Living in a small apartment doesn’t mean you have to give up houseplants. A few well-chosen plants can add color and greenery without taking up much space or demanding hours of care.
The best choices depend on how much sunlight your apartment gets and how often you want to water your plants. These 10 options work well in apartments, dorm rooms, and small offices, including space-limited spots.
Succulents and Cacti
Succulents and cacti come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, and their water-storing tissues let many varieties go longer between waterings. Place them near a south-facing window in pots with drainage holes, and let the soil dry before watering again.
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Spider Plant
Spider plants have arching green leaves, often with white stripes, and produce little plantlets that can grow into new plants. They do well in bright, indirect light, need watering once the top layer of soil dries, and look lovely in hanging baskets or on shelves.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera has thick, fleshy leaves and grows well in a sunny windowsill pot. It prefers bright light and dry soil between waterings, so good drainage helps prevent root rot.
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Pothos
Pothos is a popular apartment plant with trailing vines that look lovely hanging from a shelf or spilling over a cabinet edge. It tolerates a range of indoor light conditions and usually needs water only after the upper layer of soil has dried.
Snake Plant
Snake plants grow upright, with firm leaves that add greenery without taking up much floor space. They tolerate low light and need infrequent watering, making them a good choice for bedrooms, living rooms, and home offices.
String of Pearls
String of pearls is a succulent with long, trailing stems covered in small, round leaves that resemble beads. It needs plenty of bright light and soil that dries between waterings, so a hanging pot near a sunny window often works well.
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Peace Lily
Peace lilies have broad, dark green leaves and white blooms that can brighten a corner of an apartment. They prefer medium to low indirect light and soil that stays lightly moist, so check the pot regularly and water before it dries out completely.
Chinese Money Plant
The Chinese money plant has round, coin-shaped leaves and a compact shape that works well on desks, side tables, and bookshelves. Give it bright, indirect light, water when the top layer of soil dries, and separate its small offshoots when you want to grow more plants.
Lucky Bamboo
Lucky bamboo can grow in water or soil and takes up very little room on a desk, counter, or windowsill. Keep it in bright, indirect light, use clean water if growing it in a vase, and change the water regularly to keep it fresh.
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ZZ Plant
ZZ plants have glossy green leaves and thick underground rhizomes that store water, so they can go long stretches without watering. They tolerate low light and suit people with busy schedules, but let the soil dry out completely before watering again.
