Drought-tolerant houseplants

If you've killed houseplants by forgetting them, the problem was probably the plant. Some species evolved in habitats with long dry periods and store water in their leaves, stems, or rhizomes. They handle a missed watering schedule far better than they handle attentive overwatering.

These plants want the soil to dry out properly between drinks. Don't water on a calendar — check the soil. Wet soil for these species is more often the killer than dry soil.

Pair well with low-light rooms; many drought-tolerant species also tolerate dim conditions.