12 easy indoor plants in Singapore to grow if you lack green fingers

Growing plants at home can be a thorny task because of our hot weather (more watering required) and the humid climate, which promotes fungal diseases. To get around this, pick indoor plants in Singapore well-suited to the tropics and buy them from top nurseries.

If you are a beginner gardener, here’s our list of the 12 best indoor plants in Singapore.

1. Snake Plant

Snake plants have leathery, succulent leaves with green, silver and yellow hues that develop in a rosette. They are low-maintenance and thrive under varied conditions.

While snake plants can tolerate low-light situations, they prefer indirect sunlight. As such, place the snake plant near a window to slowly acclimate it to the light levels in your home.

Water your snake plant every 2-8 weeks or when the soil is dry. Overwatering can cause root rot, which can cause leaves to turn yellow. Use well-draining soil to prevent root rot.

Snake plants remove pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene and xylene from the air.

Buy for S$11 at Noah Garden Centre

2. Succulent 

If you’re the lazy type and are scouring around for a plant that doesn’t need watering often, go with succulents (e.g. cacti). These are plants with thickened, fleshy, or engorged parts. These parts help succulents to retain water in parched environments.

Unlike cacti in the desert, succulents prefer bright but indirect sunlight. Direct sunlight can scorch their leaves.

Water your succulent sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. Use a well-draining soil mix to avoid root rot. Also, ensure that your pots have enough drainage holes.

Mini assorted succulents are the perfect answer for a low-maintenance plant. Their small size makes them ideal for balconies, windowsills or small gardens where space is limited.

Buy for S$3.20 at Noah Garden Centre

3. ZZ Plant

The ZZ plant (zamioculcas zamiifolia) is easily recognisable from its wide, waxy leaves that reflect sunlight to brighten indoor spaces. It is a relatively easy indoor plant in Singapore to grow as it is low-maintenance and can tolerate lengthy durations of drought. 

The species prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate low-light conditions, which are common in many Singapore homes. The ZZ plant can also eliminate toxins from the air.

ZZ plants are known for their hardiness and resilience, making them ideal for those with hectic schedules. Water your ZZ plant sparingly, enabling the soil to dry out between waterings.

Buy for S$67.20 at Noah Garden Centre

4. Orchid

Singapore’s tropical weather provides the ideal conditions for orchids to blossom, with its high humidity and temperatures. No wonder the Vanda Miss Joaquim is our national flower.

Most orchids in Singapore thrive in filtered sunlight, so avoid direct exposure which can burn the leaves. Due to the high humidity in Singapore, orchids might need less frequent watering. But make sure that the potting medium is consistently moist so it still has water. 

If you are a greenhorn gardener, popular beginner-friendly options include Phalaenopsis orchids (moth orchids). These can sprout eternal, gorgeous flowers with minimal hassle.

Buy for S$11.80 at Noah Garden Centre

5. Spider Plant

Unlike their real-life insect counterpart that can be squashed to death easily, spider plants are resilient and can withstand neglect. They don’t require much water, pruning or fertiliser.

Water your plant moderately, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. Avoid overwatering it, as this can lead to root rot. Spider plants can grow in a variety of light conditions, from low light to bright, indirect light, making them suitable for homes here.

If you’re a clean freak, spider plants can remove toxins, such as formaldehyde and xylene, from the air. The plant itself is also non-toxic, making it safe for homes with pets or kids. 

Buy for S$13.80 at The Garden Store

6. Boston Fern

If you prefer a hanging plant, Boston ferns are your best bet. They thrive in the country’s humid climate, making it a great choice for indoor plants. Boston ferns can be placed in a bathroom or areas with indirect light such as hanging baskets or shaded areas in balconies.

You don’t have to water it often. Keep the soil moist and avoid letting it dry out completely.

Boston ferns also help remove indoor pollutants such as formaldehyde and xylene, while releasing moisture via transpiration. The water vapour can cure dry skin and sore throats.

Buy for S$9 at The Garden Store

7. Bamboo Palm

If you are looking to add an exotic Chinese touch to your indoor space, you can’t go wrong with the bamboo palm, which has a bamboo-like appearance. Bamboo palms have thick stems with nodes that resemble bamboo and big leaves in either pinnate or fishtail shape.

Provide bright, indirect light, but avoid direct sunlight that can scorch its leaves. Keep the soil invariably moist, but avoid waterlogging by getting a pot with sufficient drainage holes.

Bamboo palms are also known for their ability to filter air pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene, making them a wonderful choice for indoor spaces.

Buy for S$98 at Tumbleweed Plants

8. Peace Lily

Peace lilies, known for their long-lasting white flowers, are a common houseplant. They are low-maintenance, can tolerate low light, and fare well in regular house temperatures.

For optimum growth, place it in bright, indirect or filtered light. While peace lilies bloom with more light, avoid direct light that can burn their leaves or cause their flowers to wilt.

Drooping leaves are a telltale sign that your peace lily needs watering. If so, water it or when the top inch of soil feels dry. Additionally, peace lilies love humidity, so mist them every few days or put them in a humid place in your flat, such as a kitchen or bathroom.

But the peace lily contains calcium oxalate crystals that can poison humans and pets if swallowed, so you might want to keep an arm’s length from it in the kitchen or bathroom.

Buy for S$20 at Far East Flora

9. Basil

Basil is regarded as an easy indoor plant in Singapore to grow. It thrives in the tropical climate and abundant sunlight, making it a wonderful choice for beginner home gardeners.

Basil has varieties that differ in flavour, aroma, leaf shape, and size. Thai basil and Italian sweet basil are commonly cultivated here. You can easily grow basil from seeds. It is best to water it when the top inch of soil feels dry, which could mean watering every 2-4 days depending on the climate and pot size, as basil prefers moist soil but not soggy conditions.

Basil planted in pots will need more frequent watering than basil planted directly in the ground. As with plants on this list, avoid overwatering, as soggy soil can cause root rot.

Buy for S$9 at The Garden Store

10. Swiss Cheese Plant

The Swiss cheese plant, known for its large, glossy leaves with holes that resemble Swiss cheese, is a tropical plant that also does well in the local climate. It thrives under bright, indirect light and in well-draining soil. Ensure that the pot has holes to avoid waterlogging.

Water every 1–2 weeks, or more regularly if the plant is in a warmer or drier environment.

A fast-growing tropical plant often used as interior decoration, the Swiss cheese plant is a vine plant that can grow up to 25 feet long in a year. Be prepared to give it room to grow.

Buy for S$36 at Noah Garden Centre

11. Money Plant

Although Chinese New Year is over, it’s not too late for you to get a money plant to rake in good fortune. The money plant can tolerate low light and moderate light. It can even thrive in bright, indirect sunlight, which is prevalent in shaded areas of most Singaporean abodes.

Money plants root easily in water, making them perfect for growing in containers with just water changes. They don’t require frequent watering and only need occasional fertilisation.

If you wish to create a new plant, money plants are easy to propagate using stem cuttings.

Buy for S$2.50 at Far East Flora

12. Rubber Plant

Rubber plants are low-maintenance, fast-growing, and can tolerate low-light conditions.

These plants prefer bright, indirect sunlight, such as from a window with a curtain or blinds. Direct sunlight burns their leaves, so it is best to keep them away from the sun.

Rubber plants are somewhat tolerant of underwatering, so water the rubber plant when the top inch of soil is dry. Water thoroughly so that the water seeps from the bottom of the pot.

Use a lightweight, well-drained potting mix that holds moisture and gives roots room to grow. Materials for the mix can include coco peat moss, vermiculite, perlite, and compost.

Buy for S$16.35 at Toh Garden

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