TOP 10 Most Common Houseplants: A Guide for Beginners and Enthusiasts Alike
Want to bring a piece of living nature home, make your interior cozier, and improve air quality? Houseplants are the best choice. But the world of houseplants is huge, and it can be hard for a layperson to find their way around it.
That's why at KvětinyExpres.cz we've put together a ranking of the 10 most popular species found in Czech homes. Whether you're a "plant killer" or a budding urban-jungle enthusiast, you're guaranteed to find the right one here.
Tip from Míša (houseplant specialist): With houseplants, watering is the most common mistake. An overwatered Zamioculcas turns yellow, an orchid is best watered by submerging the whole pot in lukewarm water for 20 minutes once a week, and dracaena cannot stand the chemicals in tap water, so water it with water that has been left to stand.
Choose Your Green Joy Online:
1. The Indestructible Trio (For Complete Beginners)
These are the heroes who'll forgive you for a missed watering or a shady corner. If you're looking for low-maintenance houseplants, start here.
1. Zamioculcas (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
Often called the "plant for forgetful people." Its glossy, dark green leaves look almost waxy. You will find details on care and on why a Zamioculcas turns yellow in the article Zamioculcas (ZZ Plant): Care, Watering & Yellow Leaves.
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Care: It has tubers underground (like potatoes) that store water. That's why watering it once every 14 days (even less in winter) is enough.
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Florist's trick: If its leaves turn yellow, it means only one thing — you overwatered it. Let it dry out!
2. Snake Plant (Sansevieria)
A retro plant that's back at the top of fashion thanks to modern design. It's one of the few plants that produces oxygen even at night, so it's ideal for a bedroom.
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Care: It tolerates almost anything — direct sun and shade, dry air and radiators.
3. Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
A fast-growing climber that forms a gorgeous green cascade off a shelf or cabinet.
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Care: When it's thirsty, its leaves droop. It perks back up within the hour after watering. It propagates very easily from cuttings in water.
2. Statement Pieces (Plants That Make an Impression)
These plants instantly turn your living room into a designer space.
4. Monstera (Monstera deliciosa)
The absolute star of Instagram. Its iconic perforated leaves give a space a touch of tropical jungle.
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Care: It loves diffused light and air humidity (it grows toward it).
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Florist's trick: Monstera forms "aerial roots" (brown vines). Don't cut them off! Tuck them back into the soil — the plant draws nutrients through them and will be more stable.
5. Ficus (Ficus elastica / Benjamina)
An ageless classic. The rubber plant (Elastica) has large glossy leaves, while the weeping fig (Benjamina) has small leaves and forms a little tree.
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Care: Watch out for drafts and changes of location.
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Florist's trick: The weeping fig hates being moved. If you relocate it, it may drop all its leaves. Give it time — it will sprout new ones once it settles into its new spot.
6. Dracaena
With its palm-like appearance, it brings a touch of the exotic into a home.
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Care: It doesn't like direct sun, which would scorch its leaves.
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Florist's trick: Are the leaf tips turning brown? Dracaena is sensitive to chemicals in tap water. Try watering it with stale (room-temperature) or previously boiled water.
7. Yucca
A robust plant on a sturdy trunk that looks very hardy — and is.
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Care: It's essentially a desert plant. It loves light and hates "wet feet" (standing water in the saucer).
3. Flowering, Delicate Beauties
For those who want more than just the color green.
8. Orchid (Phalaenopsis)
A symbol of elegance. People are afraid of it, but it's surprisingly low-maintenance.
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Care: It needs a transparent pot (the roots need light).
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Florist's trick: Don't water it with a watering can. Once a week, submerge the whole pot in lukewarm water for 20 minutes, let it drain, and put it back.
9. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis)
Fresh green fronds that purify the air.
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Care: It loves humidity. It's an ideal plant for a bathroom (if you have a window there). In a dry living room, you'll need to mist it often.
10. Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)
This cute "money plant" with round leaves has been a hit in recent years.
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Care: It grows fast and produces plenty of "babies" you can give to friends — which is why it's also called the "friendship plant."
Frequently asked questions about houseplants
Which houseplants are best for beginners?
The article puts Zamioculcas, mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria) and pothos (Epipremnum) in the “indestructible trio”. They forgive a forgotten watering and a shady corner. You will find more among the easy-care houseplants.
How often should I water a Zamioculcas?
Once every 14 days is enough, and less in winter, because it stores water in its underground tubers. More in our article Zamioculcas: care, watering and why the leaves turn yellow.
What should I do with the aerial roots of a Monstera?
Do not cut them. Tuck them back into the soil; the plant draws nutrients through them and becomes more stable.
Why does a ficus drop its leaves?
The weeping fig dislikes being moved and draughts. If you move it, it may drop all its leaves and grow them back in the same place. More in our article Growing weeping fig.
Which houseplant tolerates shade and a radiator?
Mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria) survives almost anything: direct sun and shade, dry air and a radiator. You will find more plants for shade in the article Easy-care houseplants for shade.
Where to Get These Plants Without the Hassle?
Do you like one of these beauties, but worry about how to get it home without it tipping over or catching a chill in the car? At KvětinyExpres.cz, we take care of that for you. We carefully pack the selected houseplants, and our courier delivers them safely straight to your living room.
Whether you choose the indestructible Zamioculcas or the regal orchid, we wish it brings you joy and grows beautifully!
Related: Low-Maintenance Houseplants for Beginners, Undemanding Houseplants for Shady Spots.
Team KvětinyExpres.cz
Looking for another easy-care houseplant? Read our guide Philodendron care: watering and why it turns yellow.
