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Good Housekeeping has published a guide to 14 houseplants that experts say can support wellbeing, including aloe vera, spider plants and succulents. The report focuses on care requirements and bringing greenery indoors; it does not establish that the plants treat health conditions or improve wellbeing for everyone.
Good Housekeeping has published a guide to 14 houseplants that experts say may support wellbeing, highlighting options from aloe vera and spider plants to succulents. The report describes their care needs and potential appeal for bringing greenery indoors, while also flagging that several plants can be harmful if eaten by pets or children.
The guide draws on comments from plant experts including Eldred Steinkopf, identified in the report as a plant expert, and Tammy Sons, CEO and founder of Tennessee-based TN Nursery. Its list includes aloe vera, rubber trees, money trees, philodendrons, ZZ plants, elephant ear plants, spider plants, snake plants, succulents and cacti. The supplied material does not include the full entries for all 14 selections.
Care requirements vary. The report says spider plants tolerate a range of conditions, while snake plants should be watered when their soil is dry. ZZ plants are described as needing about six hours of indirect light daily and watering every two to three weeks. Aloe vera, a succulent, needs full sun, and elephant ear plants generally require warm temperatures and substantial watering, according to the cited expert.
Some plants need placement precautions. The report warns that rubber trees and ZZ plants can be toxic when ingested, and says snake plants are considered toxic to cats and dogs. Elephant ear leaves can cause irritation and other symptoms if eaten. The article presents aloe gel as a possible household use for minor burns, but this is an attributed suggestion, not evidence in the supplied material that the plant is a substitute for medical care.
Greenery, Care and Household Safety
The guide offers readers a practical way to compare indoor plants by light, watering and space needs, rather than treating every houseplant as equally easy to maintain. That may help beginners choose a plant that fits their home and routine. Steinkopf’s comments frame indoor greenery as a way to feel closer to nature, especially for people in apartments or high-rise buildings.
The wellbeing angle should be read as a rationale for adding plants, not a proven health outcome. The supplied report does not present research showing that these 14 plants improve mental or physical health. Nor does it show that a plant’s ease of care guarantees a particular wellbeing benefit. For households with pets or young children, toxicity information is directly relevant to choosing where plants are placed—or whether to bring them home at all.
low maintenance houseplants for beginners
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What the Expert Guide Covers
The article is a consumer gardening guide, not a clinical study. It combines care descriptions with expert comments and information attributed to other sources, including The Sill, HGTV and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension. Its central theme is that some plants can suit people who want indoor greenery without frequent watering or demanding care.
Among the examples, the rubber tree is described as a large floor plant that can grow six to 10 feet indoors and prefers bright, indirect light, with watering about every two weeks. The money tree is said to prefer bright, indirect light and watering every one to two weeks, after the soil dries. Philodendrons are described as adaptable to average home temperatures and indirect light, though care differs among varieties.
The list also includes more demanding choices. Sons says elephant ear plants have large, tropical-looking leaves but need warmth, ample water and room to grow; light preferences vary by type. For succulents and cacti, the report points to their drought resistance and recommends well-draining soil in the provided text. These differences mean “low-maintenance” is relative, not a single care standard.
““They make us feel closer to nature, when nature may not be right outside our door.””
— Eldred Steinkopf, as quoted by Good Housekeeping
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Limits of the Wellbeing Claims
The supplied report does not provide clinical evidence that these plants produce specific mental or physical health benefits. Its wellbeing framing is based on expert commentary about bringing nature indoors, and the aloe vera passage describes a suggested use for minor burns rather than presenting trial results. Readers should not interpret those descriptions as proof that houseplants treat health conditions.
The source material also does not state the article’s publication date and omits part of the plant list and some care guidance. Plant needs can vary by variety and home conditions, so the brief care intervals should not be treated as universal schedules. Toxicity details are stated in the guide, but the supplied text does not provide a complete safety assessment for every plant or every household.
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Choosing Plants for Your Home
The next step for readers is to check the full guide and confirm the needs of a specific plant variety before buying it. Match the plant to available light, room temperature and watering habits, and check whether its mature size will fit the space. Keep potentially toxic plants away from pets and young children, and seek appropriate medical or veterinary advice if ingestion occurs.
No follow-up study or new health finding is announced in the supplied material. The report’s practical value is its comparison of care needs and cautions; any broader claims about wellbeing remain unquantified in the source.
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Key Questions
Which plants does the guide describe as relatively easy to care for?
The supplied material highlights spider plants, snake plants, ZZ plants, philodendrons, succulents and cacti as low-maintenance or adaptable choices. Their needs still differ, particularly for light and watering.
Does the report prove houseplants improve wellbeing?
No. It offers expert commentary that indoor greenery can help people feel closer to nature, but the supplied material does not provide clinical evidence or measured outcomes showing that the listed plants improve health.
Are any of the plants unsafe for pets or children?
Yes. The guide warns that rubber trees and ZZ plants may be toxic if ingested, and says snake plants are considered toxic to cats and dogs. It also describes harmful effects from eating elephant ear leaves. Check plant-specific safety information before choosing a plant.
How often should these plants be watered?
There is no single schedule. The guide gives examples such as watering ZZ plants every two to three weeks and money trees every one to two weeks, after the soil dries. It says snake plants should be watered when the soil is dry; conditions and varieties can change care needs.
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