Life Style
6 Unavoidable Longest Living Houseplants Meant To Beautify Homes
Pothos can live up to 10 years indoors with the right care, including bright, filtered light and watering once a week to avoid root rot.
Spider plants can live from 20 to 50 years and are drought tolerant, so only water them once a week and provide indirect light to prevent leaf burn.
English Ivy has a lifespan of 10 years and thrives in indirect light for at least four hours a day. Water it once a week with 1 inch of water.
If you want indoor plants that live for a long time and are low-maintenance in care, look no further! Learn more about seven of the longest-living houseplants as well as some tips to keep them growing year after year.
Pothos
Potted Pothos
Pothos (Epipremmum aureum), is a resilient plant and can live up to 10 years indoors with the right care.
This plant requires six to eight hours of bright, filtered light per day, so try placing your potted plant or hanging basket near an east or west -facing window with a sheer curtain to protect the leaves from turning yellow or brown.
A general guideline is to water your plant when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil are dry, so roughly once a week. Also, look for signs of over watering which include excess water in your run-off dish that can cause root rot.
Spider Plant
Potted Spider Plant
Indoor spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) can live from 20 to 50 years, and with the right care tips, you too can have these plants live long, healthy, and prosperous lives!
Spider plants do best in six to eight hours of indirect light, but make sure they are not exposed to direct light as this will cause leaf burn and brown tips. These plants are hardy ones, and quite drought tolerant due to the tuberous roots that retain water, so only water your plants once a week.
English Ivy
Hanging English Ivy
English Ivy (Hedera helix) is a beautiful vining plant that comes in green and variegated colors. It’s well-suited for indoor hanging baskets and containers. Better yet, it can have a lifespan of 10 years if you follow some simple care instructions.
English ivy grows best in indirect light of four or more hours per day. Try placing your plant in a north or east-facing window where there is filtered light, and water your ivy once a week with 1-inch of water.
Red-Edged Dracaena
Red Dracaena
The red-edged dracaena (Dracaena marginata) is a stunning plant with vertical red stripes on lengthy green leaves. It’s a great addition to add to your indoor collection, and can thrive up to 25 years under the right conditions.
This dracaena requires two to three hours of indirect, filtered sunlight through a gauze curtain. The plant can tolerate low light, but you may notice a loss in foliage color and the plant becoming leggy and sparse. Also, be careful of too much direct sunlight which can lead to scorched leaves, and brown tips or spots.
Your watering schedule will depend on several factors including available light, type of soil, and drought tolerance. This dracaena is drought-resistant, so the soil should be dry before you water again. Reduce watering in the winter when the plant is less active.
Weeping Fig
Potted Weeping Fig
The weeping fig (Fiscus benjamina) has a lifespan of more than 50 years, and with the right care tips, you’ll have a thriving plant in no time!
This plant requires six to eight hours of filtered light daily, so a north or east-facing window is the perfect place to protect your plant from direct sunlight. If your fig is receiving too much light, the leaves will turn yellow and drop, whereas, too little light will make your plant grow slower. Try and rotate your weeping fig every few weeks for an even distribution of filtered light.
How frequently or how much you water your fig will depend on the size of your plant, the soil type, and the pot. In general, watering once a week should suffice.
Jade Plant
Potted Jade Plant
The jade plant (Crassula ovata) is native to South Africa, and what’s more, it can live to 100 years or more with the right care requirements.
This jade does best in four or more hours of direct sunlight per day, although it can tolerate indirect light as well. During active growth (March to October), your soil should be somewhat moist, so water when the first top inch is dry to the touch. When the months are colder and there is less available light, this jade goes into a dormant stage, and watering is only necessary when the plant’s leaves begin to pucker or wrinkle.
Plants for Life
Whether you’re looking for a tropical or vining plant, the above choices offer you longevity and plenty of greenery. The lifespan of these plants ranges from five to 100 years with the proper care regimen, so you can enjoy the beauty of your hard work for years to come!
Will you try adding some of these long-lasting plants to your indoor space? If you have any tips or tricks, please leave them in the comment field.
