Hard-to-kill plants for travelers

Jetting off to a new destination comes with its own cocktail of excitement and low-key chaos. Sure, travel sounds glamorous, but let’s be honest: when you're a frequent flyer or full-on nomad, the prep before every trip feels like a full-time job. You’ve got to pack, clean the house or condo, toss out anything perishable, do laundry, and yep, water the plants!

Doing all that once a year for a big vacation? Not a huge deal. But when you're constantly on the go, it's another story, especially when it comes to your green babies. There’s nothing worse than coming back from two magical weeks in Tokyo, Japan, only to find your home looking like a plant cemetery. Brown leaves. Crispy soil. Guilt. Sadness. It's not exactly the welcome-home vibe you're going for.

That’s why I’ve put together this list of three hard-to-kill plants for travelers. A curated selection of travel-friendly, low-maintenance indoor plants that can handle your long absences. These are easy houseplants for nomads and hardy plants that won’t punish you for living your best life climbing Machu Picchu.

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Top Three Hard-to-Kill Plants for Travelers

1. Donkey Tail Cactus

I have two cacti. Equal parts wild and wonderful, this plant looks like it walked off the set of a sci-fi movie. My sister once told me, "Ew, can you return it? It's creepy!" But trust me, it grows on you. Those fuzzy tendrils are deceivingly prickly, so be careful! Since it’s a cactus, it’s drought-tolerant and thrives with minimal attention.

Growth rate: slow to medium. With direct, bright sunlight, you might get a new tail in the growing season or at least, a growing tail.

Price: depends on how big you're buying it; they can be over $30 or more. Most of the tails were about 10 inches when I bought mine, but now, the longest one is double that!

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2. Snow White Opuntia

This furry opuntia isn’t just cute. It’s functional. A little fun fact: that “fur” acts like natural sunscreen, helping it survive intense sunlight. It’s tough, unique, and perfectly suited for the plant parent who’s rarely home.

Growth rate: slow

Price: depends on how big you're buying it; they can be over $40 or more.

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3. Whale Fin Sansevieria

The shortest leaf in the middle is the single original leaf I bought it with back in mid 2022.

By far, my favorite! This sculptural stunner is close to indestructible. Give it bright light, and it’ll reward you with bold, architectural beauty, even if you're gone for weeks at a time.

Growth rate: medium. Don't believe the rumors of them growing slow. Find your biggest, brightest window and put it there! I had to repot mine on year two of having it.

Price: depends on how big you're buying it; they can be over $35 or more.

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Care for All Three Plants

Sunlight

DIRECT! They do need plenty of light from a south or west-facing window. Put it there and forget it. It infuriates me when growers tell you indirect sunlight, and you never see the full potential of the plant when you bring it home. Again, find your biggest, brightest window, and put them there.

Water

Know your own environment and feel how dry your air is. I water mine roughly every three weeks.

Pests

None (from my experience).

Fertilizer

I don't fertilize any of them, but there are some cactus food options you can buy.

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Expand your horizons, chase the sun, and book that spontaneous trip. These plants will still be chilling when you get back.

Which one do you own? Have you ever heard of the Snow White Opuntia? Let me hear your voice with a comment. Remember to subscribe to Voyage à nue!

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