Growing plants in an apartment can be an easy project that most people can easily accomplish. There are, however, some things that you need to think about when choosing the right plants for your apartment.
Thinking about the amount of available light or installing an artificial plant light should be high on your list.
You will also need to think about what soil, the amount of water, and the humidity level that your plants need.
Consider these plant choices that do well in an apartment setting.
Pothos
Pothos is trailing vine grows up to 30 feet, but it does not cling to objects. Instead, you will need to train it to circle a stick or other object that will support it. The golden and green foliage is extremely attractive on this plant that does not flower unless given a special hormone.
ZZ Plant
If you are looking for a plant that will thrive in a low-light apartment, then the ZZ plant may be a perfect choice. The waxy, smooth, dark-green leaves make this an attractive option. The great news is that it thrives even when you occasionally forget to water it. This plant will put on small flowers mid-summer to early fall, but it is mainly grown for its foliage.
Snake Plant
The upright green foliage on this plant gives it a beautiful shape. Plant this option in a well-draining pot because it is subject to root rot. Let it dry out a little before watering it. There are about 70 different snake plant varieties, with some struggling to grow to be 8-inches tall while others grow to be over 12-feet tall.
Iron Plant
If you are looking for a forgiving houseplant, then the iron plant may be perfect for you. While it does put on small purple flowers when planted outdoors, it will probably not bloom in your apartment. Do not put this one where it will be exposed to direct sunlight. The evergreen foliage on this plant can grow to be up to 3-feet tall.
Succulents
Many different types of succulents make great houseplants. If you are looking for a plant that will look great in a hanging basket or trailing from a shelf, consider burro’s tail because its gray-green leaves give this succulent a braided look. Christmas cactus puts on a bright bloom in the winter, adding a festive look to your apartment. One of the easiest succulents to grow is the jade plant, and you will love the thick, glossy green leaves on this plant that often grows to be about 12-inches tall.
Spider Plants
Another apartment plant that is very easy to grow is the spider plant. In the spring, this plant puts on flowers that eventually grow into mini-spider plants. Then, you can remove these from the parent plant and repot them. This plant prefers temperatures between 55 and 66 degrees and to be kept a little on the dry side.
Peace Lily
Peace lilies can be a great way to brighten up an apartment because of their dark-green leaves and their snow-white bracts. Wait until the top of the soil is dry to the touch, and the flower is starting to droop a little to give it a drink. They also need to be fertilized with a balanced fertilizer about every four months.
Philodendrons
Philodendrons prefer indirect light, and they should not be placed in direct light, or young leaves will turn yellow. This plant needs to be grown in consistently damp soil, so be sure to check it regularly or use a water measurer. Feed philodendrons with a liquid fertilizer containing micronutrients monthly in the spring and summer and bi-monthly in the fall and winter.
Lipstick Plant
The lipstick plant produces blooms that look like miniature tubes of lipstick. Most types bloom throughout the year. It grows well on a sunny windowsill where temperatures stay between 70 and 85 degrees because this plant cannot handle getting cold. This vine plant also does excellent in hanging baskets, but be sure to mist it occasionally.
Rubber Plant
You can grow rubber plants as large houseplants or indoor trees. If you want to keep it smaller, then keep it in a smaller pot. This plant needs well-drained soil, so plant it in soil made from an equal mixture of peat, pine bark and coarse sand. It requires lots of indirect light. It will get leggy if it gets too much direct sunlight.
Hoya
There are about 500 varieties of hoya plants, but some are much more popular as houseplants than others. Hoya carnosa is the most traditional, and this plant with large almond-shaped leaves loves indirect light. Another excellent option for an apartment plant is the tricolor hoya, which often puts on leaves lined with pink and white. This option is a little pickier, and it prefers high humidity without becoming overly wet. A third option to consider is the crimson prince with its beautiful variegated foliage. This one loves lots of indirect light.
Jade
If you have a window where the sun comes in for at least eight hours a day in your apartment, then the jade plant makes an appealing option. This plant needs the top 2 inches of its soil to be dry before you water it again. Keep a mature jade plant in the dark and give it cooler temperatures if you want it to put on its dainty white flowers.
Prayer Plant
This plant that gets its name from the fact that its leaves stay flat during the day and fold up at night can be a great addition to your apartment. It usually grows to be about 12-inches tall with leaves that can be up to 8-inches long. In the spring, it will reward you with white flowers. Since it loves high humidity, consider putting a platter of water under your prayer plant.
Ficus Bonsai Tree
Continuously sprouting broad leaves from the top of stems makes the Ficus bonsai tree easy to prune into the shape that you want. If you wish to produce aerial roots on this plant in your apartment, the humidity level needs to be nearly 100%. They are hungry plants that need fertilizing weekly and should be kept moist.
Fiddle-leaf Fig
The fact that the leaves on this plant are enormous means that it requires lots of sunlight to make the energy that it needs to thrive. This plant hates to grow in a plastic pot, so if you get one in plastic, repot it as soon as possible. This plant is also very suspectable to not getting enough humidity. Here is our guide on tips for growing Fiddle-leaf Plants.
