Finding a low-maintenance plant for your home requires some thought before you purchase. First of all, make sure your houseplant is actually an indoor plant. Some commercially sold bonsai trees, for example, are outdoor trees, and will not survive for more than a year indoors. The only indoor evergreen I can think of that has that "Christmas tree" look is the Norfolk pine. Other small, needled trees are sometimes sold as indoor plants, but don't fall for it. Buying a cheap nursery plant intended for a flower bed, potting it, and putting it inside may be asking for trouble as well.

Of the many indoor plants to choose from, you need to select one that will flourish in your home. That means taking note of the lighting conditions, temperature, and humidity levels in the room where you want to put the plant. If you want a plant that requires bright light but don't have a South or West facing window for it, you can still make it work with a fluorescent light. An inexpensive fluorescent bulb has such a long lifetime that it can be left on 24/7. Because fluorescent bulbs are efficient, this supplemental lighting won't add a lot to your electric bill. Alternatively, the light can be put on a timer and set to come on for a few hours a day.

Plants like ferns and hibiscus trees are high maintenance because they frequently drop leaves and flowers, respectively. The kitchen herb stevia is another mess-maker, as it drops a prodigious number of seeds. Pennyroyal does the same. Avoid these and any other plants likely the "shed" if you want a simple indoor gardening experience.

Cacti are an excellent choice for care-free gardening, but only if you pot them in appropriate soil and water them on a regular schedule. Cacti need a loose, course soil with excellent drainage. Otherwise, they rot and die. Also, they need to be watered every two weeks. By the time a cactus shows signs of distress, it is already severely dehydrated. Hence, your cacti watering days have to be determined by the calendar, not the way the plant looks. I use my Yahoo calendar, which sends me an e-mail and an IM every two weeks, so my cacti give me no worries.

Schefflera trees are another virtually indestructible plant, as are rubber trees. I enjoy propagating my schefflera by taking cuttings, but less enthusiastic gardeners can let them grow indefinitely without pruning. Because of the schefflera's rapid growth, it will need to be repotted at least every two years. However, it is tolerant of erratic feeding and watering, adapts to a range of lighting conditions, and will usually survive a bug attack with minimal treatment. Rubber trees are even more hardy and will self-propagate in their pots. When you do decide to repot, you can separate the trees and have several houseplants instead of one.

Janet Craig trees are as resilient as rubber trees and even more tolerant of low lighting. Their relative the dragon tree is a good low maintenance plant too. Slow-growing and highly adaptable, the dragon tree will make a striking addition to almost any home.
No matter which plant you choose, make sure to pot it in a container with plenty of drainage. Also, make sure the roots take up the bulk of the container volume. Giving the roots too much room will almost always cause root rot. Have a bottle of indoor-friendly insecticide handy to stop any pests before they become too much of a problem. Also, use a slow-release fertilizer to minimize the effort required to feed your plant. By taking these simple steps when you bring your plant home, you will help make plant care as low-maintenance as possible.

Learn more about this author, Raven Lebeau.
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