Looking to switch up your household decor? Want to try some houseplants, but worried about care in your small apartment? Here is a list of Ten apartment-friendly plants!
Spider Plant
Spider plants are a highly adaptable houseplant and super easy to grow. They are named because of their leaves (spiderettes) that dangle down spiders on a web. This plant is best displayed hanging because of their dangling leaves.They can grow in a wide variety of conditions and suffer few problems, other than brown tips.
Care: Spider plants require plenty of light near a window, but keep away from too direct of light. They do well when their roots are crowded. Spider plants can easily adapt to temperatures as low as 35 degrees F and as high as 90 degrees F, but prefer temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees. They will even self-propagate by sending out off-shoots that can be replanted and grown into a new spider plant.
Philodendron
Philodendron will survive indoors year round and even inexperienced houseplant owners will not have problems growing them because they are easily adaptable to any conditions inside your home. While they do well indoors, Philodendron, weather permitting, will enjoy an occasional stay outdoors in a shady spot and will be stressed in the process of moving from indoors to outdoors. While outside, take the change to flush the soil with water and clean the leaves.
Care: The reason Philodendron is so popular is that it tells you what it wants. If its leaves are yellow, then the plant is getting too much sun. Try placing your plant in an area with bright, but indirect sun. If the plant is growing small leaves then it needs more fertilizer. Try liquid houseplant fertilizer. Also make sure that you allow one inch of soil to dry between watering, meaning that Philodendron does not need to be watered daily.
Snake Plant
These interesting-looking plants give your room character and they never got out of style. Snake plants have variegated leaves that grow upright. Some varieties of this plant have yellow or white edges and the plant may rarely bloom white flowers. They are incredibly tough and can survive in a variety of environments. They can withstand weeks of neglect without losing shape, but this does not mean that you should neglect them. Spider plants can remove toxins, like formaldehyde and benzene, from the air.
Care: Spider plants have tough leaves that can tolerate low light, but will thrive in medium or bright light. Water the plant occasionally and allow the soil to dry between watering. This plant grows best in temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees F.
Pothos
This indoor plant absorbs and strips toxins like formaldehyde from materials in the home such as carpet. Pothos are great plants for beginning houseplant owners. This plant is an easy way to add some green to your home because it can survive in a variety of conditions. Because they can do well in low light, these plants can make a great addition to your bathroom, office or a lowly lit apartment and are good for hanging baskets or as a climbing plant.
Care: Pothos can thrive in a variety of different temperatures and lighting conditions. However, low light can decrease the leaves’ variegation and they do best in the light that is not too direct. These plants can produce stems that will need to be cut when they get too long. Also, make sure your soil dries between waterings.
Paddle Plant
Paddle plants are succulents with a unique shape and low care requirements. They have thick, paddle-shaped leaves and will take on a reddish tint during the winter or when exposed to the sun. Their leaves grow to about 6 inches long and mature plants may produce yellow flowers in the spring.
Care: Paddle Plants grow best when exposed to bright light, but watch out during the summer. Too much intense light can scorch your plant. These plants can withstand dry air, even during the winter when the heat is cranked up. They prefer temperatures between 60 and 85 F, but just try to avoid temperatures below 60 F. Allow two inches of dirt to dry between watering and your plant will be healthy.
Aloe Vera
Aloe’s medicinal properties are well known. They can provide instant medication on hand for minor scrapes and burns. The plant can grow three feet high for large indoor spaces. The popular aloe vera works great in small, sunny indoor spaces. This plant is not difficult to care for. If grown outside, they will grow faster in the summer, but as an indoor plant, they will do sin in a pot. Watch out for harsh light as it can turn your Aloe brown.
Care: Aloe likes room temperatures around 70 degrees and plenty of indirect sunlight. They prefer dry soil, so avoid watering too frequently and allow two inches of dirt to dry between waterings.
Ficus Tree
Ficus trees are a low maintenance, attractive plant. This indoor tree has shiny leaves. Fun fact: The Ficus trees braided trunk does not occur naturally. In order to achieve a braided trunk, multiple young plants can be weaved together to grow into a permanent braid. If grown outdoors, this plant can reach up to 50 feet tall and there are 800 types of ficus trees.
Care: Ficus trees like bright, indirect sunlight. Try putting your plant in a corner of a windowed room. Room temperatures should be between 65 to 75 degrees. Water your ficus every two to three days and give it a bit of fertilizer each year.
Weeping Fig
Weeping figs can add necessary amounts of green to any space and are long-living houseplants. While not known to drop leaves when moved, these plants should be kept away from drafts as blasts of cold or hot air can cause its leave to drop. It is also known to drop leaves in the early fall. But don’t worry! Weeping figs will grow new leaves in spring and summer with proper care. In the fall, try lightly misting the leaves of your plant to increase humidity.
Care: Weeping Figs only need to be watered every four to seven days. But watch out when watering. These trees are sensitive to chlorine, fluoride, and other chemicals often found in tap water, as well as the salt in softened water. Try distilled or filtered water, or allow tap water to sit overnight to dissipate the chemicals. They should be placed in a window that gets bright, indirect sunlight. But make sure you turn plant every once in a while to avoid excess growth on one side.
Cacti
Cacti require a unique aesthetic that can blend with a variety of apartment styles. Available in various shapes and sizes, there is a cactus for every space. They are extremely well adapted to living in low humidity houses. Cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. The difference lies in the organs that produce the spines and other characteristics such as fruit formation. These plants are native to the southern United States, Mexico, Central and South America and a few species are native to Haiti, and other islands.
Care: Cacti only need to be watered once a week while they are growing, and can have longer intervals between waterings during the winter months. Before watering, check to see if the soil is dry and water well if it is, then let the water drain off. Place your cactus in a sunny area out of direct sunlight. Too much direct sunlight can cause your cactus to look bleached or orange. Your plant may shrivel in the winter and that is natural.
Peace Lily
Peace Lillies are great for small spaces and do not need a lot of sun to survive. Nicknamed the “Closet Plant,” too much sunlight can actually damage your plant. Watch out for the beautiful white blooms in the spring! While lovely to look at, this plant is actually toxic to animals and humans. so keep away from children and pets and make sure you wash your hands after handling this plant.
Care: Peace Lillies can survive in very dim settings and grow under fluorescent lights. They are great for bathrooms, offices, apartments not facing the sky or facing another building. This plant doesn’t require a lot of watering but likes to be watered a lot at once. Check the leaves and if they are droopy, water your plant. Also, make sure your soil is dried out. Watering once a week is best and lightly spraying the leaves in the summer will keep your plant healthy. If your plant seems to completely droop, don’t give up: water and spritz and give it a chance to revive. If your water is chlorine-heavy, let a container of water stand overnight before watering the plant.