Our plant parent customers often ask us how they can introduce their little ones to the joy of houseplants. Beyond using our mister to keep those green friends hydrated, there’s a whole world of kid-friendly plants waiting to be explored.
To help you kickstart this fun and educational journey, we’ve put together a blog featuring the 10 best houseplants that are perfect for kids to grow and love. Let’s dive in and discover how these plants can bring a touch of nature and a lot of learning into your home!
The spider plant’s cascading green leaves and tiny "baby" spiderettes make it a favorite for kids and adults alike. It’s one of the easiest plants to grow, perfect for little hands learning the basics of plant care.
Why Kids Love It: Spider plants grow "pups," or small offshoots, that kids can propagate into new plants. This makes it an exciting project for them to nurture their own baby plants.
Care Tips: It thrives in bright, indirect light but adapts well to low light. Water when the soil is dry to the touch. These plants are incredibly forgiving, so no need to worry if watering is forgotten for a few days.
Fun Fact: Spider plants are known to be natural air purifiers, making your home healthier for everyone.
This plant’s round, coin-like leaves are sure to capture your child’s attention. Its whimsical appearance adds a playful vibe to any room.
Why Kids Love It: Known as the "friendship plant," Pilea produces small offshoots that can be potted separately. Kids can give these as gifts, adding a meaningful touch.
Care Tips: It loves moderate, indirect sunlight and only needs watering when the soil feels dry. Place it in a spot where kids can see how the leaves turn toward the light.
Kid Activity: Help your child decorate the pot with colorful paints or stickers to make it uniquely theirs.
Aloe vera isn’t just a plant—it’s a mini first-aid kit! With its medicinal properties and low-maintenance nature, it’s a great addition to any kid’s plant collection.
Why Kids Love It: Show your child how to safely extract the gel to soothe cuts and scrapes. It’s a wonderful way to introduce them to the practical uses of plants.
Care Tips: Aloe vera thrives in bright light and needs watering only every few weeks. It’s nearly impossible to overwater if you stick to this schedule.
Creative Idea: Let kids name their aloe plant and create a care journal to track its growth.
With its elegant white flowers and lush green leaves, the peace lily is both beautiful and educational for kids.
Why Kids Love It: Watching it bloom gives kids a sense of accomplishment. Its tropical appearance invites discussions about exotic plants and habitats.
Care Tips: It prefers medium to low light and consistent watering to keep its soil moist. Mist its leaves occasionally to mimic its natural environment.
Kid-Friendly Activity: Teach your child how to gently wipe the leaves to keep them shiny and healthy.
The Christmas cactus is a festive favorite that adds a splash of color during the holiday season, making it an exciting choice for kids.
Why Kids Love It: Its bright pink or red flowers bloom during winter, providing a cheerful and seasonal touch.
Care Tips: It thrives in bright, indirect light and needs watering when the top inch of soil is dry. Reduce watering slightly during its blooming season.
Fun Holiday Activity: Involve kids in decorating a special pot for the Christmas cactus to celebrate the festive season.
Growing in water instead of soil, lucky bamboo is an excellent plant for kids who love something different and mess-free.
Why Kids Love It: Kids can arrange the bamboo stalks creatively and add pebbles or beads for decoration.
Care Tips: Change the water weekly and keep it in indirect sunlight. Lucky bamboo is incredibly hardy and low-maintenance.
Creative Idea: Encourage your child to create themed containers, like mini aquariums, to house the bamboo.
The calathea’s leaves fold up at night, resembling hands in prayer, which fascinates kids and keeps them engaged.
Why Kids Love It: Its "moving" leaves are a natural wonder and a great way to teach kids about circadian rhythms in plants.
Care Tips: Keep the soil slightly moist and place the plant in medium to low indirect light.
Observation Activity: Encourage kids to document its leaf movements at different times of the day.
This trailing plant’s heart-shaped leaves with lime-green streaks add a vibrant touch to any room.
Why Kids Love It: Its resilience makes it perfect for beginners. Kids can trim the vines and propagate cuttings in water.
Care Tips: Let the top inch of soil dry before watering, and place it in bright, indirect light.
Creative Task: Help your child make a DIY hanging planter for the philodendron.
These succulents are tiny, adorable, and nearly indestructible—ideal for kids learning about plant care.
Why Kids Love It: With their diverse shapes and colors, succulents can be collected and arranged into mini gardens.
Care Tips: Place them in a sunny spot and water sparingly. Too much water can harm these drought-tolerant plants.
Kid Project: Create a "succulent terrarium" with your child using a glass jar, sand, and colorful stones.
These soft, green moss balls aren’t just plants—they’re like little underwater pets!
Why Kids Love It: Kids can roll them around in their hands and observe how they float and move in water.
Care Tips: Change their water every two weeks and keep them out of direct sunlight.
Fun Science Connection: Talk about aquatic ecosystems and how moss balls contribute to their environments.
Houseplants are more than just decor. They offer a multitude of benefits for kids, such as:
Responsibility: Regular care helps kids learn responsibility and the importance of nurturing living things.
Creativity: Decorating pots and creating plant arrangements sparks imagination.
Learning: Kids can explore topics like plant biology, ecosystems, and environmental conservation.
Mindfulness: Interacting with plants promotes relaxation and mental well-being.
Confidence: Watching their plants thrive gives kids a sense of achievement.
Introducing houseplants to kids opens up a world of fun, learning, and responsibility. From the playful spider plant to the fascinating marimo moss balls, there’s a plant for every child to enjoy. Start small, let your kids take the lead, and watch as they develop a love for nature that will last a lifetime.
Happy Growing!
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