How To Be A Lazy Plant Parent
Let’s normalise thriving with minimal effort.
Having over 200 houseplants, I understand sometimes it can give the impression that you need a lot to get the full benefit from having houseplants.
But you really don’t.
You know how some people run marathons before breakfast and have colour-coded spreadsheets for their entire lives?
This one’s not for them.
This one’s for the ones who love houseplants, but don’t exactly leap out of bed each morning to lovingly mist every leaf with a humidity mister like we’re running a rainforest research centre.
Some of us want the lush jungle vibes without the jungle upkeep.
And honestly? That’s completely fine.
Because here’s a little secret nobody talks about: You can absolutely have happy, thriving houseplants… even if your plant care style is more “controlled chaos” than “botanical precision”.
So here are a few tried-and-true ways to be a lazy plant parent, without your green friends giving up on you entirely.
1. Pick plants that don’t need constant attention
If you know you’re not about that high-maintenance life, just own it. Go for the hardy classics. Snake plants will survive in a cupboard (not literally!). ZZ plants thrive on neglect. Pothos are basically indestructible, and peace lilies will dramatically flop over to remind you they’re thirsty, then bounce right back after a drink. It’s like having built-in reminders with no guilt.
2. Set a casual care day
You don’t need a strict watering schedule. Just pick one day a week to give everyone a quick once-over. Sunday mornings, Tuesday nights, whenever. Touch the soil, see who’s thirsty, maybe wipe a leaf if you’re feeling generous. You’ll be amazed how many issues you avoid with this one small habit.
3. Don’t overthink your plant layout
There’s a lot of advice out there about grouping plants to boost humidity — and I’ve said before, that’s often more effort than it’s worth. Unless you’re growing humidity-loving plants in a dry climate, the difference is usually minimal.
Instead, just focus on what matters: light.
Put your favourites where the light suits them best — that’s what makes the biggest difference. Once they’re happy, you can fill in the rest of your space around them in whatever way feels good to you. Think of it like plant Tetris, but without any pressure to “get it right.”
If it looks good and your plants are growing well, you’re doing fine.
4. Invest in lazy-friendly gear
Self-watering pots, moisture meters, slow-release fertiliser sticks – these are your best mates. They take 90% of the thinking out of plant care. You set them up once and then coast for weeks. Think of them as the slow cookers of the plant world.
5. Stop feeling bad about the divas
We all have that plant. The one that sulks no matter what you do. It browns at the edges. It sheds leaves just to spite you. It makes you question your worth as a plant parent. Here’s your permission to rehome it. Not every plant suits every person, and letting go of the fussy ones can make space (literally and mentally) for the ones that actually bring joy.
The truth is, you don’t need to be a perfect plant parent to have a beautiful, thriving indoor jungle.
You just need a few good habits, the right plants, and a firm refusal to feel guilty for doing it your way.
So here’s to low-effort plant parenting. To the water-and-walk-away crowd. To the people who want green without the grind.
Even if you only repot once a year, or water from your leftover tea, your plants aren’t judging you (and neither am I!).
Inspired by this newsletter and the feedback you gave in my last survey, I’m currently working on a brand new resource for people to manage their houseplant collection with much less stress. Stay tuned!
