The Backyard Envy Gang Shares the Best Low-Maintenance Plants to Grow at Home

On Backyard Envy Season 2, premiering August 4 at 10/9c, the Manscapers will grow the dreamiest — and most complex — of gardens. (Catch a sneak peek in the clip above.) The landscaping pros will take on everything from a Tuscan-inspired paradise in New Jersey to a Japanese garden and an over-the-top float for world pride. But does the gang have any tips for those of us still struggling to find the perfect desktop succulent? As it turns out, they do. 

BravoTV.com recently asked Melissa Brasier, James DeSantis, and Garrett Magee to give us the dirt on gardening for beginners. The boutique landscaping experts offered tips on how to grow your beginners' garden at home, whether you're looking to spruce up your bathroom with some foliage or bring new life to your back lawn. 

Keep scrolling to get the word on aloe plants, rubber trees, and the gorgeous herbs and flowers that need the least watering. 

What are the most low-maintenance plants to care for in either indoor or outdoor home settings? 

Most house plants are very easy in general as they don’t require so much watering and or light. Also If you move them around the house you can start to find their sweet spot. Some easy plants are monsterras, as they require only weekly or even bi-weekly watering, aloe plants, rubber trees, and philodendrons. 

Outdoor plants are a whole another ballgame — and we cover a lot of plant types, maintenance, and care in our show.  The best thing to always note is to buy plants that work with your zone. Every part of the country has a delineated zone that is specific to their climate.  Plants that thrive well in your zone are appropriate for beginners. Try to buy similar plant types so they can be on the same watering schedules, and try to set up irrigation.  In the hot summer months outdoor plants need water every day! Some of the best outdoor plants that are low maintenance are junipers, pines, boxwood, and hostas.   

What plants need the least watering?

Succulents and desert-loving plants require very little water. Rosemary and lavenders require very little water as well. Most indoor tropical plants require the same amounts of water in a controlled atmosphere — weekly or every 10 days.

What plants need the least natural sunlight?

Shade-loving plants like hostas and ferns require very little light, and actually thrive in low-light environments. 

Any plants that thrive on their own in bathrooms (great in humidity, and don’t need natural light)?

Ferns again love humidity, and most tropicals love humidity. Pothos do particularly well in bathrooms and moist environments.

What plants can pretty much take care of themselves outside? What are the best easy-to-care for plants for smaller outdoor spaces like patios or balconies vs larger grassy backyards?

No plants can take care of themselves when they are outside, but some shrubs and small flowering plants can be more drought-tolerant, meaning they tend to require a little less water.

Lavender is a great example; flax, yarrow, Virginia sweetspire and coneflowers can be more drought-tolerant and require less water. If you have a fully shaded area that really gets low sun, stick to hostas and different ferns and keep them watered every other day and that is a very easily maintained garden or balcony.