Introduction
Introduction of plants into our homes not only generates aesthetics features to our interior environments, but also the qualities of the interiors are enhanced by improving the quality of air in the homes as well as the mood of the people. Beginners or those people who cannot wait to have a green outlook at home recommend starting with easy and fast growing indoor plants. There are several plants that are suitable for people with little time, though they are low maintenance, grow quite fast so that you can enjoy seeing the results of the therapy you have given to them in a comparatively short space of time.
To my surprise I realized that with most of the plants it does not require a lot of effort or commitment to seeing them through. It’s possible to let your plants linger for weeks without having to water them while they grow new leaves in intervals. Also, these species do not complain when occasionally you forget to provide them with some of their needs.
For anyone who wants to create an indoor garden quickly and easily, these are great plants with which to start. The rapid growth that characterizes these plants makes it possible basically to get instant results when tending them, while at the same time promoting a profound respect for the relatively straightforward enterprise of creating indoor gardens.
Pothos: The Effortless Climber
Pothos or Epipremnum aureum has always intrigued me because of the large heart-shaped leaves that it possesses besides the determination of the plant to survive in almost any indoor environment. At times, I wonder why it is easy for them to climb, they form a series of greens that can improve the dull areas of my house.
Here’s why Pothos is an ideal choice for those seeking easy and fast-growing indoor plants:
- Adaptability: Pothos plant requires low to moderate amount of light or bright, indirect light for its growth. They thrive with the environmentally friendly lightings like the fluorescent light making them suitable for offices or rooms with less natural light.
- Watering Schedule: In fact this plant does not suffer from the common problem of being over watered. I shall only water the plants once the soil becomes dry to the extreme in order to ensure that the plant gets the right amount of water it needs. This is quite tolerant plant that does not require constant attentiveness from the gardener and can be adequite for growing it on the beginning of a gardening course.
- Propagation Ease: Propagation of Pothos is very easy as all one needs to do is to cut a portion of the plant and place it in water. In one to two weeks, I could notice that roots were growing and ready to be transplanted. And indeed it is, one of the small pleasures in life, which do not fade away with time.
- Growth Habit: Since the plant is a climber by nature, its growth can be guided to go almost anywhere. I suspend the vine plant using hooks or shelves so they could be trained to grow horizontally or vertically and become a living art.
- Air Purification: Another feature about Pothos that is quite intriguing is its air-purifying quality to the air inside our homes. The existence of air filters has been proven to be effective in purging such contents as formaldehyde together with xylene.
Pothos really deserves the name ‘devil’s ivy’ because it is a devil that can hardly be vanquished in the household. It is a plant that I would highly encourage anyone, who has wished to have a touch of green within his home without having to go through the troubles of having new indoors.
Spider Plant: The Air-Purifying Performer
If you seek a variety that works great both in growth and has excellent air purifying capability, look no further than the Spider plant. I have always liked it for its ability to grow and the green it brings in the house.
Here’s what makes the Spider Plant an excellent choice for those seeking easy and fast-growing houseplants:
Low Maintenance: Spider Plants are some of the easiest plants to care for, for those who mistake themselves for green thumbs. I can confirm that most of the times they have adapted well with the different lighting conditions including those under indirect sunlight and the low light corners of the room. It also has low watering requirements – the only thing one needs to do of is to ensure that the soil is slightly moist at all times.
Air Purification: Another good enough reason for growing Spider Plant inside the house is that it will help to clean the air you breathe. Evidence has proved that it eliminates gases like formalin, xylene, acetone amongst others thus purifying the air in your house.
Quick Growth: Spider Plants are fast growing plants especially when the weather is warm. Through the development of its arching leaves and producing small plantlets, it can fill up a pot in a snap which could be beneficial for any plant lovers out there who wants to see rapid progress in their plants.
Propagation Ease: Talking about ‘spiderettes’, Spider Plants are as easy as pie when it comes to propagation. These baby plants can be pruned off and placed in other pots and thus increase on the number or even be gifted to other people.
Durable: They’re notably tough. Sometimes I have not attended to mine well especially when am engaged in other chores and they restore when watered. Some features of Spider Plants include; resistance to pests and other common ailments that affect plants.
Thus, if you want a place free of work-related concerns like watering, taking care of the plant, making it grow faster, and as a guarantee for more plants the Spider Plant is the one tailor-made for you. It is a real performer that brings a green zest to your interior!
Snake Plant: The Resilient Oxygen Factory
When I first started indoor gardening, I wanted plants that would do well even if I’m not exactly gifted when it comes to caring for plants. It is at this point that I learned about snake plant referred to as Sansevieria or mother-in-law’s tongue. This plant grows very fast and it is really hard to kill it While it is usually seen as an outsider and generally undefined plant, it is a great oxygen producer making it a great addition to any indoor environment.
Why the Snake Plant is a Top Choice:
- Air Purification: Snake plants can remove the toxins from the indoor air during both the day and the night. Unlike most plants, they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen at night which makes the quality of air within the room better and allows for a good night’s sleep.
- Low Maintenance: Mine snake plants I only water rarely, maybe after weeks, but they seem to be so lively. They can grow in low light and they do not require frequent watering; perfect for those with little time for plants or those who are novices with plants.
- Rapid Growth: This plant though slow growing can grow in the right conditions that include a source of indirect sunlight and less water so that it can grow to its full potential of enhancing beautification. While they might not exactly be the quickest growing plants on the list here, they do well with a lot of endurance and are very easy to manage.
- Aesthetic Appeal: As best known for their tall and brightly striped leaves, snake plants also fit the most contemporary spaces. They are available in several species, and these species have different leaf structures especially as regards to coloration.
- Propagating with Ease: For those who want to add new members to their plant family or just want to gift it to friends then snake plant would be very helpful. Harden off can be done simply by using cuttings or dividing of the rhizomes in order to start new plants.
As much as I am familiar with variety of indoor plants, snake plants are my go-to, basically the indoor plant superheroes. They appear to do well with very little care and their ability to clean the air is something that is cannot be overemphasized. No wonder they are some of the indoor plants that are part of my fast-growing indoor plant collection.
Peace Lily: The Shade-Loving Purifier
When I started developing the indoor plants, there was none easier to care for or grew faster than this plant. Popularly called Peace Lily, it is scientifically referred to as Spathiphyllum; it is one of the most favoured houseplants since it grows well in poor lighting well, and would fit nicely in those rather dreary corners at home.
What is fascinating with Peace Lilies is the fact you can have it in your house as a beautiful plant and also as an air freshener. The large, dark green leaves serve both the purpose of an excellent visual and air purifier where it effectively removes volatile chemicals such as benzene and formaldehyde from the air in the room.
I’ve learned a few tricks to keep my Peace Lily thriving; here are some to help you get started:
- Watering: The plants prefer the soil that is always moist but they hate water-logging. I water mine when the surface is dry all the way to the first inch down the soil.
- Humidity: Peace Lilies require more humidity and therefore, I occasionally water the foliage with a mist or put the container on a saucer containing stones submerged in water up to the mid-sections of the stones.
- Feeding: I fertilize my Peace Lily during the growing season with a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer, every six weeks or thereabout.
- Repotting: Although you may be using a different container every month, look for the signals that indicate the plant is outgrowing its container and then repot it. I normally do this every 18-24 months and i am convinced that it is the fastest way to grow plant health.
- Pruning: Yellow leaves or dead flowers must be plucked off the plant in a bid to channel the energy to the plant’s growth.
The greatest reward from the plant is when the Peace Lily blooms. Stalks arising from the base with its elegant white sheath – actually a type of leaf or spathe that many people think is a flower – bring a touch of serenity to my planted indoors.
This is not only a fast-growing natural indoor plant which hardly requires any attention from me but also provides filtered air and a calming atmosphere. Thus, the Peace Lily is a perfect example of a purifying shade-loving plant that I like so much that has become a member of my collection of the best fast-growing and easy indoor plants.
Aloe Vera: The Medicinal Speedster
When I first brought a plant of Aloe Vera into my home, I wanted one that could grow very fast and at the same time, there are several benefits that are associated with the plant. That is why this succulent can rightfully be considered the most important member of my indoor plant collection.
Firstly, Aloe Vera plants are known to grow pretty fast especially if they are placed in the right environment. They need a lot of sunlight but for it to be indirect, they prefers bright indirect sun light and they grow very fast outgrowing their pots. I always ensure that my plants are well placed near windows with adequate lighting besides being protected for most times by curtains against the hot midday sun.
That means that, watering requires to be done in a certain balanced manner. I treat my Aloe Vera very carefully, I always water it well but only when the soil is bone dry. This is an otherwise very tough plant and it is relatively easy to kill by over water my plant so I always ensure I check the water level before adding more.
Here’s what I love the most:
Healing Properties: Inside many of the leaves there is this transparent jelly like substance that is basically a natural anesthetic for cuts, burns and irritated skin. Sometimes I cut a little piece off in order to diversely apply the gel onto the skin.
Air Purification: It is among the few plants that give out oxygen during the night and takes in carbon dioxide making it suitable to have in a room, specifically a bedroom.
Low Maintenance: Apart from proper light and water, Aloe Vera really does not ask for anything else. Because of this non-stressful growing, it is appropriate for those exceedingly busy or new plant lovers.
To make sure that my plant does not get a break, I feed it lightly, with a half strength, all-purpose fertilizer, during spring and summer respectively. I also remember to transplant my Aloe Vera when it has outgrown its pot, this is usually evident when pups begin to develop at the base or when the roots begin to protrude from the pot’s drainage holes.
In conclusion, Aloe Vera is a medicinal speedster which makes things grow fast and even brings the feeling of positive energy to my indoor plants’ corner.
Jade Plant: The Hardy Succulent
It’s impossible not to gush about the jade plant (Crassula ovata), which is a really tough succulent that is perfect for anyone starting off with indoor plants. This is a beautiful plant and it has large, thick, and the shininess of its leaves does make it one of the best air-purifying indoor plants to grow.
Here’s what makes the jade plant a fantastic addition to your collection of fast-growing, easy-care greenery:
- Easygoing Water Needs: The jade plant is a type of succulent which retains water in its leaves and hence requires to be watered rarely. It is even important for me to allow the soil to dry out for a while before watering the plant again. The major danger to this plant that needs quite a lot of water to survive is root rot.
- Appreciates Bright Light: Regarding lighting these plants prefer bright but indirect light. I have stood mine near the window so that it can enjoy in morning sun but does not get scorched by the afternoon sun. If you happen to see that it has developed a red hue on the leaves, then it is happy to be exposed.
- Grow With Ease: The good thing is that jade plants can be grown using just a single leaf or stem using the process of propagation. I once picked a leaf, and after that, I left the leaf with the stem to callus for two days before I placed it into a potting mix that was well drained. Soon from it came up a new plantlet; the latter has also turned into a big plant in distant time.
- Tolerance for Neglect: If you always go away on business trips or normally have a very bad memory when it comes to watering plants then the jade could be your perfect match. It will not hold a grudge against you for having been out of its life for sometime and will continue to progress with steadiness.
- Adaptable to Indoor Environments: They do not need humid conditions hence they can be grown perfectly well in an average house environment. You just have to ensure they do not sit in front of windows or doors where they might get cold drafts or near a heater.
However, do not forget that even inidea plant is relatively easy to care for it will certainly enjoy a little bit of pampering from time to time. I fertilise mine with a slow-release fertiliser at the start of the growing season and it gives me steady growth from time to time it surprises me with a bloom of petite white or pink flowers. With such an aspect along with the possibility to exist for dozens of years this jade plant is undoubtedly a real spirit of tolerance among the house plants.
ZZ Plant: The Low Light Champion
Since I am an avid plant collector, I am always keen on the fastest growing houseplants and those that prefer rather forgiving environments. And this is where the ZZ plant or Zamioculcas zamiifolia enters the scene, commonly known as one of the best low light houseplants. Originating from Eastern Africa this plant has earned the reputation of being incredibly hardy and easy to grow which makes it suitable for both the experienced gardener and the new one.
The ZZ plant is a contemporary plant with round shiny dark green leaves that can enhance the elegance of the space it occupies. The easiest feature about this plant that I find most appealing is that it grows well in the various level of light intensity. While it is best to place the ZZ plant in bright, indirect light, this plant will thrive without mutation in the shady areas and in the rooms which are low in light where other plants might die.
Here’s why I’m fond of the ZZ plant:
Drought tolerant: ZZ plants can go for sometime without being watered and this is because they have rhizomatous roots where moisture is stored, this makes the plant appropriate for people who sometimes forget to water their plants.
Air purifying: As with other indoor plants, the ZZ plant is capable of absorbing toxins from the air and thus creating a more healthy living space.
Pest resistant: Not influenced by common insects that attack plants, It is a tough-growing plant which makes it even more attractive to anyone who does not want to care much about plant pests.
Last but not the least it is also a fast growing plant which has ability to bounce back quickly, apart from the ZZ plant being naturally robust. When cared for properly, it can take you by surprise when it manages to fill a pot or space a great deal in time. Although it develops only at a slow, to moderate rate, if the conditions are favorable, a ZZ plant can reach height up to 2 to 3 feet which is quite impressive.
To get the best out of my ZZ plant, I ensure that I:
Water it seldom some experts allow the soil to dry before they water the plant and it is advisable to follow this.
Water it often but ensure to put it in a well-draining pot to avoid the roots of the plant from rotting.
Once in a while dust the leaves so that they are shiny and capable of absorbing light.
Thus, by accepting ZZ plant in my indoor garden, I have learned that it is a plant that needs not much attention, but is, instead, such a worthy addition.
Philodendron: The Fast-Growing Foliage Plant
I have taken care of different houseplants but Philodendron has a special place in my list as they grow super fast and do not require much attention. It is an ornamental, tropical plant with lush green, large, handsome, oval-shaped leaves that can give that exotic touch to the indoors.
This is why I recommend Philodendron for anyone interested in light demanding, and fast-growing foliage plants.
- Growth Rate: The growth of Philodendrons is considered fast, specially if the condition of the plant is good. Different species will exhibit some variation in their growth patterns, especially the vining types such as Philodendron hederaceum; they produce new leaves almost weekly if they are content with where they are growing.
- Light Requirements: That’s why they can be placed anywhere without being particularly picky about lighting conditions. Although, they prefer bright indirect light, I have realized that they do very well even in somewhat low light conditions. It is actually best to let them grow in a north-facing window sill or an area that mostly has indirect sunlight.
- Watering Habits: For my philodendrons I usually water when the soil seems dry on the top. They will tolerate the examiner missing the watering once or twice; however, they should not be exposed to rather wet soils.
- Feeding: Philodendron needs more feeding during the spring and summer months; a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer applied once a month will produce faster growth of the plant.
- Propagation: This is what they do best. Take a stem, put it in water then you will have roots to plant within few weeks of planting it. Some plants are easy to propagate and increasing their numbers or sharing to others is quite easy and less time consuming.
- Variety: There are many Philodendron varieties and both the standard forms and cultivated ones; they can be of various size, have leaves of different colors. Starting with the trailing ‘Brasil’ variety to the large ‘Xanadu’ and so many others, there is a Philodendron that will find a space on your interior.
As large and tough plants, philodendrons give the kind of experience that makes one believe, perhaps after a few moments, that they are masters of this plant business after all. If you are new into the indoor plants or simply searching for a fast-growing indoor plant, then, a Philodendron would be ideal for you.
Rubber Plant: The Robust and Rapid Grower
The first plant I decided to introduce into my home was a rubber plant (Ficus elastica) and when selecting it my aim was to get a more striking houseplant that could possibly grow a little faster with little or no effort. Fortunately, the rubber plant was not only a great looking plant but also a very hardy one bearing the brunt of my plant care skills.
This green attractive foliage plant is native to the tropical regions and has gained popularity among the owners of indoor gardens because of its ability to grow very fast in the right environment. Neglecting all the other elements, I have seen my rubber plant grow a couple of feet taller in that one growing season that I attend to its needs.
Here’s how I keep my rubber plant thriving:
- Bright, Indirect Light: I have discovered that the rubber plant grows best when it is grown under conditions of the partial exposure to light. Ideally, a plant should be placed at a location which receives moderate sunlight, preferably east or west window.
- Consistent Watering: Normal routine of watering should be kept while ensuring that the top part of the soil is dry before the next watering session. It is also important not to overwater the plant as this can cause it to lose its leaves, thus I always make sure to feel the soil before watering it.
- Room to Grow: This is a fast-growing plant, and it requires space for it roots hence the need for the large size of the container. What I do is to transplant it every two or three years in a pot that is the next size up and use fresh potting media.
- Moderate Temperatures: The rubber plant requires temperature that range between 60-75 degree Fahrenheit or 15-24 degree Celsius. This is hence should be protected from drafts and high or very low temperatures that may alter its consistency.
- Clean Leaves: The leaves are cleaned on a regular basis in order to clear dust, not only enhances the appearance of the plant but also helps the plant to produce food through photosynthesis.
By giving these basic needs, my rubber plant has grown to be a hardy and a very fast growing indoor plant. It is the green companion which contributes the feeling of tropics in my living space while it is gaining size and health without any problems.
Conclusion
Regarding using plants in my greening space I have realized the following benefits: they have enhanced the appearance of my home and enhanced my quality of indoor air and health. Making use of these simple and rapid-growing varieties of houseplants reflect the notion that proper regimes of houseplants are available to all and sundry, to enhance a more beautiful and lively environment to your home. Hence, it is high time we share the happiness and ease of growing some lovely plants by getting these easy to grow yet interesting plant friends for our home.