10 Fast-Growing Houseplants
Want visible progress fast? These 10 fast-growing houseplants put out new leaves and vines quickly - perfect for impatient or beginner gardeners.
The fastest-growing houseplants are the trailing vines - pothos, heartleaf philodendron, and tradescantia - alongside the spider plant and, for a quick statement, a monstera. In bright, warm conditions they put out fresh growth almost weekly, and for a new plant owner that visible progress is motivating: it tells you you’re doing something right.
Some plants test your patience - a slow snake plant might push one new leaf a year. These do the opposite, rewarding you with longer vines and bigger leaves month after month.
These ten houseplants grow fast in good conditions. Give them bright indirect light, warmth, and regular watering through spring and summer, and they’ll visibly change month to month.
At a Glance: 10 Fast Growers
| Plant | Growth Style | Light | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pothos | Trailing vine | Low-bright | Very easy |
| Philodendron | Trailing/climbing | Low-bright | Very easy |
| Tradescantia | Trailing vine | Bright | Easy |
| Spider Plant | Babies + foliage | Medium-bright | Very easy |
| Monstera | Climbing | Bright indirect | Easy |
| Arrowhead Plant | Bushy/climbing | Medium-bright | Easy |
| English Ivy | Trailing/climbing | Medium | Easy |
| Wandering Dude | Trailing vine | Bright | Easy |
| Coleus | Bushy foliage | Bright | Easy |
| Grape Ivy | Climbing vine | Medium-bright | Easy |
The Fastest Vines
Pothos
Pothos is the poster child for fast, satisfying growth. In a bright, warm room it can add several centimetres of vine a week through the growing season. Trim it and the cuttings root in days - making more plants almost effortlessly.
Philodendron
The heartleaf philodendron rivals pothos for speed, racing along shelves and up moss poles. In warm conditions it produces new leaves constantly.
Tradescantia & Wandering Dude
These colourful trailing plants are almost weed-like indoors - give them light and they sprawl quickly. Regular trimming keeps them full rather than straggly, and every trimming roots easily.
English Ivy & Grape Ivy
Both climb or trail energetically. English ivy will scale a trellis fast; grape ivy fills a hanging basket quickly with glossy leaves.
The Fast Statement Plants
Monstera Deliciosa
The Monstera deliciosa is a fast grower that also gets dramatic - in good light it pushes a new, ever-larger, ever-more-fenestrated leaf every few weeks. Few plants give such visible, rewarding change.
Arrowhead Plant (Syngonium)
The arrowhead plant grows quickly into a bushy mound, then starts to vine. Easy, adaptable, and available in many leaf colours.
The Fast Foliage Plants
Spider Plant
Spider plants grow fast and then go further - sending out runners with baby plantlets you can pot up. One plant quickly becomes a windowsill full.
Coleus
Grown for its vivid patterned leaves, coleus grows fast enough to be treated almost as a seasonal plant. Pinch the tips regularly to keep it bushy and bright.
How to Get the Fastest Growth
Fast-growing plants only grow fast when conditions are right:
- Bright indirect light. Light is the engine of growth. A plant in a dark corner crawls; the same plant near a bright window races.
- Warmth. Most houseplants grow fastest at 20-27 °C. Cold rooms slow everything down.
- Feed in the growing season. A balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-4 weeks in spring and summer fuels rapid growth. Stop in winter.
- Don’t let them get root-bound. A fast grower fills its pot quickly - repot when roots show at the drainage hole so growth doesn’t stall.
- A moss pole helps climbers. Monstera and philodendron grow faster and produce bigger leaves when given something to climb.
- Accept the winter slowdown. Even fast growers rest in winter. Don’t push water or fertilizer then - wait for spring.
A Word of Caution
Fast growth has a downside: fast-growing plants need more frequent repotting, trimming, and feeding than slow ones. A pothos left unchecked will grow into a tangled, leggy mess. Plan to trim and tidy them regularly - the upside is endless free cuttings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest-growing houseplant?
Pothos and heartleaf philodendron are the fastest common houseplants - in bright, warm conditions they can add several centimetres of vine per week in the growing season.
Why has my fast-growing plant stopped growing?
The most common reasons are winter dormancy (normal - growth resumes in spring), too little light, or a root-bound pot. Check light and roots first.
Do fast-growing plants need more care?
Yes - they need more frequent trimming, repotting, and feeding than slow growers. The trade-off is rapid, rewarding progress and endless cuttings.
How do I make my houseplant grow faster?
Give it brighter (indirect) light, keep it warm, feed it during spring and summer, repot before it gets root-bound, and give climbers a moss pole.
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