Fast-Growing Houseplants (Rewarding Results Fast)

If you're just starting out with plants, watching yours grow is the best motivation there is. Some species are so vigorous you'll see new leaves every few weeks, and many multiply on their own. Here are the most rewarding fast-growing houseplants, plus the tricks to make them race along even faster.

The fastest (and nearly indestructible)

• Pothos (Epipremnum): the outright champion. It throws out yards of vines a year and roots in a glass of water in days. It's our favorite to start with — the full guide is in pothos.
• Tradescantia: grows before your eyes and propagates effortlessly. Its purple and silver tones are stunning in good light.
• Spider plant (Chlorophytum): sends out runners with "babies" you can pot up.
• Climbing philodendron: fast, leafy and very forgiving.

Other vigorous plants

• Syngonium: grows quickly and fills a pot fast.
• Ivy: a speedy climber that covers any corner.
• Asparagus fern: turns lush in a single season.

How to speed up growth

A fast plant gets even faster when you give it what it needs:

1. Light, the main engine

Almost all grow more the more bright, indirect light they get. A plant in dim light grows slow and leggy; move it near the window and you'll see the difference in weeks.

2. The growing season

They grow in spring and summer, when there's more light and warmth. In winter they slow down — that's normal; don't push fertilizer then.

3. Feed in moderation

During the active season, feed every 2-4 weeks with a diluted fertilizer. Too much burns the roots, so go little and often.

4. Pot and repotting

A root-bound plant slows its growth. Repot into a pot a couple of inches larger when you see roots poking out of the drainage holes.

5. Correct watering and humidity

Stress slows growth. Water when the top inch or two is dry and, for tropicals, keep some ambient humidity.

Multiply the fast growers for free

The best thing about these plants is how easily they propagate: a cutting of pothos, tradescantia or philodendron roots in water in a few weeks. Learn how in our how to propagate plants guide and turn one plant into many.

What NOT to expect to be fast

To save yourself frustration, it helps to know that not every plant is fast — and that doesn't mean it's sick. Some of the most popular ones grow slowly by nature:

• Snake plant and ZZ: extremely slow, but nearly indestructible.
• Cactus and many succulents: grow at their own unhurried pace.
• Indoor palms: push out only a few fronds a year.

If you want quick results, start with the ones at the top of this guide and save the slow growers for when you've built up some gardener's patience.

A simple routine to get them going

Put it all together and the ideal in-season routine is: bright indirect light, check watering once or twice a week, feed diluted every 2-4 weeks, and glance at the roots each spring to see if it's time for a bigger pot. With that, a fast plant can double in size in a single season.

The downside of speed

Growing fast also means:

• They need pruning to avoid going leggy or invasive.
• They exhaust the soil sooner: feed and repot in good time.
• Some, like ivy or tradescantia, can get aggressive — keep them in check.

With light, the right pot and in-season feeding, these plants give you that deeply satisfying feeling of watching your green corner grow month after month.

Is your plant growing leggy, pale or stalled? Upload a photo to our AI diagnosis and we'll help you work out what it's missing. 🌱