This Free Plant Can Restore Your Faith in Indoor Gardening

When you're compost bin looks more like a houseplant cemetery it gets harder to keep your faith---and sanity---in tact. While there is a strong argument for pothos and philodendrons as the easiest, most beginner-friendly houseplant, this unconventional plant can make even the blackest thumbs restore faith in themselves. The best part, it's totally free!

We often overlook the beauty of "weeds" because they're common, but the most beginner friendly, fool-proof plants are hardy, adaptable, fast-growing, and evergreen. They're just plain hard to kill. These attributes are often confused for stubborn, pesky, maybe even nettlesome, especially when viewed out in nature. Most of the beloved vining houseplants are parasitic in the wild; they attach themselves around tree trunks and suck energy from it while spreading from tree to tree and crawling across the ground. Golden pothos look almost unrecognizable in the wild, but this, arguably one of the easiest houseplant, is a weed.

The Art of The Find

Tempting as unlimited houseplants may be, finding the right one is art. While dandelions are whimsical and cute, their seasonal bloom is more suited for outdoors. Start by looking for plants that are deep green, alive yearlong (or early and late sprouters if you live in extreme climates), and start with non-blooming plants*. We recommend looking for **sturdy vines running along the ground or up a tree. Most vines, like English Ivy, will cling to the tree so take care to not damage the tree bark as you are sourcing your new houseplant.

*Take precaution when dealing with flowers as they often contain allergens like pollen.

**Do base level research to make sure your new friend is not poisonous. We recommend a simple Google Lens search. When in doubt: leaves of three, leave them be.

Rehoming Your Plant

Any new plant brought into your home should be thoroughly inspected, rinsed, and treated; this is especially true for plants coming from the wild. Find a spot away from any other indoor plants and lay your new plants out. Inspect each one with a bright light looking under and between leaves, stems, and roots. Check for any signs of bugs and bug activity, mildew or fungus, and odd appearance (soft spots, discoloration, wilting, etc.). Most garden bugs can be removed by hand, but pest bugs may be harder, and frankly not worth the hassle. If your plant seems off in any way just go out back and pick a new one.

Set It Up for Success

Our favorite topic here at DCC, propagation! In most cases you can propagate your "weed" in water or soil, but you should pay attention to which one. Hydroponic plants, or plants that can be grown in water, can be clipped and placed in water until roots grow. Vines and plants with nodes generally do well hydroponically. Weeds with offshoots that grow under ground, like clovers, will need to be uprooted, separated from the mother plant, and planted directly in soil. For the most part the plant should be fairly acclimated to your environment since you're living in proximity to its natural home, but there are a few factors to consider.

Recreate Its Natural Environment

Lighting, watering, humidity level, and soil make up most of the plants environment, and most of those are not consistent as you move from outside to inside. Plants considered weeds get categorized that way because of their resilience. So while finicky calatheas may droop in distress, most weed varieties will, at the very least, live in most conditions. That doesn't mean you should neglect your garden find. Learning about your potted "weed" can inspire understanding for more delicate plants and can teach you what plants your home is suited for.

The secret to becoming a plentiful plant parent isn't a hereditary green thumb or expensive equipment, its as simple as noticing the "weeds" for their flowers. Restore your faith in the potted plant by trying to tame something that refuses to revoke its wild.