15 fastest-growing house plants: Indoor plants that grow the quickest

Spider plants are fast-growing, low-maintenance houseplants that take just two-three weeks to start rooting.

15 fastest-growing houseplants

Spider plants

Photo by Adkasai from istock

Spider plants are fast-growing, low-maintenance houseplants that take just two-three weeks to start rooting. But that’s not all they’re loved for. Spider plants are great for purifying the air in indoor spaces, as they take in carbon dioxide, xylene, and formaldehyde from the atmosphere.

Spider plants also add aesthetic allure to indoor spaces with their vibrant white and green leaves. They are also very low-maintenance, with minimal water and light requirements. Thus, all you have to do is water your spider plants about once a week and place them away from direct sunlight and you’ll have thriving houseplants.

Ficus trees

Photo by Bugdan Kurylo

If you have tall and slender ornamental pieces anywhere between four-six feet as part of your interior décor, you may want to complement them with an indoor Ficus tree. This fast-growing houseplant can gain between three-six feet in height within a year. Fiscus trees can grow so tall so fast that you’ll probably have to prune them after a couple of years.

RELATED: TALL PLANTS THAT ARE BEST FOR LOW-LIGHT INDOOR

Note, however, that such fast growth only takes place under the right conditions for growth; which are moderate humidity and partial/indirect sunlight. For homeowners in low-humidity regions, incorporating a dehumidifier can speed up the growth rate of your ficus trees.

Snake plant

Photo by Grumpy Cow Studios from istock

The snake plant- also known by the scientific name Sansevieria trifasciata– is another fast-growing houseplant. This unique-looking houseplant will sprout within four-six weeks of being potted. Snake plant is also- arguably- the most low-maintenance houseplant on this list- hence its popularity amongst busy homeowners or as an office decorative piece.

The snake plant’s foliage grows vertically and boasts multicolored edges that add a vivid touch to interior spaces. This plant can go for several days without water and still maintain its thriving appearance, making it great for those who prefer minimal-maintenance houseplants.

Dumb cane

Photo by supersmario from istock

Dumb cane is another fast-growing houseplant that serves both aesthetic and functional purposes. The plant is not only an air purifier but also boasts lush foliage that adds What’s more, the dumb cane can grow to about six feet tall if left unpruned. This makes it a great indoor ornamental plant if you have lots of dull-looking, open indoor spaces that you want to fill up.

This quick-growing houseplant starts rooting within two-four weeks of being potted and prefers moderate soil moisture levels and moderate/indirect sunlight. Remember, however, that dumb cane is highly toxic to pets like cats and dogs- and should therefore be kept out of their reach. Keep it out of children’s reach as well, as the leaves temporarily cause a numbing feeling within the vocal cords, hence the name ‘dumb cane’.

Hibiscus

Photo by Lekyum from istock

Hibiscus plants are a popular decorative option for both outdoor and indoor spaces due to their vibrantly-colored blossoms. When grown from seed, hibiscus can germinate as fast as within seven days, and under the right environmental conditions, should take no longer than 30 days to sprout.

The plant’s leaves and blossoms are believed to have several therapeutic benefits such as treating nerve and heart conditions –hence the popularity of hibiscus tea and hibiscus powder. You can comfortably grow hibiscus shrubs indoors by planting them in three-gallon containers and within no time, you’ll have red/yellow/orange blooms adding a pop of color to your home’s interior.

Peace lily

Photo by GavinD from istock

Peace lilies are arguably the most distinctive houseplant on this list, due to their unique-looking blooms. The cream-colored spadix flower is typically enclosed by a white-colored spathe, with the spadix-spathe combination forming beautiful blooms that create a striking visual allure due to the contrast with the green foliage.

Peace lilies are a great houseplant option for tight spaces, as they grow no taller than two feet. What’s more, it takes roughly 10 days for the seeds of this quick-growing plant to germinate. They also have moderate maintenance requirements but peace lily leaves begin drooping if not watered for long. Ideally, you should water your peace lilies about once a week.

RELATED: HOW TO REVIVE DROOPING PEACE LILY

Wandering Jew

Photo by Tamar Dundua from istock

The wandering Jew is a common indoor vining plant that adds a lush vibe to any indoor space due to its vibrant, purple foliage. It’s also a fast-grower, as newly-planted plant cuttings will sprout new shoots in roughly over a month.

This plant has relatively higher maintenance needs compared to most of the houseplants on this list. For instance, when kept in low-light conditions, the plant is likely to become leggy, which isn’t the appearance that most homeowners are usually going for. What’s more, the leaf shade becomes less vibrant the less light it’s exposed to. Therefore, keep your wandering Jew in bright, indirect light and slightly moist soil for the best results.

Ferns

Photo by jadezmith from istock

Ferns are some of the most versatile ornamental plants, given the wide variety of fern sub-species that you can add to your home to enhance your interior décor. Some of the most popular fern varieties include Kimberly, Boston, and Sword ferns.

Ferns aren’t just used as ornamental plants, some varieties are grown by gardeners for medicinal and nutritional purposes. Under the proper lighting conditions (bright but indirect sunlight), it will take roughly two months for the fronds of this fast-grower to appear.

Miniature roses

photo by Natalia Duryagina

Of the numerous rose plant varieties, miniature roses are among the easiest to grow indoors due to their fast-growing nature. When grown from cuttings, your miniature roses will be fully grown in just about three months. The blossoms on this plant boast traces of pink, white, and orange, making it a visually alluring ornamental plant.

Since most miniature roses grow no taller than one-and-a-half feet, they’re relatively low-maintenance as you won’t have to regularly prune them. Miniature roses have a few environmental preferences for them to thrive, such as exposure to direct sunlight, high humidity levels, and loamy soil conditions.

Philodendron

Photo by Firn from istock

Philodendron is another fast-growing climber that makes it onto this list of fastest-growing houseplants. Also known as the sweetheart plant due to its beautiful heart-shaped leaves, this trailing plant can grow up to 13 feet tall and is a good houseplant option if you need a climber that you can drape all across your room. Philodendra are also good air purifiers.

As for plant maintenance, it’ll do you good to keep your plants away from direct sunlight exposure, as this will trigger leaf scorching and yellowing philodendron leaves. They also prefer slightly moist soil. When grown from six-inch cuttings, it should take anywhere between 10-21 days for your philodendra to start rooting.

RELATED: HOW TO TREAT YELLOWING PHILODENDRON LEAVES

Autograph plant

Also known as Crusea rose, the autograph plant is great for homeowners that need a compact ornamental plant for tight spaces. With a growth rate of 12-inches per year, you’ll have lush Crusea foliage covering your interiors within no time.

Keep your autograph plants under warm conditions, as they’re cold-intolerant. Also, this fast-growing plant loves sunlight and is best grown under bright, direct sunlight. Finally, ensure to keep the soil on which your autograph plants grow constantly moist, as they don’t do well in dry soil.

Garden cress

Despite being a shrub that’s normally used to season food, and barely being perceived as an ornamental plant, you can still grow garden cress indoors. When grown from seed, garden cress will sprout fast, typically within 5-15 days. Garden cress can also be grown hydroponically.

Being a low-maintenance shrub, garden cress only requires adequate moisture and lighting to germinate, grow, and mature. To make your garden cress shrubs grow faster, plant them in a place that receives direct sunlight, such as on a windowsill.

Weeping fig

Also known as Ficus Benjamina, the weeping fig is revered as an ornamental plant due to its glossy foliage that can easily enhance the visual allure of open corner spaces. When grown from seed, weeping fig can germinate within 15-90 days.

To keep your indoor weeping fig healthy, ensure to provide it with just enough water. Insufficient or excessive moisture levels will lead to wilting and fading of the plant’s leaves. Other care requirements for weeping figs include bright, indirect sunlight and fast-draining, fertilizer-rich soil.

Marigolds

Photo by SabdiZ from istock

Despite having numerous medicinal uses, marigolds are mostly grown indoors by homeowners for decorative purposes, as the plant produces beautiful yellow/orange flowers. Most marigolds will germinate within 10 days, and under optimum environmental conditions, may sprout as fast as within five days of being planted.

Care conditions for marigolds to ensure fast growth include consistent soil moisture levels and moderately high temperatures of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Marigolds are shade-tolerant and will still germinate whether grown in bright, low-light, or moderate-light conditions.

Wax plant

Photo by Douglas Rissing from istock

Known by the scientific name Hoya Carnosa, the wax plant is the final fast-growing houseplant on this list. This hanging plant boasts lush green foliage that usually contrasts with the pink color of new shoots for an overall beautiful houseplant. Wax plants typically start rooting within three weeks of being planted from the plant’s flower cuttings.

Leaf shoots also start appearing after about four weeks from the time of planting, and it takes anywhere between 5-11 months for a new wax plant to mature into a leafy, adult wax plant. Maintenance requirements include high humidity levels and indirect sunlight.

Are there plants that grow in less than 10 days?

From the above list, you’ll notice that some houseplants can germinate or start rooting within ten days when grown from seed or planted from plant stem and flower cuttings. Here’s a summated list of the houseplants that typically grow in less than 10 days:

  1. Peace Lilies
  2. Marigolds
  3. Garden Cress
  4. Philodendra

How to speed up the growth of your houseplants

Watering with club soda

Club soda is carbonated water, which is rich in various macronutrients that will boost the growth rate of your indoor plants. Different research studies have proven that houseplants that are regularly watered with club soda will outgrow those watered with tap water because of the same. As a precaution, however, ensure to let your fizzy club soda go flat before applying it to your houseplants.

Applying old coffee grounds

f you have indoor plants that do well in acidic soil, such as miniature roses, pouring old coffee grounds on the potting soil on which the plants grow will help boost their growth rate. This is because coffee is rich in various minerals that are beneficial to plants, including phosphorus, calcium, and nitrogen. You can apply coffee grounds by either applying them directly to the base of your houseplants or incorporating them into the compost mix.

Applying DIY fertilizers

If you’re working on a budget and are looking to save on the cost of commercial fertilizers, you can combine various household ingredients to make your fertilizer. For instance, you can combine Epsom salt, household ammonia, and baking soda to create homemade fertilizer. Such homemade fertilizer is typically slow-release and will boost the growth rate of your houseplants without harming them due to excess salts building up in the soil.