Plants That Need Little Water | The Best Drought Tolerant HousePlants
Plants that need little water, or drought tolerant plants, are those that can survive without water for up to two to three weeks, making them perfect for when you go on vacation.
Likewise, if your lifestyle often takes you away from home for extended periods, these plants are ideal for you.
I personally have owned these ten plants for many years. In fact, my Ponytail Palm is 19 years old as I am writing this Blog, my Desert Candle is 18, and my ZZ is 15. They’ve endured several trips and personal life changes, so you can trust me, when I tell you that these plants are rockstars!
1. snake plant, (dracaena trifasciata)
The Snake Plant is my go-to plant for people who are looking for low maintenance and variety at the same time.
That’s because this plant, not only comes in many varieties and sizes, but it is also very affordable, easy to find and it does really well in low light environments. Needless to say, it requires little water to thrive.
It’s no surprise you see the most common Snake Plant species in many malls and airports.
While the Snake Plant can survive in low light conditions, it thrives, in bright, indirect light. It is important that it is not exposed to any direct sunlight.
I water my Snake Plants, no matter the species, (I have a few), every two to three weeks. They are actually very forgiving if you forget a week.
I fertilize them all with a liquid plant food every second watering from Spring to Fall.
Since this plant doesn’t grow fast at all, it doesn’t require frequent repotting. However, it is a good practice to replace your plant’s soil at least every two years in order to provide the nutrients your plant needs to thrive.
When you repot your plant, make sure you place it in a well draining pot with well draining soil.
Snake Plants do not tolerate damp soil.
Click here to read my complete Blog on Snake Plant Care.
This is a Silver Queen Snake Plant variety. It is the tallest Snake Plant I have in our home. I water this plant every three weeks.
This is a Star Fish Snake Plant. It is a much newer and trendier variety, which is also quite pricey. I water this one once a week because it is planted in a much smaller pot and sits in a brighter spot.
2. ponytail palm, (beaucarnea recurvata)
The Ponytail Palm is another queen of the plants that need little water.
It’s the oldest plant in our home, and since it has withstood many major lifestyle changes, I can’t even remember how many weeks it went without water.
That’s because this plant is not a real palm. It is actually a succulent. A mighty one too!
It stores water in its bulbous trunk, and only when you see that trunk wrinkled, you know your Ponytail Palm is seriously dehydrated.
This succulent can grow to a tree size in nature, and if you want to see a picture of it, head over to my Blog on Tropical Plants. You won’t believe your eyes!
The Ponytail Palm can adapt to different light conditions, however, it thrives in bright, indirect light.
Water it every two weeks and discard any water in excess in its saucer a couple of hours after watering it.
I fertilize my plant every second watering with a liquid plant food from Spring to Fall.
Like the Snake Plant, the Ponytail Palm growth is very, very slow, so repotting is only practiced to replace the nutrients depleted soil.
Repot your plant in a draining pot with well draining soil.
Another great advantage of this plant is that it’s a non-toxic plant, safe for children and pets!
Gorgeous and lively, drought tolerant, adaptable to many light conditions and non-toxic!
What more can you ask for in a plant?
This is the newest of the my Ponytail Palms. It is also the odd one out, because it consists of four different bulbs, rather than one bulb with a trunk.
This is my ten years old Ponytail Palm.
3. aloe vera
Among the plants that need little water, Aloe Vera is one of the few that also requires a lot of light and heat.
In fact, this succulent is not as adaptable as many other plants listed in this Blog when it comes to light exposure.
Aloe Vera demands a lot of bright, indirect light to thrive. Even a few hours of direct morning sun are beneficial for this plant.
However, exposure to too much direct sun, will scorch its fleshys stems.
I recommend rotating this plant every time you water it as it tends to lean towards the sun.
You cannot water an Aloe Vera on a schedule as the watering frequency depends on how much light it gets. (This rule applies to all plants though).
The more bright light it gets, the more water it will need.
The general rule of thumb with this plant is to allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
I keep my plant by a South facing window and I water it every two weeks, but it is very forgiving when I miss a week.
I don’t fertilize this plant often; I do it twice with a liquid plant food between Spring and Fall.
If properly cared for, the Aloe Vera tends to grow fast. You will need to repot it as soon as the plant becomes top-heavy and starts to fall over.
However, it is important to know that the roots don’t grow as fast as the stems, so don’t repot your plant into a much bigger pot, or the roots will drown in excessively moist soil.
A great way to keep the bottom heavy and prevent the plant from being top-heavy is to repot it into a terracotta pot with draining holes and fill the bottom portion of the pot with draining pebbles.
Use a cactus soil mixed with perlite to add drainage to the mix. Use four parts soil to one part perlite.
To propagate Aloe Vera, simply wait for an offshoot to pop up from the soil next to the mother plant. Allow the offshoot to grow at least to 2″ in height before cutting it off closer to the mother plant and re-planting it into a small pot.
My Aloe Vera after being repotted.
Small Aloe Vera in its original plastic pot, placed inside a decorative ceramic pot.
4. ZZ plant, (zamioculcas zamiifolia)
The ZZ Plant is another fantastic plant that needs little water and little light to survive.
Hear me well though; while it only needs to be watered every two to three weeks depending on its light exposure and can survive with virtually no natural light, this plant does thrive in bright, indirect light.
I’ve had this plant for 15 years and I’ve seen it grow from a 6″ pot to a massive plant that I had no choice than to divide into 5 plants in order to contain it. So, I learned a thing or two from it.
If you want to be successful with the ZZ Plant, place it in a spot with bright, indirect light, like a North facing window or a South facing room, as long as it is away from direct sunlight.
The ZZ Plant is a succulent that stores water in its fleshy, thick stems.
It can go up to three weeks without water and it is quite forgiving when you miss a watering.
I fertilize it every two waterings with a liquid plant food from Spring to Fall.
This plant grows fast and you will need to repot it yearly.
Try to keep it into a terra cotta pot for as long as you can, (I can no longer find a terra cotta pot the size I need for my giant ZZ).
Terra cotta is porous and allows the soil to breath and dry out faster indoors.
Use a succulent soil mixed with perlite to add drainage to the mix. Add one part perlite to four parts soil.
ZZ Plants are propagated by division. When you repot your plant, divide the bulbous stems and roots by hand and avoid breaking too many roots.
If the roots are too compact and tangled, cut them with the a sharp knife and plant different stems into different pots.
Click here to read more about repotting, dividing and propagating a ZZ Plant.
This is my giant ZZ plant before repotting it and dividing it. I keep a pot with draining holes inside this beautiful decorative basket.
Detail of the shiny, leathery ZZ Plant leaves.
5. Pothos, (epipremnum aureum)
The Pothos is one of my favourite plants.
I actually love the Marble Queen species with its contrasting white and green variegated leaves.
It is a wonderful trailing plant to have, and it is extremely easy to propagate.
Interestingly enough, (and contradictory too), the Pothos is not only one of the best plants that need little water to grow, but it’s also one of the best houseplants that can grow in water. Isn’t it peculiar?
Pothos is quite adaptable when it comes to light exposure. It can survive with moderate light, but it does thrive in bright, indirect light.
Like with many other variegated plants, a variegated Pothos will require bright, indirect light to maintain its beautiful and stark variegation. Lower light levels will cause its leaves to revert to a solid green.
I speak for experience. I had my Marble Queen Pothos in a spot with moderate light and the white in its leaves started to turn into a yellow tone, with its variegation losing contrast.
I moved my plant to a windowsill facing North and within a few weeks its leaves turned stark white and green.
I water my Pothos once a week because it is in a very bright spot, but it can be watered every two weeks, and it will totally forgive you if you miss a week.
This plant grows fast and likes to be fed regularly. I use a liquid plant food every second watering from Spring to Fall.
Because the Pothos grows long stems quickly, it is a good practice to prune it every Spring. Pruning houseplants is actually very beneficial for them, as it prevents long, leggy stems and encourages new growth.
In addition, the cuttings can be used to propagate your Pothos, or to grow a new Pothos plant in water.
Simply cut the long stems between the nodes, which are those protrusions along the stems where the leaves are attached, and place them in water to root.
Within a couple of weeks you’ll notice roots growing. Allow the roots to be at least 2″ long before planting them in a pot.
The beautiful variegated leaves of a Marble Queen Pothos.
These are propagated Marble Queen Pothos stems. When you propagate a variegated plant, you don’t always get the same variegation as the mother plant, this is why one stem is variegated and the other one is solid green.
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6. wax plant, (hoya carnosa)
Among the plants that need little water to survive, The Wax Plant is also a very low maintenance plant and a non-toxic plant that is safe for children and pets.
Also known as Porcelain Flower for its beautiful and fragrant bloom, this plant is incredibly easy to grow and to propagate.
In fact, I have one of these plants because I snipped three stems from my friend’s massive Hoya.
I placed these stems in water to root and within weeks they grew roots and I was able to plant them in a pot. Now my Wax Plant is big too!
I became so enamoured with this plant that I started a little collection of Hoyas. I have something like eight different species.
This plant definitely loves bright, indirect light. Direct sun will damage its leaves.
It is important to keep it away from any drafts, whether hot or cold. So make sure it’s far away from drafty doors and windows.
I water my Hoya every two weeks, but it can go even three weeks without water. It is actually important that its roots are not overly moist and that it is planted in a draining pot with well draining soil.
The Wax Plant grows fast, so it will need food and frequent repotting.
I give it liquid plant food every second watering from Spring to Fall.
Repot in Spring when you notice the roots growing out of the draining holes.
Add one part perlite to four parts potting soil to add drainage to the mix.
The three stems I snipped from my friend’s plant. Rooted and planted.
The beautiful bloom of a Wax Plant.
7. desert candle, (euphorbia abyssinica)
The Desert Candle, is one of the best house plants that need little water to thrive.
Not every cactus can go as long as this one without water.
I know it for experience.
I have two cacti that look very similar; tall and columnar. But they are a bit different when it comes to care and water needs.
The African Milk Tree needs more water than the Desert Candle to thrive. This is why I picked the latter for this Blog.
I’ve had this plant for 18 years. It was given to me as a Valentine’s gift from my then boyfriend, (currently my husband).
Like the Ponytail Palm and the ZZ Plant it has gone through a lot of lifestyle changes in our household and it has survived them all successfully.
This cactus requires a lot of bright, indirect light to thrive. As you can see from the picture below, it sits by a North facing window.
I water it once a month and it is very forgiving when you forget about it.
I feed it once or twice a year with a liquid plant food during the growing season.
The Desert Candle grows veeeery slowly. The only reason I know it grows, is because I see the difference in pictures. I mostly notice the multiplication of arms, rather than the growth in height.
In 18 years I never had to upsize its pot. I did however replaced its nutrients depleted soil with a fresh batch.
This is really a no maintenance plant, you should not hesitate to buy.
8. Jade plant, (crassula ovata)
The Jade Plant is also known as the Prosperity and Friendship Plant.
It is the quintessential Feng Shui plant as it is believed to bring prosperity and happiness to those who own it. This is why Jade Plants are often presented as housewarming gifts.
This succulent is quite easy to grow and even easier to propagate.
Most likely, once you have one Jade Plant, you end up having multiple ones!
There are a few species of Jade Plants on the market; from variegated to funky-looking like the E.T. Fingers one.
They are all pretty easy to care for.
It thrives in bright, indirect light, with even a few hours of morning sunlight. A South facing window is ideal for this plant.
Just make sure you rotate it often so that its stems are not all leaning towards the sun, changing the shape of the plant.
Water your Jade Plant every two weeks or whenever the soil feels dry to the touch. Generally speaking, the more light the plant gets, the more water it will need. Also, the pot material makes a big difference in soil moisture. A terra cotta pot tends to dry out the soil much faster than a plastic pot.
Terra cotta pots are ideal for indoor Jade Plants as they do not tolerate “wet feet”.
The Jade Plant tends to grow fast, and if enough drainage and bright light are provided, it will grow full rather than leggy.
Repot it into a terra cotta pot with drainage holes using well draining soil.
Ideally, combine four parts succulents soil with one part perlite.
To propagate the Jade Plant, simply pinch a few healthy stems and place them directly into a pot to root. This is one of the very few succulents that can be planted right away without having to form the callous first and then be rooted in water.
This is a ~60 years old Jade Plant my friend has inherited from her grandmother.
This is one of the Jade Plants I propagated from another Jade in the house.
9. Zebra haworthia, (haworthia)
The Zebra Haworthia is a great little plant to have.
Its size and ease of maintenance makes it an ideal plant for windowsills and desks. They are perfect for filling coffee tables and bookcases empty spots.
I’ve lost count of how many of these cute non-toxic succulents I have in our home!
I actually don’t think I’ve ever even bought one!
A couple came from a friend of mine who propagated hers.
Then I ended up propagating these plants multiple times myself!
These plants are also great because they require little water.
As long as you provide enough bright, indirect light, the Zebra Haworthia will be happy. Just make sure you don’t expose it to too many hours of direct sunlight.
I have a few of these plants by a South facing window, and they are doing great!
I water them every two weeks because they get a lot of light, but they can go up to three weeks without water during the growing season and even longer in Winter.
I feed them with a liquid plant food every two waterings from Spring to Fall.
Repot your Haworthia when the pot can no longer support the plant.
However, notice that this plant’s roots are quite small compared to the head.
It is important that the pot is not too big for the roots and that it is planted in a draining pot with well draining soil.
Terra cotta pots with a mix of succulent soil and perlite are ideal for this plant.
To propagate the Zebra Haworthia, you will have to wait until its offshoot is at least 2″ big. At that point, you can cut it off as close to the mother plant as possible and allow the cut to dry out for a couple of days before planting it.
Front view of my Zebra Haworthia.
Top view of my Zebra Haworthia.
10. pencil cactus, (euphorbia tirucalli)
The Pencil Cactus looks like it belongs in the Hogwarts greenhouse and should be studied in Herbology classes.
(Look closer at the picture below and see if you can spot the Bowtruckle from Fantastic Beasts hiding in the plant).
It is not as vicious as a Mandrake, but it sure is highly poisonous! You need to keep it away from children and pets!
Jokes aside, this plant is fantastic! It is unique-looking and easy to care for.
I’ve had it for five years and I’ve seen it growing slow and steady.
This succulent needs a lot of bright, indirect light. Direct morning sun is great, but many hours of a western window exposure will scorch its stems. This is a different plant from the Fire Stick you might have seen growing outdoors in warmer climates.
I water mine every two weeks and it is forgiving if I miss a week.
I feed it every second watering with liquid plant food from Spring to Fall.
I repotted this plant a couple of times because it has grown quite a bit.
It is important to keep it in a draining pot with well draining soil.
Like with many other succulents, a terra cotta pot with succulents soil mixed with perlite is ideal.
Add one part perlite to four parts soil.
To propagate your Pencil Cactus, you want to cut the stems where they connect with other stems.
You need to make sure you wear gloves and protective eyewear when you do that because the latex inside this plant is very irritating to the skin and the eyes if they get in contact.
Allow your cuttings to form the callous, (dry out), for a couple of days before placing them in water to root.
Once the roots are at least 2″ long you can plant them in pots.
Interesting fact; I’ve been growing one of my Pencil Cactus cuttings in water for over four years now.
My Pencil Cactus and Bowtruckle camouflaging.
The Pencil Cactus Mother Plant and its two propagations.
And there you have it!
These are the best plants that need little water. However, they are also beautiful and very decorative.
Any of these plants would be a great addition to your home!
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