Long Lived House Plants; Which Plants Live For Many Years
Long lived houseplants: Tried and true.
Each and every single one of these plants has been in our home for many years. The oldest one, which I am mentioning in this Blog, has been with me for 19 years.
To strengthen my argument about which plants live the longest even more compelling, I’d like to highlight that I have over 100 plants in our home!
From this collection, I selected these 10 super star plants.
These are long lived plants because they are low maintenance and very adaptable, not because I dedicated countless hours to pamper them! (Even though I do love my plants!).
I hope you enjoy these plants as much as I do, and for as long as I have.
1. desert candle cactus (euphorbia abyssinica)
The Desert Candle Cactus is not a well known plant, but it is truly awesome and one of the lowest maintenance, long lived houseplants.
I’ve had this plant for 18 years.
Believed it or not, it was a Valentine’s gift from my husband. (We weren’t even engaged at the time!).
Back in 2005 I didn’t know the meaning of gifting plants. Each plant has a specific meaning as it symbolizes something particular.
The cactus represents strength, endurance and determination.
So not only is this plant extremely low maintenance and capable of living for many years, but it is also very symbolic.
Keep it in very bright areas of your home, as it needs a lot of bright light to thrive. I’ve had mine by a North facing window for over 11 years and it loves it.
This particular cactus needs little water to survive.
Obviously, the more light it gets, the more water it will need. If you keep it by an East or North facing window, water it once a month. If you have it by a South or West facing window, water it every two to three weeks.
This plant grows very slow, so it doesn’t need frequent repotting or fertilization.
It is important to maintain its soil well drained at all times. Make sure your cactus is planted in a draining pot with well draining soil.
My 18 years old Desert Candle Cactus. (It is probably older than that. I’ve had it for 18 years…)
2. ponytail palm, (beaucarnea recurvata)
The Ponytail Palm is my oldest plant in the house; I’ve had it for 19 years.
It’s the first plant I bought for our new home when I moved to Manitoba in 2004.
This plant can withstand a lot of neglect and it adapts really well to different light and humidity conditions.
The fact that this is one of the very few non-toxic succulents safe for pets is an added bonus.
Despite its name, this plant is not a true palm; it’s actually a succulent!
Even though the Ponytail Palm can adapt to different light conditions, it thrives in bright, indirect light.
It doesn’t need a lot of water to survive, as it stores a great amount of it in its basal trunk.
I water mine every two weeks but it’s very forgiving when I miss a week.
I fertilize it twice during the growing season with a liquid plant food.
This succulent grows very slowly, so you don’t need to repot it frequently.
However, it is a good practice to replace its nutrient depleted soil with a fresh batch at least every two years.
When you do that, make sure you plant it in a draining pot with a well draining soil, which is a mix of succulent soil and perlite.
Mix four parts soil with one part perlite.
My 13 years old Ponytail Palm rocking on a vintage rocker.
This is the oldie in our home. The Ponytail Palm I’ve had for 19 years!
You can see how long the stems are from all the dry leaves I’ve been removing over the years!
3. zz plant, (zamioculcas zamiifolia)
The ZZ Plant is another fantastic long lived plant that needs little water and little light to survive.
It is easy for me to remember that I’ve had this plant for 15 years, as I’ve bought it the same year my first nephew was born!
While this succulent 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 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 blade and plant different stems into different pots.
Click here to read more about repotting, dividing and propagating a ZZ Plant.
My ZZ Plant before being divided.
ZZ Plant division and repotting that took place in my en-suite.
4. fiddle leaf fig, (ficus Lyrata)
The Fiddle Leaf Fig is the typical “Designer” plant.
It’s featured in many interior design and decor magazines as part of beautiful interiors.
While the Fiddle Leaf Fig is a plant that can live for many years, it is not one of the easiest plants to care for.
Or at least not until you find its perfect spot! That’s what happened to me.
I have a special relationship with my 16 years old Fiddle Leaf Fig.
My husband and I bought it as our one year wedding anniversary present for one another. (Another easy plant birthday to remember!).
We brought it into our first home, which was surrounded by many oak trees, not leaving much natural light into the house.
We watched our Ficus Lyrata loose one leaf after another, until it was left with very few.
We eventually moved to a new home and we placed it by the very same South facing window it is still sitting by today.
Slowly, month after month, it grew new leaves. It eventually flourished and even grew new branches.
It grew so much that I couldn’t repot it anymore and I had to root prune it in order to stop its growth and maintain its size.
This tale tells you that the Fiddle Leaf Fig needs a lot of bright light.
Let me repeat that; a lot or bright light.
Do you want to be successful with a Fiddle Leaf Fig? Place it by a South Facing window and don’t move it!
In-fact, the Fiddle Leaf Fig does not like to be moved! Just leave it where it is, (unless it’s in the wrong spot!).
Do not over-water your Fiddle Leaf Fig!
I water mine one litre (4 cups) of water once a week, or 2 litres (8 cups) every two weeks, depending on the season and the humidity levels in the house.
This plant thrives in high humidity so it is a very good idea to mist it regularly and to cluster it with other plant. I keep mine in my home office jungle so there is a lot of humidity for it.
I fertilize it with liquid plant food every two weeks between Spring and Fall and once a month between Fall and Spring.
Repot it when the roots grows out of the draining holes at the bottom of its pot.
My 16 years old Fiddle Leaf Fig before getting its roots pruned.
My Fiddle Leaf Fig soaking up the South sun. This has been its location for 11 years.
5. devil's ivy, (epipremnum Aureum)
The Pothos is one of my favourite plants and, lucky for me, long lived too!
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?
I’ve had my Pothos for 4.5 years when I picked it as a plant for my Kokedama Moss Ball.
Since then, I’ve seen an incredible growth and transformation.
This mother plant gave me 3 different new plants from rooting its long cuttings.
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.s
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.
This is how my Marble Queen Pothos started its journey into our home.
Fast-forward four years, the mother plant in the middle has rooted the two plants on its side and more!
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6. jade plant, (crassula Ovata)
The Jade Plant is the Yoda of the plant word.
Known as the Prosperity and Friendship Plant, the Jade Plant, is the quintessential Feng Shui plant as it is believed to bring prosperity and happiness to those who own it. And it can live forever!
This is why Jade Plants are often presented as housewarming gifts.
You may receive or buy tiny plants, but they can grow into big plants.
A friend of mine has a massive, 60 years old Jade Plant that she got from her grandmother.
This succulent is so long lived because it very easy to grow, and even easier to propagate.
Most likely, once you have one Jade Plant, you end up having multiple ones!
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 tiny variegated Jade Plant I bought from IKEA.
This is the 60 years old Jade Plant my friend inherited from her grandmother. Stunning, isn’t it?
7. wax plant, (hoya carnosa)
The Wax Plant is a wonderful, long lived and low maintenance plant, as well as 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. She’s had hers for many years!
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.
My three original Hoya Cuttings rooting in water.
My Hoya two years later.
8. rubber plant, (ficus elastica)
The Rubber Plant is a beautiful, long lived plant.
I have the variegated species called Ficus Tineke.
This plant has never been found growing in the wild. It is an actual hybrid of the more common Rubber Tree. Its leaves can revert to solid green if not exposed to sufficient sunlight.
I’ve had this plant for over four years and it has been quite slow in its grow. It has just boosted its growth lately. I am sure it has a lot to do with its new terracotta draining pot. (It is critical for any plant’s health to have proper drainage).
This plant will maintain its beautiful variegation, and will also reward you with gorgeous pink hues if you provide enough bright, indirect light to it.
Even a solid green species will thrive in bright, indirect light.
However, direct sunlight, (unless it’s very few hours of morning sunlight), can scorch its leaves.
Water it when the top 2″ of soil feels dry to touch without letting it dry out completely.
Fertilize it once a month with liquid plant food from Spring to Fall only.
Only repot it when you see roots growing out of the drainage hole or when you see more roots than soil in its pot.
Baby Ficus Tineke.
Growing Ficus Tineke.
9. snake plant, (dracaena trifasciata)
The Snake Plant is a long lived plant ideal 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.
I have different types of Snake Plants, ranging from 6 years to 6 months of age. They are all different in size, colour and even shape.
The only aspect they have in common is their ease of maintenance.
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, 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.
My newest Snake Plant; a Starfish Snake Plant.
This is my Silver Queen Snake Plant, which is also my first and oldest Snake plant. I water it once a month.
10. holiday cactus, (schlumbergera)
The Schlumbergera is one of the most mis-labeled plants on the market.
Mostly known as Christmas Cactus, this plant is sold at Christmas time as a novelty plant.
Reality is that these are actually Thanksgiving Cacti, rather than Christmas Cacti, which are actually rarely sold. There is a difference between the two species. There is even a third species called Easter Cactus.
They are all Schlumbergera varieties and they are all easy to care for!
And, you guessed it, can live for many years if properly cared for.
Click here to learn more about the difference between Schlumbergera species and care details.
Additionally, the Holiday Cactus, (generic name for all three species), is a non-toxic succulent safe for cats, dogs and children.
This plant thrives in bright, indirect light, whether it’s North facing or South facing with a limited amount of hours of morning direct sun.
Water it when the top soil feels dry to the touch.
Depending on the season, and the light exposure, you can water them every 10 days to two weeks.
Fertilize every second watering with a liquid plant food from Spring to Fall.
If properly cared for, these succulents will grace you with beautiful blooms ranging from magenta to peach, from pale pink to white, up to three times per year!
As these plants grow, they can be propagated by division.
Peach coloured Thanksgiving Cactus at Christmas time.
Magenta coloured Thanksgiving Cactus blooms in July.
And that’s a wrap for my 10 long lived houseplants!
These plants have been nothing but amazing and incredibly forgiving with me and my puppies, who have more than once abused them!
Disclosure: This Blog contains affiliate links, which means I will make a commission at no cost to you, if you make a purchase after clicking my link.
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Regaurding your blog on long lived houseplants, I have a 46 year old spider plant that was given to me as a cutting from a much older plant.
I love your blog. Your suggestions of Blumat watering systems and how to get rid of fungus gnats have saved my houseplants.
Hello Valerie,
I really appreciate the feedback and I am sure happy I was able to help you!
I am also very impressed with your 46 years old Spider Plant!
Congratulations!
Love your blog. Really like the pot that the peach colored Thanksgiving cactus is in. Where did you get it?
Hello Karen,
Thank you so much! I bought that pot at a local green house in my area. It was one of those lucky finds opportunities.