Are there really any houseplants you can't kill? Experts answer

If you're looking for an 'unkillable' houseplant, it can feel like looking for a unicorn. If no matter what you do houseplants don't survive very long in your home, finding the one that will live past the first couple of months after you've bought it can feel like a losing game. 

The truth is that most of us aren't all that bad at looking after houseplants, but many of the best indoor plants are quite fussy where it comes to light, humidity, and watering requirements. 

A great many houseplants we're all used to come from hot, tropical climates. Unless you can recreate the tropics in your house, you may start seeing curling leaves, fungal infections, and, ultimately, dead plants you'll have to throw away.

Can this sad fate be avoided by going for naturally tougher plants? Do they really exist? We've asked gardening and indoor plant experts; what they said will give those of us unlucky with our houseplants some hope. 

Are there any houseplants you can't kill?

Not really. They are mortal after all. Any plant that receives no light and/or water ever will eventually die. Having said that, there are a few houseplants that are able to tough it out for quite a while if you neglect them. 

Ayelet Faerman is the founder of Verdant Lyfe, a houseplant company that ships all over the US. Faerman recommends 'Snake plants, Scindapsus, and Pothos' as 'most likely unkillable' thanks to their resilience. 

Of course, 'every plant does need some level of care but these ones are not picky about temperature, light, or a consistent watering schedule. All plants are different and can't adjust well to environmental changes, but these ones generally have the best success.'

Faerman even says that 'we have seen some plants survive two to three weeks in transit without any sun or water, and continue to thrive.' 

And although Faerman obviously doesn't recommend subjecting your houseplants to such an ordeal, it does show that getting a snake plant or a pothos is a good idea if you tend to kill your plants.

Snake plants and pothoscan be bought on Amazon.

How do I choose the right houseplants for my home?

There is a bit more to it, though, than just going for the plants with the toughest reputation. Charlotte Bailey, a horticulturist, and owner of ohsogarden.com, points out that 'it's important to note that whilst there are certainly some ''hardy'' houseplants out there, it doesn't mean they'll thrive in every home.'

For example, 'ferns and ivies are considered hard to kill plants yet they do require a fairly high humidity level, and so won't do well in dry homes.' 

Conversely, 'succulents are often considered to be virtually indestructible, due to their ability to store water in their leaves and tolerate long periods of drought.' 

And yet, if your home is damp and you keep them in a room that doesn't get much light, you may see even your succulents or cacti pack up and die. They are particularly susceptible to water stress.

The conclusion? Rather than chasing the unicorn of an indestructible plant or picking the most popular houseplants because they look good on Instagram, try to choose plants that will thrive in your home. 

Bailey recommends 'check your indoor humidity levels with a hygrometer and asking yourself: 'does your home get at least three to six hours of bright, indirect sunlight (the standard for most plants)? If not, can you add in grow lights?'

If you're not sure what the plant you like needs, 'double-check the plant's tags before purchase – these will give you a key insight into the type of environment you'll need to provide for optimal growth.'

And that's it. No magic, just matching a plant's requirements to your home's microclimate.