Some plants look easy to care for at the nursery but get way more demanding once they’re in your home. Forget to water them or put one in the wrong spot, and you’ll be soon soon wondering where your green thumb went, if you ever had one in the first place.

Knowing which houseplants to choose is half the battle. Some stay hearty if you skip a watering, making them solid choices for even the most forgetful plant parents, as is noted in a TikTok video made by @esbenshades.

Start With These Low-Maintenance Favorites

Hoya’s thick, waxy leaves help it hold moisture, so it prefers drying out between waterings rather than sitting in constantly damp soil. Give your Hoya plenty of bright, indirect light, and you may be rewarded with clusters of distinctive star-shaped flowers.

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Pothos has earned its reputation as one of the easiest houseplants to grow. Its trailing vines work beautifully on shelves and in hanging planters, and it can tolerate a range of indoor lighting conditions. Garden Design states that you should let the top soil dry a bit between waterings to avoid root rot. trim back overly long vines whenever the plant starts taking over.

Aloe vera comes with built-in water storage thanks to its thick, fleshy leaves, according to Planet Desert. That makes overwatering a bigger concern than occasionally forgetting about it. A sunny location and well-draining soil will help keep this succulent happy without requiring much fuss.

The arching leaves in spider plants make them especially attractive in hanging baskets; mature plants produce little offshoots that can eventually become new plants of their own. They’re adaptable indoors and don’t need constant attention to keep growing.

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ZZ plants may be one of the better choices for anyone who can’t keep a houseplant alive. According to Potting Corner, their thick underground rhizomes store water, allowing them to tolerate stretches of dry soil, and those glossy leaves stay attractive even in lower-light areas.

Finally, snake plants have sturdy upright leaves and a reputation for putting up with less-than-ideal conditions. They tolerate infrequent watering and a wide range of indoor light, although they’ll grow faster when given brighter indirect light.

Enjoy Your Plants Without Babysitting Them

There’s no prize for owning the fussiest houseplant on the block. If you’d rather enjoy greenery without wondering whether something needs watering, misting, rotating, or an emotional support group, choosing one or more of these tough variaties makes plant ownership considerably more relaxing.

All you need to do is give them the basics and check in occasionally. They’ll usually forgive you when life gets in the way.