Best
Low Maintenance Plants for Singapore Homes and Offices
The best low maintenance plants for Singapore are snake plant, pothos, heartleaf philodendron, Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema), spider plant, peace lily and Swiss cheese plant. They tolerate indoor light, forgive a missed watering and cope with air-conditioned rooms. Pick the one that suits the light at your spot, water only when the soil has dried, and you will rarely need to fuss over it. Below you will find what each plant needs, which ones are risky around pets and children, and how to choose for your own room.
TL;DR
- Start with snake plant, pothos, heartleaf philodendron or Chinese evergreen if your spot is dim. Start with spider plant or Swiss cheese plant if you have bright, indirect light.
- Overwatering kills more beginner plants than neglect. Check the soil with a finger before every watering.
- Pothos, peace lily, Chinese evergreen, philodendron and Swiss cheese plant are toxic if eaten, so keep them away from pets and small children.
- Always use a pot with drainage holes, and empty saucers every other day to keep mosquitoes from breeding.
- Not sure where to begin? Browse our Plants and Rare & Tropical Foliage categories at Candy Floriculture.
Table of Contents
- What “low maintenance” really means in Singapore
- The easiest plants to start with
- Quick comparison
- How to match a plant to your spot
- Care habits that suit Singapore
- What to do when a plant looks unhappy
- Buying and getting started with Candy Floriculture
- FAQ
- Sources
What “low maintenance” really means in Singapore
A low maintenance plant is one that survives ordinary indoor conditions without a strict routine. In Singapore that means three things: it copes with lower light than a garden would give, it tolerates the occasional forgotten watering, and it does not sulk in cool, dry air-conditioning.
Light is the first thing to understand. Most houseplants do best in bright, indirect light, which a Singapore houseplant guide defines as a spot where no direct sun rays fall on the plant. A windowsill that gets hours of full afternoon sun is not that spot. A bright corner a metre or two from a window is.
The second thing is mindset. A plant expert quoted by CNA Lifestyle says the biggest newbie mistake is treating indoor plants like outdoor ones, with lots of water every day and direct sun. Indoor plants generally need less of both. Once you accept that, “low maintenance” becomes very achievable.
The easiest plants to start with
Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata)
If you want one plant that suits nearly everyone, this is it. Kew describes the snake plant as low maintenance. It is native to West and West Central Africa, and while wild plants can reach 2 metres, houseplants usually stay under 1 metre, so it fits most corners.
A plant expert quoted by CNA Lifestyle recommends it for an awkward, dim corner, with watering once every two to three weeks depending on how dark the space is. Iowa State University’s extension service puts it bluntly: the only real way to kill a snake plant is to overwater it, so let the soil dry between waterings.
One myth to drop: you will not purify your flat’s air with it. Kew notes that you would need to fill a room with snake plants to gain any noticeable benefit. Buy it because it is tough and looks sharp, not for clean air.
Pothos (money plant)
Pothos is the classic trailing beginner plant. Singapore guidance lists it, together with snake plant, as tolerant of lower indoor humidity, low light and infrequent watering. It will trail from a shelf, climb a moss pole or sit in a hanging pot. When a vine gets long, trim it and root the cutting in water for a free second plant.
Pothos belongs to the aroid family, and NParks notes that aroids are prized for their relative ease of care, with many people considering them perfect beginner’s house plants. It is toxic if eaten, so hang it out of reach of pets and children.
Heartleaf philodendron
This is another aroid with a relaxed temperament. NParks describes Philodendron hederaceum as an indoor plant that tolerates lower light, with a preference for semi-shade, moderate water and low maintenance. It grows fast, which is rewarding when you are new to plants, and it tolerates dry air but appreciates an occasional misting.
Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema)
Aglaonema is a Singapore favourite for offices and dim living rooms. NParks lists the cultivar ‘Malay Beauty’ as a low-maintenance houseplant or office plant that tolerates low light well, with moderate water and occasional misting. It may get leggy over time, but it stays more compact and bushy under bright, diffused light.
The same applies to ‘Siam Aurora’, which NParks calls easy to grow and ideal as a houseplant or office plant. Give it bright diffused light, because full sun scorches the leaves. The colourful pink and red types want a little more light than the dark green ones to keep their colour. Our own Aglaonema care guide for Singapore walks through light, water and common fixes.
Spider plant
The RHS calls the spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) a tough houseplant tolerant of a wide range of conditions. It forms a clump of arching green leaves and sends out plantlets on long stems, which you can pot up and give to friends. It is also on a list of houseplants not considered harmful if a child accidentally ingests them, which makes it a calmer choice for households with little ones.
Peace lily
Peace lilies are forgiving and one of the few easy plants that flower indoors. Iowa State’s guidance says they tolerate low light but flower best in indirect sunlight. Keep the soil lightly moist. The leaves droop dramatically when the plant is dry, then revive after watering, so the plant effectively tells you when it is thirsty.
Swiss cheese plant (Monstera)
If you want a statement plant, monstera is the one. The RHS describes Monstera deliciosa as a relatively easy-to-care-for climbing houseplant from tropical forests of southern Mexico and South America, with huge glossy leaves that develop holes as it matures. For the related Monstera adansonii, Gardens by the Bay says it thrives under indirect light and needs the soil surface to dry between waterings, in a planter with drainage holes.
The RHS also advises wearing gloves when handling it and keeping it away from children and pets, because the plant contains toxic compounds.
Quick comparison
| Plant | Best light | Watering | Safe around pets and kids? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snake plant | Low to bright indirect | Every two to three weeks, only when dry | Keep out of reach to be safe |
| Pothos | Low to bright indirect | When the top of the soil is dry | No, toxic if eaten |
| Heartleaf philodendron | Semi-shade | Moderate, occasional misting | No, toxic if eaten |
| Chinese evergreen | Semi-shade to bright diffused | Moderate, occasional misting | No, toxic if eaten |
| Spider plant | Bright indirect | When the top of the soil is dry | Not considered harmful if ingested |
| Peace lily | Low to indirect | Keep lightly moist | No, toxic if eaten |
| Swiss cheese plant | Bright indirect | When the soil surface is dry | No, toxic, use gloves |
The pet and child column draws on a guide to kid-safe houseplants, which names pothos, peace lily, Chinese evergreen, philodendron and anthurium among the aroids that can cause adverse reactions if consumed. If a pet or child chews any plant, call your vet or doctor and bring a leaf or a photo of the plant with you.
How to match a plant to your spot
Before you buy anything, look at where the plant will live. Light decides more than any other factor.
- Check the light. Hold your hand over the spot at midday. A sharp, dark shadow means bright light. A faint, barely visible shadow means low light. Do this on a normal day, not only when the sun happens to be shining in.
- Match the plant to the light. For faint shadows, choose snake plant, pothos, heartleaf philodendron or a dark green Chinese evergreen. For sharper shadows without direct sun, spider plant, monstera and peace lily will be happier.
- Be honest about your routine. If you tend to forget plants for a couple of weeks, pick the drought-tolerant ones such as snake plant. If you like a little weekly ritual, peace lily rewards you with its visible droop-and-recover cycle.
- Check the pets and kids column. Decide first, then shop.
- Pick a pot with drainage holes. It matters more than the pot’s looks.
No plant lives on zero light. A very dim flat with almost no window still needs a lamp for most plants, or a choice from the shade-tolerant group above. If your issue is outdoor shade rather than indoor dimness, see our guide to shade garden plants for Singapore.
Care habits that suit Singapore
Water by touch, not by calendar
The most useful rule is to push a finger into the soil. A Singapore guide suggests watering when the top two inches of soil feel dry and watering through the pot so excess drains out, rather than following a rigid schedule. In dim rooms, plants use water slowly, so the soil stays damp for longer than you expect. That is why overwatering is so common here.
Handle the air-conditioning
Air-conditioning is the hidden stress for indoor plants. NParks notes that fiddle-leaf philodendrons need occasional misting when grown indoors, especially in air-conditioned environments. Keep plants out of the direct draught of a vent, and remember that cool rooms dry soil more slowly, so water a little less often. If you are choosing for a workspace, our office plant maintenance guide covers the routine in more detail.
Keep mosquitoes out of the picture
Singapore’s dengue rules apply to your plants too. The National Environment Agency says to remove water from plant pot plates every other day, scrub the plate to remove mosquito eggs, and loosen the soil of potted plants so water does not stagnate on a hardened surface. It also says not to place trays or receptacles under or on top of an air-conditioning unit. NEA has reported that flower pot plates and trays are among the most common Aedes breeding habitats found in homes. A pot with drainage holes sitting in a quickly emptied saucer is both better for the plant and safer for the household.
Keep it simple otherwise
- Wipe dusty leaves with a damp cloth every so often.
- Turn the pot a quarter turn now and then so the plant grows evenly.
- Go easy on fertiliser. Easy plants do not need much.
- Repot only when roots crowd the pot. The soil mix matters: our comparison of coco coir and peat for houseplants helps you choose.
What to do when a plant looks unhappy
Most problems come back to light and water.
- Yellowing leaves and soggy soil: you are watering too often. Let the soil dry, check the drainage holes and water less.
- Leggy, stretched growth: the light is too low. Aglaonema, for example, can become leggy over time but stays bushier under bright, diffuse light.
- Brown, scorched patches: too much direct sun. Move the plant back from the window.
- Brown leaf tips: often air-conditioning. Move the plant out of the draught of a vent.
- Drooping peace lily: it is thirsty. Water it and it should revive.
If you grow a bigger or trickier plant later, our care guides for dracaena and dieffenbachia are good next steps.
Our view: easy plants, chosen well
When customers ask us for a low maintenance plant, we start with their room, not the plant. A well-matched plant in the right light needs far less from you than a fashionable plant in the wrong place.
That is why we publish detailed care instructions for the plants we offer, with Singapore’s light, humidity and air-conditioning in mind. We curate our range, including rare and tropical foliage, so that beginners and collectors alike can find something that suits them, and we deliver locally so plants arrive fresh.
Our advice to a first-time buyer is to start with one or two forgiving plants, learn how the light in your home behaves, and then grow your collection. If a plant outgrows its pot, we also offer a re-potting service so you do not have to wrestle with roots and soil yourself.
candy
Buying and getting started with Candy Floriculture
If you are ready to bring a plant home, our online nursery at Candy Floriculture offers houseplants, rare and tropical foliage, bonsai, pots and planters, with delivery within Singapore. Look at the Plants and Rare & Tropical Foliage categories to find a plant that fits your light, and pair it with a pot that has drainage holes.
We also offer a re-potting service for plants from $20.20 (excluding the pot and planting media) and for orchids at $10.10 (excluding the pot). Delivery to other areas carries an add-on charge from $20.00. For an easy gift, our Phalaenopsis orchid in a pink designed pot is ready to display. Planning greenery for a workplace? We also provide plant rental and maintenance for offices, so ask us about what suits your space.
FAQ
What is the easiest houseplant to keep alive in Singapore?
Snake plant is the usual answer. Kew describes it as low maintenance, and a plant expert quoted by CNA Lifestyle says it tolerates low light and needs water only every two to three weeks. Pothos is a close second, especially if you like trailing leaves.
Can low maintenance plants live in a room with no window?
Not indefinitely. No plant survives on zero light, so a windowless room needs a grow light or regular rotation of the plant to a brighter spot. A room with a window that gives only soft, indirect light is fine for snake plant, pothos, heartleaf philodendron and dark green Chinese evergreen.
How often should I water my plants?
Water when the top two inches of soil feel dry, not on a fixed day. In dim or air-conditioned rooms, that may be every two weeks or longer. Always let excess water drain away and empty the saucer every other day, as NEA advises.
Are easy houseplants safe for cats, dogs and toddlers?
Not all of them. Pothos, peace lily, Chinese evergreen, philodendron and Swiss cheese plant can cause adverse reactions if eaten, so keep them out of reach. Spider plant is listed as not considered harmful if accidentally ingested. If your pet or child chews a plant, contact your vet or doctor straight away.
Which plants suit a desk in an air-conditioned office?
Choose tolerant plants such as Aglaonema, pothos or snake plant, and keep them out of the direct draught of a vent. Water a little less often than you would at home, because cool air slows the soil from drying out.
Sources
- Snake plant, Dracaena trifasciata | Kew
- Beautify Your Home with Aroids | NParks
- Philodendron hederaceum | NParks
- Aglaonema commutatum ‘Malay Beauty’ | NParks
- Aglaonema ‘Siam Aurora’ | NParks
- Chlorophytum comosum | RHS
- How to grow Swiss cheese plants | RHS
- Swiss Cheese Plant | Gardens by the Bay
- Easy Low-Maintenance Houseplants | Iowa State University
- Kid-safe Houseplants | Discover + Share
- Essential Tips To Keep Houseplants Alive | CNA Lifestyle
- Guide to Keeping Healthy Houseplants in Singapore
- Other Preventive Measures | NEA
- NEA urges continued vigilance to prevent another dengue outbreak in 2023