FRESH STARTERS : PLANTS THAT ARE (FAIRLY) EASY TO KEEP ALIVE, ACCORDING TO ME

Thinking about dabbling in plant parenthood but not sure where to start? Here are a few of my picks for low maintenance chlorophyll companions to get you on your way.

SNAKE PLANT

(Sansevieria) Snake plants are survivors y'all. They don't need a lot of attention in terms of watering and can be left alone for weeks at a time. They're also well known to be able to tolerate low light conditions so if you have a darker space that needs sprucing up, Sansevierias are a great choice.

I often suggest this guy to new plant parents for a number of reasons. In addition to being low maintenance, snake plants have air purifying qualities and are also very easy to propagate (free plants, yay!)

Cuttings can be placed in water for about 4-6 weeks to allow roots to begin to grow. Patience is key and success rates are usually high. Once the roots reach about 2 inches of growth, the cuttings can be transferred into soil. A pup should begin to grow from the base of the cutting near the roots over time.

POTHOS N' JOY / DEVIL'S IVY

One of the most tenured members of my foliage family, this little Pothos was one of the first plants I ever bought. I was drawn to the variegation and learned that more sunlight would encourage more of the white to come through in the otherwise green leaves.

Although it loves bright spaces, this plant can live in low light environments as well, although new growth would be more green. It is very low maintenance in terms of water demands, I water mine once every other week and its doing just fine. I was super excited to watch this little lady grow herself into this side ponytail / mullet situation because I love the look of trailing plants. This plant is also known as Devil's Ivy and is a natural climber so you'll notice that as it grows, arial roots will start to form along the stems. You can either allow them to grow and latch onto a support rod or surface but you can also trim them if you don't like the way they look. All in all, this is a great choice if you are a beginner plant parent because it can carry on with little attention.

MINI WATERMELON PEPEROMIA

(Peperomia Argyreia) I'm a big fan of the Peperomia family. I love the texture of the leaves and how some are almost succulent like, especially on the Watermelon and Mini Watermelon varieties. While peperomias can be sensitive to overwatering, I've found them to be pretty resilient and communicative. I say communicative because its usually easy to tell when this guy needs to be watered by the droopiness in his leaves and does me the courtesy of staying alive long enough to be cared for. (Unlike some more finicky plants that call it quits if you water it on a Tuesday instead of a Wednesday.)

Peperomia are tropical in origin and do well in humidity which is good news for our friends in cities like Hong Kong where moisture in the air is a given. While they thrive in bright, indirect light, harsh direct sun exposure can fade their jewel toned leaves. Be sure to keep them protected!

RUBBER PLANT

(Ficus Elastica) While my little guy pictured here is a baby and stands about 6 inches tall, rubber plants can grow to be several feet in height indoors.

I love the deep dark leaves on rubber plants but they also come in variegated forms with splashes of white or red. They love bright, but indirect light and are sensitive to overwatering so I only water mine once a week when the soil feels dry.

As much as it pains me to admit it, I've forgotten to water this guy a few times and it actually held up for up to two and a half weeks during the cooler dormant season. This of course, is not ideal and you but if you're looking for a plant that keeps the drama in its looks can withstand under watering while staying chic and keeping up the drama, rubber plants are a good consideration.