If your lush and lively guests are crusting into brown twigs on your windowsill, it might be time to hang a sign on your door — “House Plant Graveyard: complete with trashcan burial alongside forgotten pizza leftovers and mystery takeout.”

Spider Plant

Don’t be afraid, the only creepy crawlers spiraling from the long, narrow leaves of this popular house plant are green — no furry, eight legged terrors here. The “spiders,” or shoots, that hang from the plant can actually be plucked off and replanted in moist potting soil, said Rosemary Martin, the store and greenhouse manager at Maplewood Produce and Greenhouse. For general care, water when the soil becomes dry and keep the plants in medium to low light, Martin said.

Succulents

These plush plants with their thick, water-filled leaves are like all mothers when they receive their birthday cards a week late — they still love their children just the same. If you forget to water a succulent for a week, not only is it OK, it’s also preferred, said Martin.

“You need to keep them dry, so dry you almost think you’re killing them.” Martin said. She lightly waters the succulents in the Maplewood greenhouse once a week, twice if it’s really hot.

Pothos Plant

Winding vines covered in heart-shaped leaves grow almost as fast as Rapunzel’s golden hair; and just like locks spiraling from a tall tower, Martin said the vines can grow long enough to trail around windowsills or doorways. However, a quick trim will not hurt the pothos plant, and the cuttings can be placed in soil to propagate, Martin said.

Additionally, the pothos plant thrives in either a pot of soil or a jar of water, said Stephanie, a florist from Plasterer’s Florist and Greenhouse. The pothos plant likes medium, indirect light and should only be watered when the soil becomes dry, Stephanie said.

Wandering Jew

Wherever it wanders this plant with its maroon-tinted and spade-shaped leaves flourishes — “That one grows anywhere,” Martin said.

Caring for the wandering Jew is very similar to a spider plant because it needs medium light and can go several weeks without water, Martin said. According to Stephanie, the wandering Jew is prone to rot, so it is important not to overwater.

Snake Plant

Also known as the mother-in-law’s tongue, this plant is unlike its name in that it does not have any slithering, devious tricks to thwart plant owners or young maidens with glass slippers.

Care is simple, Stephanie said — let the soil dry out before watering, and keep the plant in indirect light, because the sun will burn spots onto its tall and free-standing yellow trimmed leaves.

Cast Iron Plant

Tougher than a Viking’s iron helmet, this plain, dark-leafed plant would not win a beauty contest but its durability makes it a front-runner for negligent owners. Stephanie ranked this plant as the most indestructible houseplant because it prefers low light conditions and can survive long periods of time without water.

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