10 easy indoor plants – even your kids can help to care for

Plants make people happy! If you also want to embrace this green trend that you see on your Instagram or Pinterest feed, you can. Start with these easy indoor plants that even your kids can help you care for. Monstera Commonly found under tropical canopies out in the plant kingdoms, Monstera (also known as Swiss Cheese Plant) is used to little exposure to sunlight, and grow equally well in windowless rooms. And it thrives best in humid conditions – it’s practically made for the Singapore weather. Dracaena The Dracaena defies conventional gardening wisdom – if anything, keep it away from direct sunlight. Filtered light, like sunlight through a sheer curtain, would do it some good, but it’s forgiving of low light conditions, too. Mint Mint is one of the most prolific, undemanding plants to grow, and does well even in shaded rooms. Bonus: It gives off a nice scent, too. Snake Plant Absence makes the plant grow stronger. For Snake Plants, at least – they’ll be perfectly happy left in your bedroom with little attention and plenty of shade. They’re also one of the rare plants that emit oxygen at night, improving the quality of your air, and hence your sleep. ZZ Plant (Zanzibar Gem) If there was one plant that could thrive under even the ultimate brown thumb, the practically indestructible ZZ Plant is it. Not even a dark room can faze its waxy, perfect-looking leaves. They don’t need much water, either, so remember to forget to water it. Peace Lily Who said low light plants can’t flower? The leaves of Peace Lilies enjoy a good misting every now and then, while the plant only requires watering when its soil feels dry to the touch. With proper care, expect to see single-petalled spathes bloom out of graceful stems in no time. Spider Plant This plant can make a statement in the dimmest of corners where no other plant will grow. It has even got NASA’s nod of approval for keeping the air in your home clean and toxin-free! Chinese Evergreen With its elegant silver-tinted leaves, the Chinese Evergreen is one of the most popular houseplants to grow. This leafy houseplant is tolerant of many growing conditions, including low light conditions. Their large leafs can be quite the dust magnet, though, but a quick wipe-down with a damp rag would do the trick. Cactus Funny but true: Cacti can get sunburns. So, while they can’t survive in completely dark places, they do better in partially shaded areas as compared to under concentrated, direct sunlight. Succulents Succulents store water in their tissues, enabling them to live in severe environments like deserts (where they get as much light as is possible!). A tip to grow them in dimmer rooms: Let them slowly accustom to a low-light environment by shifting them from the windowsill to darker areas every day. A version of this article first appeared on The Finder; updated and extra reporting by Young Parents. (Photos: 123RF, Shutterstock & Unsplash)