Thick and fleshy dark green leaves
The most important rule of thumb is to choose a plant with thick leaves. These are plants that store water in their leaves, so they can go without care and watering for fairly long periods. In fact, they can even be neglected to a degree, which makes them perfect for people who travel a lot or who forget about their plants from time to time.
Some of these are desert plants that survive by retaining water during dry periods. They store water in their leaves because they know that it might be a while before they can enjoy the next downpour. As a result, desert plants don’t like to be over-watered, as that can cause their roots to rot. They like owners who are stingy with water. I really enjoy watering, so these plants can be a bit of a challenge for me.
So what should you actually do when buying plants? Feel the leaves! If they are thick and with a solid consistency, they are good at storing water. This means that you can go away for a few weeks without worrying too much about their dying of thirst.
Dark leaves may be a sign that the plant can cope without much light. A lot of these manage pretty well with the “death months”.
My easy-care favourites
Easy-care favourites from my followers on Instagram
HANDY HINT
Choose robust plants with thick, dark green leaves but, most importantly, start with the light conditions in your home.