8 Easy-Care Flowering Houseplants

Bright, Colorful Flowers All Year Round

Updated on 11/30/22

Low-Maintenance Flowering Houseplants — The Spruce / Paige McLaughlin

Flowering houseplants add a layer of enjoyment, bringing color, and maybe even scent into your decor. While they may seem fancy, some can survive with only basic attention. Try brightening up the home with these eight flowering houseplants that will thrive with minimal care.

Tip

Many flowering house plants must be kept humid; this can be accomplished by regular misting or by placing each plant on a bed of gravel and pouring water over the gravel.

30 Best Houseplants for Beginners

01 of 08 African Violet (Saintpaulia) The Spruce / Leticia Almeida African violets are a popular houseplant for good reason. They are favorites because they do not require a dormant rest period, which allows them to bloom year-round. Although they do not require a lot of maintenance, these small, leafy plants sometimes do best in a container that allows for watering from the bottom. If you prefer to use a standard pot without a water reservoir, water carefully from the top avoiding the leaves, and let the soil dry between waterings. African violet leaves will spot, turn brown and die if cold water gets on them. Remove spent leaves from the bottom of the plant and pot up only when the size of the plant indicates a larger pot is needed. These bloomers do not have extensive root systems and, in general, will not require more than a 5- or 6-inch pot at maturity. While African violets are not demanding plants, they sometimes flourish for years and then die without warning.
- Light: Bright indirect sunlight
- Water: Keep moist and maintain humidity
- Color varieties: Purple, white, and red
02 of 08 Begonias The Spruce / Kara Riley If you are used to growing begonias outdoors, then you know that many varieties make excellent houseplants, blooming almost continuously in good conditions. To bloom well it will need a bright location, but do not place it too close to a window or it could be harmed by the draft. Some of the fancier-leaved Rex begonia varieties do not even need to be in bloom to be colorful. Besides Rex begonias, look for the fibrous-rooted types like wax-leafed, angel-wing, and hairy-leafed varieties.
- Light: Medium to high light
- Water: Water and mist regularly; keep humid
- Color varieties: Depends on variety

- Color varieties: Red
05 of 08 Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) The Spruce / Kara Riley Christmas cactus seems to thrive on neglect. It does not even need you to manipulate its light exposure to set buds for Christmas blooms. It is especially long-lived and propagates easily from cuttings. The long segmented leaves are notched at the margins. Stem tips produce flowers with petals of different lengths and a color palette in hues of pinks to reds. In addition to Christmas bloomers, this family of plants includes some that produce flowers at Easter. Christmas cactus does well when placed near a window. Do not let the pads touch a cold window or the plant can suffer cold damage. Although Christmas cactus needs well-draining soil, it also needs high humidity.
- Light: Bright, indirect light
- Water: Water regularly and thoroughly; drain well; mist frequently
- Color varieties: Pink and red
06 of 08 Clivia or Kaffir Lily (Clivia Miniata) The Spruce / K. Dave This amaryllis relative is grown from a bulb and, like its cousin, needs to be pot bound to flower, so do not plant it in a large container. Like the amaryllis, clivia goes through a dormant period before sending up a flower stalk. It will need total darkness at night when it goes dormant in late fall. Accomplish this by placing it in an unused closet or in a cardboard box. The stalk will sprout anytime from December through April, and then, normal care can be resumed.
- Light: shady spot with no direct sunlight
- Water: Water moderately; suspend watering in winter
- Color varieties: Shades of yellow or orange
07 of 08 Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) The Spruce / Alonda Baird Many succulents make easy-care houseplants, but few look as lovely as kalanchoe (kal-un-KOH-ee) in bloom. As with all succulents, kalanchoe does not like wet soil. The plant should be kept moist spring through autumn but reduce winter watering to light, occasional applications. Kalanchoe is native to the tropics and while it is a lovely plant in bloom, it is difficult to get it to rebloom outside of its native range.
- Light: Bright indirect sun
- Water: Water when the soil feels dry; allow to drain; mist frequently
- Color varieties: Red, pink, yellow, or white
08 of 08 Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum floribundum) The Spruce / Cara Cormack The peace lily is so low-maintenance that it is a great houseplant for the houseplant challenged or as a housewarming gift. It does not require much direct light and can handle occasional over or under-watering. The glossy, dark green leaves are offset by white spathes or bracts that enclose the tiny flower clusters and look almost like variegated leaves. The flowers are lightly scented, but close proximity is required to notice it. It will flower in even the shadiest of homes.
- Light: Medium, indirect light
- Water: Regular watering and misting
- Color varieties: White or yellow