-leaf aesthetic and relatively easy care.
The plants’ leaves when young start out as large and heart-shaped but as the plant matures, the leaves develop dramatic splits and fenestrations, giving it that iconic “Swiss cheese” look, hence its other name; Swiss cheese plant.
Furthermore, it grows like a vine with long aerial roots that help it climb and anchor to surfaces and bamboo poles making it a great addition to an open corner in your house.
With its natural habitat being a rainforest, bright indirect light and watering it twice every week in the warmer months will make it flourish.
5. Jade plant
With an indirectly bright lit space, you can never go wrong with this one
The Jade plant possesses glossy vibrant-green succulent leaves that will make a statement in whichever space you add it in.
Its leaves store water, giving the plant its plump, juicy look.
Being a succulent, it requires that it is watered once a week in the warmer months.
6. China Rose plant
Yep, this plant is actually very easy to grow.
Especially in the humid high temperature conditions like those in Uganda.
It is a rounded, woody, deciduous shrub in the rose family and native to China.
With a variety of colours, it is such a beauty to behold especially when it blooms.
Its blooms will not only beautify your space but they can also be cut as flowers for your bedside table or furthermore, their petals can be used to make rose tea making it quite versatile for a plant that’s easy to grow.
It prefers bright direct light and being watered twice every week in the warmer seasons.
7. Arrowhead plant
Arrowhead Cultivars: Albo (left) and White butterfly (right)
The arrowhead, like its name has arrowhead-shaped leaves and has its origin from South America.
This beautiful ornamental plant comes in different varieties — from dark green with varied white variegation to hues of pink and lime.
On top of its aesthetic appeal it has air purifying properties that makes it a great addition to any indoor space.
It is a fast growing vine and low maintenance plant for any beginner.
It loves low to bright indirect light, can withstand dry soil a couple of days and flourishes in high humidity.
While outdoors, it makes a great ground cover or climbing vine.
It will however turn brown, pale or yellow if under-watered or under excessive light.
8. Inch plant
Also known as Wandering Jew or Spiderwort, it’s a vibrant, fast-growing trailing plant that’s popular for its bold foliage and easy-care nature.
Its leaves are the star of the show — striped with metallic purples, greens, and silvers — making it perfect for hanging baskets, tabletop pots and ground cover.
It thrives when watered at least twice a week in the warmer seasons and prefers bright indirect light to keep the colours of its leaves vibrant.
9. Bird of paradise
The Bird of Paradise is a stunning, tropical plant that instantly adds elegance to any space
It has large, banana-like leaves that are paddle-shaped, thick, and deep green.
Coming from a region whose staple food is bananas, this is one of the reasons I always have one in my space.
Its blooms are the showstopper — they resemble a colorful bird in flight — hence the name.
It’s the kind of plant that makes a space feel like a luxurious resort making it perfect on a sunny patio, or a living room.
Being a tropical plant, it definitely loves bright light and would rather you water it twice every week in the warmer seasons.
10. Cacti
Cacti are a group of plants that mastered the water game thing.
As in they can literally stay a long time without being watered as long as they are placed in an environment that mimics their natural habitat — the desert.
They have thick, fleshy stems that act like water reservoirs and instead of traditional leaves, most cacti have sharp spines which reduce water loss and protect the plant from herbivores.
They come in all kinds of shapes and sizes — from tiny globes and tall columns to branching forms that look like trees – giving you so much variety to choose from for your space.
They thrive in dry, sunny environments and would rather you water them once a week in the warmer months.
In conclusion, starting your plant journey doesn’t have to be overwhelming — just one leafy friend can shift the energy of a space and spark a connection to nature that runs deep.
Whether you’re drawn to the wild elegance of the Monstera, the resilience of the Snake Plant, or the cozy charm of the Heart-Leaf Philodendron, there’s a perfect plant out there for you.
Plants have taught me patience, presence, and that beauty can truly be rooted in simplicity.
If you are not yet a plant parent, I hope that this blogpost inspires you to pick one (or ten) and let your indoor jungle bloom. 🌱
Your inner child — and your home — will thank you.
Any comments or additions to the list, please don’t hesitate to share them in the comments section below.
Otherwise, happy gardening💚