Best Houseplants for Your Apartment

One of apartment living’s biggest drawbacks is its extremely limited (or non-existent) amount of outdoor space. Without a designated garden area, it can be quite difficult to grow plants, flowers, or herbs—but it’s not impossible. Growing plants indoors is actually pretty easy and can make your place look and feel fantastic. Houseplants will increase the oxygen levels in your apartment and create cleaner air by eliminating some common indoor pollutants.

Of course, growing indoor plants won’t come without challenges. Most apartment dwellers will have to account for limited amounts of sunlight and growing room. Some plants are particularly well-suited for handling these obstacles and are subsequently easier for renters and other small-space gardeners to maintain. Get your gloves and potting soil ready, because you’re going to need them after reading this list of ideal apartment houseplants.

Succulents

Succulents like aloe plants, panda plants, agave, and burro’s tail are all capable of thriving in most apartments. These plants are great for people whose thumbs aren’t so green or for those of us who often forget to water. While it’s commonly believed that succulents require a lot of direct sunlight to survive, they’re more likely to need protection from the sun, especially when the temperature starts to rise. To keep your succulents healthy and happy, be sure to place them near a window, water them once a week while they’re still developing, and put them in pots that have a couple of drainage holes on their bottom sides.

Herbs

You might think you need an Ina Garten, Hamptons-sized garden to grow herbs like basil, bay leaves, parsley, sage, dill, mint, tarragon, and chives. In reality, all you’ll need is a planter box and a small stretch of light. Herbs require at least four hours of sunlight every day and like succulents will need to be placed in pots with adequate drainage. These small plants look great and are sure to take your cooking game to the next level.

Peace Lily

Peace lilies are beautiful plants known for purifying the air around them and for being extremely low-maintenance. To make sure that your peace lily lives a long time, keep it in a room whose average temperature falls between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Peace lilies will need to be watered about once every week and given ample opportunity to dry themselves out. This hardy plant will even tell you when it’s thirsty by drooping its leaves!

Spider Plant

Spider plants are wild-looking and can give your apartment a real jungle feel, minus the terrifyingly large insects and unbearable humidity. Put your spider plant in a hanging pot that’s near but not directly exposed to sunlight, and it will be very happy indeed. Bathrooms that receive plenty of natural light are especially great locations for these plants. So long as they’re given sufficient drainage, spider plants will usually only require occasional watering.

Boston Fern

Boston ferns look tropical and can provide indoor spaces with a lot of texture. They prefer their soil to be a little moist but are susceptible to rot if overwatered. You’ll know it’s time to water your ferns when their soil feels dry to the touch. Apply room temperature water to these plants until they are dripping from their bottoms. Since all Boston ferns require at least a couple of hours of indirect sunlight every day, you might consider hanging yours up by a screen door or window.

English Ivy

You might not own a beautiful English Tudor, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a few houseplants that make you feel like you do. English ivy is beautiful and easy to care for as long as your place receives a decent amount of exposure to the sun. Ivy plants typically like their soil a little on the drier side and will need excellent drainage. If you really want your ivy to thrive, fertilize it once a month (except in the winter).

Cactus

Cacti are the perfect apartment plants because they require minimal care and can bring a modern flare to any space. These desert plants will only need to be watered once a week while growing. While cacti are used to getting plenty of sunlight, it’s important to remember that too much light can bleach them out or burn them.