4 low-maintenance plants to get you in the mood for spring

Monty Daniel

February 26, 2020

Are you looking to grow your plant family or for a way to embrace the hopeful warmer days ahead?

Soon, winter snow will melt off, and fresh new plants will pop up. Greenhouses and nurseries get large shipments of plants in as people become eager for the spring. With the new season comes more opportunities to adopt more greenery into your life.

Here are four plants that are easy to take care of that you can bring with you into spring.

1. Ferns are your friends

While I was previously frightened by the concept of ferns, I recently welcomed three into my herd of plants. Ferns tend to prefer humid environments, so keeping these leafy pals in a bathroom or spritzing them once in a while keeps them happy. When they’re happy, ferns can grow to be up to 6 feet tall, depending on the type of fern. With a wide variety of shapes and sizes, from the asparagus fern to the Japanese tassel fern, they can be small and dainty or even provide shade.

ferns on table — Freshly potted baby ferns rest in their new home Feb. 22, 2020. (Monty Daniel | The Collegian)

2. Bamboo isn’t just for pandas

If you have any furry friends in or around your household (i.e. cats, dogs, horses), they will love you for bringing them a new plant to nibble on. Luckily, bamboo isn’t just safe for them to eat, but it also may contain a decent amount of protein for them as well. This is the kind of plant you can forget exists for a while then suddenly remember, and it will still be there for you. Bamboo isn’t incredibly demanding, plus it has a nice aesthetic appeal.

bamboo plant — Bamboo plants are resilient, shown by this bamboo, which has been chewed on by cats but still keeps growing Feb. 22, 2020. (Monty Daniel | The Collegian)

3. Cacti caught your eye?

These plants of the desert are used to being in dry climates, so if you are forgetful or simply lazy, this is the plant for you. With over 2,000 different types of cactus, there’s one that is sure to fit your personality and taste. Whether you’re more of an old lady cactus kind of person or you’re looking for something from the Ferocactus genus, you’re sure to fall in love with your new prickly pal. As long as you don’t water it too much and give it enough sunlight, your cactus may even bloom beautiful flowers.

cacti on porch — Cacti come in all shapes and sizes, are easy to personalize and can be found in many different environments, including this porch in Fort Collins Feb. 22, 2020. (Monty Daniel | The Collegian)

4. Peperomia: not just a funny name

This has become one of my new favorite houseplants due to how slow-moving and gentle it is. Once it’s planted, you don’t really need to worry about it too much. They can hold water in their stems and leaves, making it so that if you need to leave or forget about them, peperomias can sustain themselves. They are known for having thick and resilient bodies and leaves that come in a variety of patterns and colors. Much like the bamboo plant, if your pet decides this looks like a nice treat, don’t fret; it is nontoxic and may even provide nutrients.

plants on table — An asparagus fern and a watermelon peperomia live in harmony on a kitchen table, Feb. 22, 2020 (Monty Daniel | The Collegian)

Monty Daniel can be reached at entertainment@collegian.com or on Twitter @MontyDaniel_.

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