My first indoor plants were the ones I took to high school. They were succulents I had grown at home and each had a name and each was planted in garden soil (!) in a brightly coloured pot. Unknowingly I had picked the type of plant most likely to survive in a classroom, where they received only morning sun and little in the way of care or attention. I took them home each term break and amazingly they lasted many years.
Since then I have had a variety of plants for indoors. At one stage I had an aspidistra when I learnt its common name was the cast-iron plant. It certainly seemed made of cast iron; it never died but it never grew either and the edges of its leaves were always brown. I think it got discarded during a move. Then I went through a period of striking cuttings of impatiens in glasses of water. But I forgot to pot them up when they formed roots and they just stayed in the water growing and flowering weakly. Then I received a spathiphyllum as a gift and I hit pay dirt!
I have had this same plant for over 15 years now! As the pot got crowded I split the plant into separate pieces so eventually I had about 5 plants. Every now and then one might die for no particular reason but I always have a few around the house. I even managed to keep a few going during our period of small children, when my indoor plant collection was downsized. Spathiphyllums are one of the best plants for removing nasties from the air (like toxic fumes) as well as carbon dioxide. I just like their lush glossy green leaves that wilt so obligingly when they need to be watered. I keep my collection in ‘water-well’ pots and that helps prolong the period between wilts. The pure white flowers for me are a bonus.
I have had African violets on and off over the years but I eventually kill them. My parents-in-law however have found the secret to growing them well. They visited an African violet nursery once and came home armed with leaf cuttings, pots, potting mix and several plastic boxes. The boxes were filled with water and a nutrient solution and the plants placed in a pot on the lid. A wick goes from the bottom of the pot through a hole in the lid into the solution. Their plants are enormous, flower well and they have kept them going like this for years.
A few years ago I was given a pale pink anthurium in full bloom. It was a wonderful sight but I didn’t hold out much hope of keeping it alive. It has proved remarkably resilient however and now takes pride of place in my plant collection and it now tops my list of reliable indoor plants. It has survived holiday periods where it wasn’t watered and it continues to grow and produce the odd flower, all the while looking elegant. They may be more expensive than other indoor plants, but in my opinion they are worth it!
My experience with maidenhair ferns however, has not been good. Once when I house-sat for my mother for a few weeks, I managed to kill her maidenhair fern and had to go out and buy another before she came back. She noticed. So when I was given one I was determined to keep it alive. As long as it sits in a bowl half full of water it is okay. The moment that bowl dries out, the plant is a goner. But the wonderful thing about maidenhairs is that when you think they’re dead, just cut off all the fronds, water deeply and cross your fingers. They usually recover quite quickly and soon you will have a luxurious mass of foliage once again. I have found that this boom and bust cycle can go on indefinitely too!
As I mentioned first, succulents make great (temporary) indoor plants. I wouldn’t keep them inside permanently as they really are outdoor plants. But the cute little cactus gardens you see for sale are okay inside for about a fortnight to three weeks and then give them a breather outside. Have two gardens and then you could rotate them so you always had one inside. Just remember when you put them outside not to put them in full sun as they will be a bit tender. Dappled sunlight for the first week or so would be the best while they adapt to outside living again.
Other hardy indoor plants to consider include draecenas, ctenanthes, monsteras and philodendrons. I once knew a bloke who kept a 6 foot tall Draecena marginata 'Tricolor' alive for many years with very minimal attention!
The thing that kills most indoor plants is overwatering. Test the soil with your finger to see if it is moist. Lift the pot and see whether it feels heavy (the soil is holding water) or light (the soil is dry). I take the plant to the sink and water thoroughly until water runs out the bottom. If it runs out instantly that means the potting mix has gone hydrophobic and the plant needs to be either soaked in a bucket of water for an hour or repotted (or both). Ease off the watering in winter and feed with a slow release fertiliser each spring. Indoor plants like bright indirect light and hate draughts and gas heating (well they hate space heaters in my experience). If you really have a black thumb with indoor plants, try artificial ones!