The frigid temperatures outdoors lead to heaters working at total capacity to keep the homes warm and cozy. Those blasting heaters also create an incredibly dry environment inside the home, which isn’t favorable for many common houseplants.
While there are ways to increase the air humidity for your plants, you can also opt for plants that naturally thrive in dry climates. Learn about seven plants that will stay beautiful even in that warm indoor air!
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1. ZZ Plant
If you want a plant that just won’t quit and will continue to be the highlight of your room for years to come, consider a ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia). The dramatic plant is native to eastern Africa and has shiny, deep green, oval leaves. It can tolerate infrequent watering, most light conditions, and typical indoor humidity levels.
The drought-tolerant plant requires watering only once the soil is dried out completely and indirect, bright light to thrive. However, keep the plant out of areas that receive a cold draft or direct sun exposure that can scorch its leaves.
2. Aloe
Aloe is a succulent with thick, fleshy, spear-shaped leaves covered with a waxy layer. The plant’s leaves store water, making it adaptable to dry winter conditions.
Aloe also adds exciting textures to your interiors and can become a focal point of your room. Maintaining its compact form requires at least six hours of sunlight or 14 to 16 hours of artificial light daily.
Like most succulents, water it thoroughly and allow the excess to drain out. Let the soil dry completely between watering sessions.
3. Snake Plant
The snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata) is a versatile plant that does well in both dry and humid conditions. However, it is happiest in lower humidity levels.
The popular houseplant hails from tropical western Africa. It requires minimal care to keep gracing you with its distinguished, stiff, pointy leaves that shoot upwards.
It can also survive in most light conditions, ranging from low light to direct sunlight, but prefers a bright spot with indirect sunlight to promote growth.
Snake plants do not require frequent watering, as both the root system and the leaves hold water. Water it once every two weeks in summer and three to four weeks in the winter.
4. Jade Plant
The jade plant (Crassula ovata) is a remarkable houseplant with woody stems and fleshy, oval-shaped leaves that give it a miniature tree-like appearance. With simple care, the South African native can serve you as a striking, decorative houseplant for many years.
The resilient plant functions well in most homes’ warm, dry environments. It requires a minimum of six hours of indirect, bright light, as lower light can cause the plant to become leggy.
Water the plant to moisten the soil thoroughly and wait for the soil to dry out before watering again. Soil dries faster in summer than winter, so adjust the watering frequency accordingly.
5. Silver Squill
Silver squill (Ledebouria socialis) is a small yet tough houseplant. It makes a striking indoor plant with its unique lanced-shaped, green-dotted leaves. Most importantly, it can easily survive in dryness since it originates from the dry, South African savannas.
The plant needs direct sunlight for at least three to four hours daily and minimal watering once established. It is also quite lenient to dry spells and requires watering only once the top inch of soil is dry in the summer. Cut down the watering by half in winter when the plant goes dormant.
6. Spiny Pincushion Cactus
Most cacti can survive in dry conditions without any trouble. However, the spiny pincushion cactus (Mammillaria spinosissima) stands out because it produces vibrant pink, funnel-shaped flowers and cream radials. It is also covered with red-brown or white spines.
The spiky plant is the perfect adornment for your home as it grows well under glass, making it great for terrariums and increasing its overall appeal. Place the glass container or terrarium in a bright spot that receives filtered light and water only after the medium dries out completely. Keep it mostly dry in winter.
7. Panda Plant
The panda plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa) is a succulent species with thick, fleshy, furry leaves with brown tips resembling velvety cat ears. It can also bloom, producing tiny, tubular yellow-green flowers in early spring. They also grow well under glass.
You should keep your plant in full light, although it can survive in partial shade. Water sparingly in winter and slightly more in the growing season, allowing the top two inches of the soil to dry between watering sessions.
Dry Air, Don’t Care
Plants that do well in dry climates are often relatively easy to look after and thrive under minimal care. That makes them great for anyone who appreciates the benefits of indoor greenery. However, you need a spot in your home that receive uninterrupted, direct sunlight for most of these plants to survive.
Have you tried growing plants in a low-humidity environment? Share below!
