5 Beginner Friendly Plants for Your Mental Health

Plants are with us in every breath- from the weeds in the sidewalk cracks to the giant Redwoods.  They are integral to our life (and all life!) on this planet. When we breathe in, we are breathing in the product of our leafy friends!

Plants, specifically houseplants, are having a moment right now. They are everywhere on social media, many non-plant stores have begun selling lil’ succulents, and you might have seen them on the shelves and tables at your local coffee shop!

Ah yes, taking a moment to revel in the resurgence of plants as having value to us as humans!

Indoor plants have such amazing benefits as:

-lifting your mood

-keeping moisture in the air, which helps prevent colds and flus

-reducing stress levels

-increasing feelings of well being for those who are experiencing depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions (*)

That being said, taking care of plants, especially if you are a beginner, can be a daunting task. 

I have been paying closer attention lately to the care certain plant babies of mine require, and have been noticing that some are less finicky and more forgiving than others. This is my list of 5 starter plants for newbies, based on my personal experience as a burgeoning houseplant cultivator:

1. Pothos

Ah. pothos! These plants are sold almost everywhere plants are sold, including IKEA! That is where I got my first one years ago. Usually sold for $6-$8, they grow quickly and don’t require much knowledge to get started.

Pothos need to be watered about once every week - two weeks, depending on the season. They will need less water in the winter and more in the summer. You can test the soil by sticking your finger in up to the first knuckle and seeing if its dry or still moist. Also, if you forget to water them, or do the finger test- they will always tell you they are thirsty! Their leaves will start to wilt and face downwards. When this happens, give them a good drink of water and they will pop back up in a day or so!

Pothos do well in mild to indirect light, which is perfect for Seattle homes and apartments! I put one in a dark-ish corner, and was worried she wouldn’t survive…. To my surprise and delight, she loves that dark corner!

They can be rotated to grow evenly and more bushy, or they can be kept in one position and the vines will reach down to the floor. They are lovely for bookcases and shelves as their gentle sloping vines are quite pretty!

2. Aloe vera

Aloe vera is another plant that is easy to find most places, including the QFC! They usually cost $5-$10 and again, begin as smaller guys. Aloe vera is so lovely because they adore getting dried out, so for those of you who are worried about remembering to water, aloe vera is a good choice!

Aloe will grow strongly and consistently in direct sunlight, but also do well in bright indirect light, like a north facing window that gets good light but doesn’t get direct sunbeams. 

They also aren’t complainers. I had an aloe in the pot he came in from the grocery store for years...no complaint from him! He even gave me several new growths. I replanted him about 2 months ago and he’s happily growing even bigger. Aloe vera is hearty and resilient. They can take a little bit of neglect.

Bonus- they can easily be trimmed with scissors or a knife for some soothing relief for burns or cuts.

3. Wandering Dude

Wandering dude is an absolute favorite of mine, as he does really well with breaks between waterings and grows strongly and quickly. You may be familiar with him by his historically known name, wandering jew, and this lovely article explains the plant community’s shift away from using that name for this plant. This plant is also often call an inch plant.

I got my wandering dude from taking clippings from a friend’s house. Clip off a few stems from the larger plant, and put them in water for 3-5 days. Little tiny white roots will appear, which is the clue it is time to plant him in soil! The amazing thing is, he can survive in water for a while…… (ahem, yep, like 9 months because I was being forgetful!) and then will still take to soil. 

I have seen these guys at many plant stores for between $10-$15. The vibrant greens and purples on their leaves frequently leave me in awe. The natural sparkle the leaves have inspires me daily. 

4. Jade

Wow, ok, discovering my bias as I write this because I LOVE jade. I find them stunningly beautiful! They are also a succulent, like aloe vera, which means jade does well when she isn’t watered that frequently. Jade should be watered when her soil is dry (the finger test will do) but she can handle longer bouts of no water. So if you realize it’s been a while since you watered her, like 3 weeks or a month, go ahead and give her a drink! Much like aloe, she prefers a sunny spot (yes, I mean where direct sunbeams can touch her) but will do well in bright, indirect light. 

Jade plants begin small, and are frequently sold for as little as $3 for a tiny one to $10 for a more moderately sized one. When they are young/small they are completely green, including the stalk. As they begin to mature, their stalk turns into bark! Talk about swooning! I have several jades which all seemed to be the same when I got them as littles, but who have grown up with very different personalities. Jade is a friendly plant who really likes to be talked to! Perfect if you are looking for a plant companion. Personally, all my jades are on my kitchen table (gets the best light) and I enjoy filling them in on my day. 

5. Shamrock/ Oxalis 

I admit that I was a reluctant owner of two lil’ shamrock oxalis. A neighbor dumped them on me! Now, I have come to love and admire them. They are the only one on this list who opens and closes their leaves at night time. WOW! It is such a treat to watch the leaves open in the morning, and close in the evening. Plants are very much alive, and this daily ritual is a grounding reminder of that. 

These guys are unique on this list in more than one way-- they also prefer to be “bottom fed”. This means that watering them from above with a cup or a watering can is ok- they will survive. But what they really prefer is to soak up water from below- so making sure their pot has drainage holes in it, and placing it in a bowl full of water, or a sink or tub. I let them drink it up for a few hours and then return them to their spots. Their soil will become cracked and hard on top when they need to be watered, and they will also tell you with their leaves-- they’ll begin to droop. A good bottom feeding session and they are back to normal! 

I also love that they have varied colors, between purple and green, with some light reds. Their delicate triangle leaves are quite unique and you will again find these at most plant stores for about $8. They enjoy most types of light. They can get a little crispy and burned if they are kept in direct sunlight, so indirect or low light is a good bet for these guys!

That is my starter list for a plant newbie! I hope you enjoyed! Again, this list is not exhaustive, it is simply a list of the top five easiest to care for plants that I am personally familiar with. And the plants who have forgiven me when I have forgotten to water them!

A few other beginner’s notes:

-It is ok to water your plants with tap water! That is what I do! Adding a liquid plant food in the summer months can be a nice addition, but is definitely not a requirement. They will do fine without it.

-Start small- try getting one plant from this list (or a different list!) and see how they do for a few weeks. Do you like having it around? Do you remember to look at it and check in?  If not, that’s ok! Plant care is a new habit and habits take time.

-Plants are sold lots of places! If there isn’t a plant specific store near you, try Home Depot/ Lowes/ Fred Meyer/ QFC. They frequently have really great selection and low prices on small plants.

-You can do this! Plant care can be very simple, and if you want a plant, then now is the right time to get one!

Happy planting!