If you feel guilty when you forget to water your houseplants, it may be time to choose different plants. Some houseplants don’t require regular watering. Some prefer that you leave them alone and they appear to thrive on neglect. Here are some plants to consider if you are away from home regularly and the housesitter forgets to water the plants. Or you forget.
Succulents
“Succulent” describes any plant with thick fleshy tissues adapted to water storage. Native to desert or semi-arid locations, succulents have adapted to survive long periods without water. You can water them once a week, but only if the soil is dry.
Snake Plant
Snake plants are popular indoors for their looks and because they produce a lot of oxygen that improves air quality. There is usually no need to water snake plants for up to 8 weeks. The soil should be dry up to two inches deep before watering.
Begonias
Begonia leaves and flowers add color and contrast to rooms. They only need watering once the soil is dried out or the leaves begin to droop a little. They are very sensitive to overwatering and can die if they are too wet for too long.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera plants are succulents that rarely need watering. The gel-like sap soothes burns and is used in many other products. They grow up to three feet high and three feet wide. Add water when the soil is dried out.
ZZ Plant
ZZ is short for zamioculcas zamiifolia. These plants only require water every three weeks because their large rhizomes store a lot of water. ZZ plants seem to do best when neglected.
String Of Pearls
String of pearl plants have distinctive pea-shaped leaves that store water. They only need to be watered when the leaves begin to wrinkle and shrivel. Then soak the soil until water runs out of the pot’s drain holes and let the plant dry out completely before watering again.
Haworthia
Haworthia is known as zebra plant because of its white horizontal stripes. It grows less than a foot tall and wide–making it the ideal windowsill plant. The plant requires little care and occasional watering. Let the soil dry out between waterings.
Cast Iron Plant
Cast iron plants are almost indestructible–regardless of their growing conditions. They tolerate low light, low temperatures, and indifferent watering. They should be watered when the soil gets dry but will survive extended drought.
Living Stones
Living stones succulents (also called lithops) grow about an inch tall and resemble colored pebbles. They also don’t require much more care than pebbles. Grow them in direct sunlight and water them every few weeks in spring and summer. Do not water them in winter when they are dormant.
Jade Plant
Jade plants retain water in their thick stems and leaves. They usually only require water once a month. The soil in the pot should be almost completely dry before adding water. Watering too often leads to fungus growth and root rot.
