What plants are easy to grow inside?

I don't know the latin names or much about the plant itself other than that it's nearly impossible to go wrong with an air fern. They were very popular with apartment dwellers when I was a youth. I think they were even sold in a little shell with a magnet glued to the back so you could stick them on the refrigerator door. They don't need water or soil and little light. They were a big deal in say the seventies or early eighties. Also, what about outdoor container gardening? I, too, have a small apartment and only 2 small windows in the place (basement apartment). I purchased several generous containers (Big Lots and Walmart have good deals) and put herbs and some vegetables in those and they are my little patio garden. I'm sure the library would have a good selection of books for how to, etc. I bring my containers in for the winters which are fortunately short here as I am able to bring them outdoors in the nick of time as per sun deprivation...