Best houseplants for travelers
If you are gone 2-4 weeks at a time and do not have a reliable plant-sitter, you need plants designed by evolution to handle drought. These picks store water in their leaves, stems, or roots so they survive long gaps with no input. Most can go a full month without water during cool seasons.
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Snake Plant Dracaena trifasciata
Toxic to cats and dogs Adaptable Drought-tolerantComfortable with 4-6 weeks between waterings in cool months.
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ZZ Plant Zamioculcas zamiifolia
Toxic to cats and dogs Adaptable Drought-tolerantStores water in underground rhizomes. A 6-week trip is no problem.
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Aloe Vera Aloe barbadensis miller
Toxic to cats and dogs Direct sun Drought-tolerantSucculent leaves hold weeks of water. Will produce a pup when you return.
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String of Pearls Curio rowleyanus
Toxic to cats and dogs Bright indirect Drought-tolerant2-3 weeks easily; the pearls store water like tiny tanks.
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Jade Plant Crassula ovata
Toxic to cats and dogs Direct sun Drought-tolerant3-week absences are routine. Just make sure soil is fully dry before you leave.
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Golden Pothos Epipremnum aureum
Toxic to cats and dogs Medium indirect Drought-tolerantGolden Pothos is very easy to grow, drought-tolerant, handles dry indoor air, listed by NASA Clean Air Study.
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Spider Plant Chlorophytum comosum
Pet-safe Bright indirect Drought-tolerantSpider Plant is very easy to grow, drought-tolerant, handles dry indoor air, pet-safe, listed by NASA Clean Air Study.
Honorable mentions
More plants in our database that fit this criteria but did not make the top 7.
- Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
- Bromeliad (Aechmea fasciata)
- Echeveria (Echeveria elegans)
- Hoya (Hoya carnosa)
- Yucca (Yucca elephantipes)
- Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata)
- Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
- Schefflera (Schefflera arboricola)
- Watermelon Peperomia (Peperomia argyreia)
- Sweetheart Plant (Hoya kerrii)
- Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
- Baby Rubber Plant (Peperomia obtusifolia)
- Haworthia (Haworthia cooperi)
- Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
- String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii)
- Lithops (Lithops aucampiae)
- Burro's Tail (Sedum morganianum)
- Zebra Haworthia (Haworthiopsis attenuata)
Final word
Before a long trip, water deeply once and put plants in a slightly cooler, lower-light spot — that slows their water use and stretches your absence buffer.