Today we are featuring 7 ornamental houseplants for beginners who want to brighten up empty spaces in their homes with lustrous greenery or bright flowers – but with minimal care and limited time to pamper, feed, prune and water. The plants listed here are recommended for beginners because of their ability to survive without requiring any special care. In fact, these are hard-to-kill plants that would not mind being ignored for some time.
Asparagus densiflorus ‘sprengeri’: This is one of the most cultivated species of its genus. Commonly sold as Asparagus Fern, this low growing plant is both easy and quick to grow. As an attractive houseplant, Asparagus Fern ‘Sprengeri’ bears richly green leaves on delicate branches that spread quickly and bear small inconspicuous flowers of white or pale pink colors. Flowers turn into red ornamental berries.
Asparagus Fern (Buy Asparagus sprengeri online) requires bright but filtered sunlight (protect it from scorching sun) and regular water during summer. Provide just barely necessary water in winter. Propagation is easy from divisions. Asparagus Fern makes an excellent houseplant grown in hanging baskets or as ground cover.

Asparagus Fern, Image by SupremeMystery(flickr)
Silver Inch Plant /Tradescantia zebrina (Buy Tradescantia zebrina online): This is perhaps the easiest foliage plant to grow for beginners. Suitable for hanging baskets, Silver Inch plant bears silver-white leaves with a central band of bright green color. Flowers are purple-pink that usually bloom in late summer. Silver Inch plant requires filtered sunlight and can be grown under shade or near well-lit windows. This beautiful foliage plant prefers ventilated conditions and withstands spells of drought. However, it is recommended that provide it with sufficient water and allow the soil to dry completely before next watering.

Silver Inch Plant
Bunny Ear Cactus /Opuntia microdasys (Buy Opuntia microdasys online): Bunny Ear cactus is a hardy and drought tolerant plant that would grow in almost any condition and withstand neglect. The plant bears succulent leaves that look like thick fleshy pads with small bristles on it. Native to Mexican desert, Bunny Ear Cactus grows well in full sun and dry conditions. When grown as houseplant, provide it with ample water and allow the soil to dry completely before next watering. Feed once a month with a regular fertilizer to encourage succulent growth of leaves/pads.

Bunny Ears Cactus, Image by Leslie Errin
Elephant Bush / Portlucaria afra ‘variegata’ (Buy Portlucaria afra ‘variegata’ online): Elephant Bush is a low growing, foliage plant. Suitable for growing as ground cover or in hanging baskets, this lovely plant bears small attractive leaves on thick and red branches. Small flowers of white or pink color appear rarely (usually after long periods of drought). Elephant Bush can be grown easily both indoor and outdoor where it receives bright sunlight and sufficient water in summer – though it can withstand spells of drought easily. Feed with a regular fertilizer in spring and summer and pot in a well-drained soil.

Elephant Bush, Image by wikipedia
Wandering Jew / Setcreasea purpurea (Setcreasea purpurea online): Wandering Jew is an excellent choice as ground cover or as a showy plant for hanging baskets. Propagated from divisions, Wandering Jew would grow in sunny as well as shady locations. It requires moderate watering and bears purple flowers throughout the year.

Wandering Jew Plant, Image from rgbmail.com.br
Tree Ivy / x Fatshedera lizei (Buy Fatshedera lizei online): Tree Ivy is a versatile plant that can be grown as evergreen ground cover, as climbing plant against walls and trellis, as evergreen shrub in garden or as pot plant grown both indoor or outdoor. It requires a shady spot, moderate watering and protection from frost.

Tree Ivy, Evergreen Ornamental Plant, Image by S John Davey
Pothos / Epipremnum aureum (Buy Epipremnum aureum online): Pothos is widely cultivated plant in almost all parts of the world. It makes an excellent houseplant that does not require much care. It makes an excellent foliage plant especially in warm climates where it produces showy green and sometimes variegated leaves. Pothos requires partial sunlight in outdoor locations or bright light in indoor spots. This ornamental plant should be provided with moderate amount of water and general purpose liquid fertilizer in spring.

Pothos, Image from professorspride.com