10 Apartment Plants That Won't Die (And How to Take Care of Them)

Image via Complex Original

Light: Medium to high filtered light 
Water: Allow soil to dry between watering
Strength: Very strong
Pro tip: Remove some new leaves as they grow to keep plant looking full 

A classic houseplant with a pleasant leafy look to it, the Chinese evergreen is perfect for just about any situation. They can survive in low light, though they prefer medium or higher levels of sunlight. Just don't over water and these guys can last years. They will even grow well in artificial lighting, so if you're looking for an office plant, this is a great bet. If you're looking for a starter plant for your future urban jungle, this is a perfect first pick. 

Light: Lots of sunlight 
Water: Once a week
Strength: Very hearty
Pro tip: Don't over water

This may sound ridiculous, but fiddle leaf figs are the trendiest house plant out there. If they were a sneaker, they would be a Nike Roshe Run. But like the Roshe, everyone has them for a great reason: They look awesome. Fiddle leaf figs have huge leaves, they're easy to care for, and they're relatively large for an indoor plant. They're also quite versatile, able to grow into a tree or stay in a more bush-like shape. Personally, out of all the plants I own, my fiddle leaf fig adds the most to my pad. 

Light: Medium light
Water: When pot feels dry or leaves are wilting 
Strength: Nearly indestructible 
Pro tip: This plant is great for filtering out the toxin, formaldehyde

This is a great plant for a bathroom window, since it loves humidity. That said, it should also be okay pretty much anywhere with medium light. These guys only need water when the soil is really dry or the leaves are starting to droop. They're also a great plant for improving air quality. Honestly, you can't go wrong here. 

Light: Lots of indirect light
Water: Once a week
Strength: Very strong
Pro tip: You can keep braiding a money tree after you take it home

Though pachira aquatica are usually found in Asian markets, the money tree actually hails from Central and South American swamps. Also known as the malabar chestnut, these plants are supposed to bring fortune to whoever owns them. Taiwan is the chief grower of the plant, and is responsible for them being re-branded as a luck charm and housewarming gift. Even if it's all a marketing gimmick, these braided plants still look great and are easy to care for. Note: If you want your plant to grow evenly, it's a good idea to turn it 90 degrees once a week. 

Light: Lots of light
Water: Once a week
Strength: Very hearty
Pro tip: You make new plant by breaking off groups of leaves at their stems and replanting 

The spider plant (a.k.a. chlorophytum comosum) is a classic for a reason. These guys are hard to kill, look great, and improve the air quality in any small space. They look equally nice siting on a table or hanging from the ceiling, and their tiny white flowers are an added visual bonus whenever they happen to show up. Like most of the plants on this list, if you water it weekly and keep it near a window, your spider plant should live forever.

Light: Indirect light
Water: About once a week
Strength: Incredibly hearty 
Pro tip: Goldon pothos will stay green even in complete darkness

Arguably the easiest houseplant on the list, these guys are basical made of plastic. They can handle wildly erratic watering, bad light conditions, and general neglect. If you're looking for a plant that can survive anything, this is it. Plus, these thinges can get pretty big, with vines growing from six to ten feet. Hang one from your ceiling, water it whenever you remember, and enjoy its bright green leaves. 

Light: Indirect sunlight
Water: Add water occasionally
Strength: Hearty 
Pro tip: Leaves are mildly toxic, so wash hands after handling

Often known as lucky bamboo, these small potted plants aren't actually bamboo at all, but a different species of stalk-shaped plant. Sometimes they are grown in interesting spiral patterns, but they can also be found with simple straight stalks. Like the money tree, most lucky bamboo comes from Taiwan or China. You can either pot it in soil, stick them in water-covered rocks, or keep the stalks in a vase. One thing to note: If you have pets or kids, you may want to avoid this plant. The leaves are slightly poisonous, so keep that in mind when considering one. 

Light: Medium to high filtered light
Water: Keep soil moist
Strength: The weakest on the list
Pro tip: It's actually related to asparagus, but you probably shouldn't eat it

Though this is a list of some of the strongest plants around, the asparagus fern is probably the most high maintenance I decided to include. It's not hard to take care of and is still relatively resilient, it just requires more watering than the rest. If you keep the soil moist, however, it's should be easy enough to take care of. And even if you don't have time to water it every few days, an automatic watering system like one of these could do the job for you. 

Light: Filtered bright light
Water: Water when soil feels dry
Strength: Medium
Pro tip: Check for aphids before buying 

Flowers are generally harder to care for, but chrysanthemum (or "mums"—if you want to impress your friends down at the Home Depot) tend to work well indoors. Just put them on a window sill and water whenever the soil begins to feel dry to the touch. Also, make sure they're in a pot that drains at the bottom to avoid over watering. 

Light: Indirect sunlight 
Water: Water when top two inches of soil are dry
Strength: Super strong
Pro tip: Don't poke yourself 

If you're looking for a plant that is truly idiot-proof, aloe should be a top contender. These spiny succulents don't require a whole lot of anything, aside from some water every week or so. It's unlikely that you'll want to use your plant for medicine, but the liquid inside the leaves is supposed to be great for relieving pain from burns and other skin problems. That said, you should probably just go buy aloe vera cream from the corner store instead of murdering your new friend.