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potted jadeSome say that being able to keeping houseplants alive is proof that you've finally hit adulthood. Whether or not this is true, houseplants certainly infuse your home with a feeling of energy and freshness like nothing else can. They make it, well, home-y.

What's more, they oxygenate the environment and clean toxins out of the air. So, if you're one of those people who shies away from adopting plants for fear you'll unintentionally send them to plant heaven, here are five houseplants that are as attractive as they are hearty. Along with each, you'll also find foolproof tips to keeping your new leafy-green friends happy, vibrant, and alive.

Jade
All your potted jade needs is a little water every now and then. When the soil begins to look dry, which is about every week or so (depending on the temperature), just add a little water to moisten it. But never fear! Jade thrives on benign neglect -- you can literally wait until the leaves begin to look a little on the emaciated side before moistening. Jade does well in any amount of light -- indirect or not -- and it does best in a standard terra cotta pot, which helps regulate the moisture balance of the soil.

Pothos
Pothos is another plant that does great even if you live in a dark closet of an apartment. And, like with jade, just keep the soil moist. Watering once a week or so should do the trick, but if the leaves begin to look a little wilty, adding water then will work too. Just make sure the pot is well drained, and don't hang pothos high up in your kitchen because the rising heat from the stove might cause it to languish. An added benefit of living with pothos? It is a master at cleaning toxins out of the air.


lucky bambooBamboo
Bamboo (aka lucky bamboo) might just be the easiest houseplant of all. All it needs is to be in water (not soil) and kept out of direct sunlight. (It can even do well in a windowless bathroom.) Bonus: It's cheerful and cute, comes in small and larger sizes, and is rumored to attract good luck.



Norfolk Island Pine
Another master toxin-absorber, Norfolk Island pine is also an attractive little Christmas-tree stand-in that can be gently decorated year after year -- a great way to honor the environment by minimizing the waste of water and resources involved with the yearly tradition of killing a tree. It likes a little bit of direct light, so setting it near a bright window ought to do the trick. Then simply moisten its soil once or twice a week. Like jade, keeping Norfolk Island pine in a terra cotta pot will help keep the moisture balance of the soil just right.



corn plant pottedCorn Plant
Looking for a sturdy, gorgeously green little palm tree for one of the darker areas of your home? Look no further than the corn plant, a plant that does great in areas with no direct sunlight and only needs to be watered once a week or so, just until the soil is moist.


Tess Whitehurst is a Los Angeles–based feng shui consultant and the author of "Magical Housekeeping: Simple Charms and Practical Tips for Creating a Harmonious Home." She's appeared on the Bravo TV show "Flipping Out."