16 fast-growing houseplants

Are you the type to open presents on the evening of December 24 so you don't have to wait another night? Do you hate waiting your turn in the cafeteria, at the checkout, or at the post office? Does Flash the sloth from Zootopia make you want to have a barbecue? So do we. So when it comes to plants, we like them to grow fast. If you want to see the stems get longer, the leaves sprout, and the flowers bloom in the blink of an eye, try one of these 16 fast-growing plants.

1- Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)

May your bank account grow as fast as the Pilea peperomioides – Photo by Sven Brandsma / Unsplash

Chinese money plant doubles in size every year until it reaches its full height (on average, 30 centimeters). In addition to producing new leaves, it sprouts offshoots even before it reaches maturity.

To boost the growth of your Pilea peperomioides, remove the offshoots as soon as they appear. This way, your plant can focus its energy on its own development.

2 – The Mini Monstera (Rhaphidophora tetrasperma)

The Mini Monstera will grow quickly – Photo by Dan Jones / Flickr

Have you fallen in love with a little Mini Monstera? Take a photo of it to remember its early days, because it grows incredibly fast. And make sure you have enough space for it in your home. When potted, this plant grows an average of 50 centimeters per year.

The Mini Monstera grows faster when climbing a support than when hung from a pot. This is because the aerial roots expend energy trying to find a point of anchorage. Once they're comfortably settled on their foam or coconut fiber support, the plant can leisurely extend its vines and produce new leaves.

3 – Syngonium podophyllum

The downside of fast-growing plants is that they need to be repotted often – Photo by Arturo Añez / Pixabay

Syngonium podophyllum is something of a dream come true for all impatient gardeners. It grows an average of 30 centimeters per year and produces half a dozen new leaves during the growing season.

To witness this miracle, simply follow the advice from the Monstera app. Water your plant when the substrate has dried out to a depth of three centimeters, mist the foliage to keep pests at bay and increase humidity, and fertilize during the growing season.

4 – Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

A plant with lightning-fast growth, the Pothos is a true machine for producing cuttings – Photo by Luisella Planeta /Pixabay

Pothos grows faster than your hair. While you'll have to wait weeks to get rid of that impromptu fringe you cut on a whim in your bathroom, Epipremnum aureum grows 25 centimeters per month during its growing season.

And just like your hair, Pothos does better after a good trim. At the end of winter, cut the stems back by one-third of their length and pinch them to encourage branching.

5 – Aloe vera

If you plant several Aloe vera plants together, it's best to space them out to give them room to grow – Photo by Cecília O. Tommasini / Pexels

Cacti and succulents aren't typically fast-growing plants. But the Aloe vera is an exception. It reaches its mature size (up to 60 centimeters tall by 90 wide) in just three or four years. During the growing season, it produces one new leaf per month.

Like other plants, Aloe thrives better outdoors than indoors. If the climate doesn't allow you to grow your succulent in the ground, take it out to your garden or windowsill when temperatures permit to speed up its growth.

6 – Mother-in-Law's Tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Sansevieria trifasciata 'Laurentii' is recognizable by its green and yellow foliage – Photo by W. Carter / Wikipedia

Another fast-growing succulent plant is the snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata). If neglected in a shady corner, it will only manage to grow about three centimeters a year. But with love, light, and fertilizer, it can grow 10 times faster!

Want your Snake plant to make an impression? Choose an XXL variety, like Sansevieria trifasciata “Laurentii.” As an adult, it easily reaches one meter in height.

7 – Zebra Spider Plant (Tradescantia zebrina)

Spider Plants grow quickly but tend to become sparse. Consider taking cuttings to thicken the plant – Photo by Spongeworthy93 / Wikipedia

In inch plant spring, spider plants grow almost before your eyes. They can grow up to two centimeters per week. You can then enjoy their long, trailing vines or trim them to take cuttings and create a bushy plant.

The various varieties of spider plant are known for surviving even with minimal care. That's true. But if you want your Tradescantia zebrina to break growth records, add a fertilizer for houseplants diluted in your watering water every two weeks.

8 – Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Easy to care for, the spider plant is ideal for beginner gardeners – Photo by W. Carter / Wikipedia

The spider plant grows between 10 and 25 centimeters each year. At this rate, it takes less than five years to reach its full size. From the very first years, it also produces offshoots and stolons that you can use to grow cuttings to expand your indoor jungle—and those of your friends.

Chlorophytum comosum is an easy plant to grow. But that's no reason to neglect its care! If you want to boost its growth, place it in a sunny spot, out of direct sunlight, where the temperature is always above 15°.

9 – Ficus elastica

Ficus elastica is a toxic plant. Keep it away from your pets – Photo by A. M. Cranston / Pixabay

You don't need to spend a fortune to have a tall, majestic Ficus elastica in your home. You just need a little patience. The plant grows about 50 centimeters per year. In less than four years, yours will reach the ceiling.

But height isn't everything. To keep your potted ficus bushy, prune it in the spring. Trimming the branches back by five centimeters with clean, sharp pruning shears is usually enough to make it denser.

10 – Dieffenbachia seguine

In addition to growing quickly, Dieffenbachia is fairly tolerant of neglect and overwatering

Dieffenbachia seguine breaks speed records. Dieffenbachia seguine grows 30 to 60 centimeters per year, reaching its full height (1.5 to 2 meters) in the blink of an eye.

To ensure your plant grows quickly and for a long time, place it in a bright, humid room—such as a bathroom with a window or your kitchen. You can also place your Dieffenbachia's pot on a saucer filled with wet pebbles or clay pellets to improve humidity.

11 – Monstera deliciosa

The advantage of XXL plants? In the summer, they replace the AC – Photo by Kara Eads / Unsplash

Watching your plant grow a few centimeters is great. Witnessing the emergence of new leaves is even better. Monstera deliciosa offers you both. The plant grows about 50 centimeters per year and produces a new leaf every month.

To encourage the growth of your Monstera deliciosa, repot it every year in high-quality potting soil for houseplants. When the plant becomes too large to handle, top-dress the soil annually to provide fresh nutrients.

12 – Maranta leuconeura kerchoveana

Marantas are fascinating plants. At night, they fold their leaves in pairs – Photo by Kulbir / Pexels

Maranta kerchoveana isn't particularly large: it grows no more than 30 centimeters tall and 20 centimeters wide. But the plant produces one to two new leaves per month in the spring and summer. And since it doesn't go dormant, it continues to grow—albeit more slowly—for the rest of the year.

If your Maranta stops growing in the middle of summer, it may be time to repot it. Check to make sure the roots aren't spilling out of the pot and that there's enough substrate left. Do you have more roots than substrate? It's time to give your Maranta a larger container.

13 – Philodendron hederaceum

After a few months, the Philodendron will reward you with a cascade of heart-shaped leaves – Photo by Dan Jones / Flickr

Philodendron hederaceum grows more modestly indoors. Thankfully! When potted, the plant extends its vines by 60 centimeters to one meter per year. The largest specimens can grow to over two meters in height.

Philodendrons require high humidity. You can achieve this by investing in a humidifier. But you can also place your Philodendron near other plants. Water evaporation from the leaves, stems, and even flowers naturally increases the humidity in the room.

14 – Asparagus falcatus

Asparagus falcatus is not edible. Quite the opposite. Its berries are extremely toxic – Photo by Leonora Enking / Flickr

Asparagus can grow up to 15 centimeters in a single day. Its cousin, Asparagus falcatus, grows a bit more slowly, but it can reach a height of one meter in less than a year.

Asparagus falcatus is easy to care for. However, it requires rich, well-drained soil. Repot it in a mixture of potting soil for houseplants and peat moss or heather soil.

15 – Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena braunii or sanderiana)

The number of stems on your bamboo influences its powers. Three stems bring happiness, five bring health, and seven bring wealth

Growing isn't a competition. But if it were, Lucky Bamboo would undoubtedly finish on the podium. It grows up to 50 centimeters in six months!

Braun's dracaena can be grown in pots, in soil, or even in water. For this, you'll need a clear vase, soft water, fertilizer, and very sunny exposure.

16 – Ivy (Hedera helix)

Common ivy belongs to the Araliaceae family, along with ginseng and fatsia

Common ivy grows just as well in the garden as it does indoors. And with an average growth rate of 60 centimeters per year, it ranks among the fastest-growing plants.

Hedera helix is undemanding. Its main pests are aphids, spider mites, and mealybugs. Check your plant regularly for infestations, especially if its growth slows down.