Whether or not you become a fan of gardening depends on the outcome of your first attempts. A successful start can make the difference between love at first sight or rapid abandonment accompanied by utterances such as I'm not cut out for it or it's not up my street. A way to avoid the latter is to opt for the simplest species that are easiest to take care of and that grow and become attractive with minimal care that can be handled by anyone.

Simple indoor plants to take care of
A good family of plants for beginners to start with is the aracea, which includes such well-known indoor plants as:
- Pothos. This is a very long-lasting plant, which grows well and can be used as a creeper or hanging plant. If placed in light areas its leaves turn various colours, while in shaded areas they remain green. However, it cannot withstand air currents or abrupt changes of temperature. It is very resistant to blights and diseases and if kept well fertilised, it grows free of parasites.
- Peace lily. This is a green leaf plant variety with striking white flowers that requires plenty of light especially in winter, and frequent watering. However, it is best to place some pebbles to prevent puddles from forming in the plate. In the summer it can be taken outside, above all during storms.
- Philodendron. It can share a vase with other species and cannot withstand heavy conditions, even air currents. In short, this is a genuine all-rounder that you only need to water once a week in winter and that likes both light and shaded areas, although direct sunlight should be avoided. But perhaps the most popular species of aracea grown is the pothos.
- The alocasia is an attractive plant due to its large green leaves (although there are reddish varieties). It resists heat well and hardly suffers from blights. It grows rapidly, likes humid surroundings and doesn't need to be transplanted annually.

Cactus and other species
Another ideal species for beginners is that comprising cacti and succulent plants, which accumulate water in their roots, leaves and stems. There is an infinite variety of both: 2,500 of cacti and 6,000 of succulent plants, which also have a wide range of shapes and flowers.
These species generally require very little care and limited space in which to grow, and can thus accumulate in small areas. They tend to withstand extreme temperatures, above all the cactus, and prefer well-lit areas and sprinkled water, which should be sporadic in winter. In spring and summer they can be taken outside, ensuring the sun doesn't bum their leaves. Before they are due to flower it is best to fertilise them with products rich in potassium and bear in mind that if they are placed in clay pots you should water them more than if they are in plastic pots.

Taking care of aromatic plants
Aromatic plants make up another species that is ideal for beginners. Rosemary, sage, oregano, mint and basil are perfect for plant pots and need little water to grow, although watering should be increased in summer. Mint and tarragon grow rapidly and all aromatic plants in general need a good pruning after flowering so that the stems don't harden. None require much fertiliser, since this could interfere with their aroma and flavour.

In winter it is also possible to cultivate indoor plants with flowers, the results of which can be spectacular even for beginners. Examples of these are azaleas, cyclamen and African violets, which prolong their period of flowering with a little surrounding moisture and which can be left outside when spring is near. And if you are a fan of bulbs, which flower from the end of winter onwards, remember that the easiest to grow are hyacinths and muscari, which are highly resistant to temperature changes and require little water.