Easy Plants for Indoors (No Green Thumb Required)

As I mentioned around this time last year, I was not blessed with a green thumb.  I kill plants like it's my job.  But I have found a few things that work for me in the home to keep things looking green and lively around here without much work.

 {Tulips have to be the ultimate spring flower.  I picked these up for cheap at a local florist and they still look great almost a week later.  Plus even when tulips start to die, they look beautiful.  They droop so gracefully.}

 

 {This snake plant -- also known as mother-in-law's tongue-- requires such little water that I throw a couple of ice cubes in it once a month or so and it's good to go.}

 {Fresh herbs are hardy and enough to keep alive as long as they are in a super sunny area.  These stayed alive all spring and summer last year until the weather turned cold.  They aren't planted inside but were close enough to our kitchen that I'll count it.  They can also be grown indoors if desired.}

 {This grassy little friend is a new edition that I just picked up at CVS.  I love the look for Easter.  It's pretty and perky even though I haven't watered it once.}

 {Back to herbs.  These hydroponic basil plants just need enough water to cover their roots and grow nice a full even in the windowsill.}

Do any of you have problems keeping plants alive?  Which ones work for you?  Succulents? Cacti?  I'd love to hear! 

Happy Earth Day

    Happy Earth Day everyone!  In celebration, yesterday I planted some herbs on our deck for me to use in my cooking for the season (and hopefully longer!).  Two years ago when I planted my first herb garden, I started everything from seeds.  This year I cheated.  Truthfully, the growing season in New England is just too short not to get a head start by buying plants that are already started for you.  Some people may disagree, but I did not get my mother's green thumb.  I need all the help I can get.  Plus, these little cuties were only $1 more per herb than if I had started them from seeds.  I thought long and hard about which herbs I use most frequently and would love constant access to and came up with the assortment below.

{From left: rosemary, sweet basil, sage, cilantro}

    We bought a solid wood window box with drainage holes that is long enough to accommodate four different herbs.  Note: I planted some mint too but put it in its own pot because I heard that stuff can take over like a weed!  

    Again, I will reiterate that I cheated on this process.  I didn't even get plants that needed to be transplanted.  I got the ones in the biodegradable pots that just become part of the soil.  Let's pretend that this move was all about decreasing the amount of waste that I threw away on Earth Day and not out of pure laziness, but isn't it so nice when you can kill two birds with one stone?
 

    In just a few minutes, the window box was installed and the plants were all settled in their new home.  They look so adorable.  I really hope I can keep them alive and green!  Who knows, in a couple weeks my new Banana Republic jacket may be the only green thing I own.  How fun is this spring jacket?  It was my other tribute to Earth Day yesterday.  While everyone is going pastel mint these days, I think this kelly green makes such a bold statement.  It's currently sold out online but there is a similar one here, on sale at Nordstrom.