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| Photo Credit: Sarah Landicho |
| The easy-to-grow ZZ is a great choice if you’re new to the houseplant scene. |
Thinking about adding some houseplants to your décor but don’t know which ones to pick? If you’re new to the growing-houseplants scene, consider starting off with some tough guys – those plants that are sure to survive the occasional neglect and can bounce back with the right care.
I stopped at Plants Inc. in Chicago for some houseplant-picking advice. The business specializes in interior landscaping and works with all kinds of plants – from the easy to the finicky. The employees know their stuff and are happy to share their knowledge. Here’s what operations director Kathy Miceli shared with me: | Add Photo to Journal |  | | Photo Credit: Sarah Landicho | | Anthurium may be tough, but it’s got a lot of heart…in the shape of its leaves and flowers. |
Kathy puts the easy-to-grow ZZ plant at the top of her “for starters” list. If you can’t find this foliage beauty under “ZZ,” look for Zamioculcas zamiifolia. The plant’s got gorgeous glossy leaves and is just about as tough as they come. It’s an awesome floor plant – just be sure to buy a great pot to help accent it!
Want something with a splash of color? Kathy recommends Anthurium. These bushy beauties have broad, heart-shaped leaves and bright, heart-shaped flowers that come in red, pink, white and even orange. | Add Photo to Journal |  | | Photo Credit: Sarah Landicho | | Bromeliads, like this Neoregelia, offer a fun splash of color. |
Some blooming indoor plants aren’t as tough as Anthurium, though, and tend to be a bit more on the difficult-to-grow side. But Kathy says you won’t find bromeliads falling in that group! These plants are a little more forgiving than other bloomers and are good starter houseplants to try. And what a selection: The name “bromeliad” covers more than 3,000 plants! These beauties come in a host of colors and styles. They can have long stalks with the flowers blooming on the end, or they might have no stalk at all, with the flower tucked in the center of a rosette. As beautiful as bromeliads are, they do have a downside: They usually bloom only once – although the show can last a long time.
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