Having plants in your home can do wonders for your mental and physical wellbeing. Studies show that being around plants reduces stress, anxiety, and fatigue while boosting productivity, focus, and creativity. However, finding the right plants for an apartment can be tricky due to factors like limited natural light and compact spaces. To help you pick the perfect apartment-friendly plants, we’ve compiled this list of the 11 best houseplants for apartments.
Best Low Light Houseplants for Apartments
Lack of sufficient natural light is one of the top challenges of having houseplants in apartments. However, there are plenty of houseplant varieties that can tolerate and even thrive in low light conditions. Here are some of our top recommendations for low light apartment plants:
Snake Plant
With its upright, sword-like leaves, the snake plant, also known as mother-in-law’s tongue or Sansevieria, is one of the most popular and hardy houseplants. Native to tropical West Africa, snake plants can easily adapt to low light conditions while only needing to be watered occasionally. They are excellent at filtering indoor toxins like formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene. Place your snake plant in a corner or anywhere it can get some indirect sunlight.
Cast Iron Plant
Named for its nearly indestructible nature, the cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) features broad, lance-shaped leaves that can withstand low light, high temperatures, dry soil, and polluted air. They grow slowly and require little maintenance besides occasional watering and dusting of leaves. Use cast iron plants as living room accents or office decor to add a lush, tropical feel without demanding care.
Chinese Evergreen
An umbrella term for many Aglaonema species, Chinese evergreens are known for their patterned leaves and ease of care. They tolerate low to medium light levels, though variegated varieties need a bit more sun to maintain the striking color patterns on their leaves. Allow the soil to partially dry out between waterings. Wipe leaves regularly to prevent dust buildup.
ZZ Plant
With waxy, oval-shaped leaves growing in a winding stem pattern, the ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) stores water in its tubers, so it doesn’t need frequent watering. It survives well in low to medium light. Overwatering is its enemy, so allow soil to dry between waterings. Dust the leaves occasionally. The ZZ plant purifies indoor air while adding rich green foliage.
Best Small Houseplants for Apartments
Limited floor and counter space make compact houseplants ideal for small urban apartments. Here are some cute and tiny plant varieties perfect for apartments with confined areas:
Succulents
Succulents come in a huge range of shapes, sizes, and colors. Many varieties like echeveria and haworthia only reach a few inches in height, making them perfect as desk plants or windowsill accents. Most succulents need bright, direct light. Allow soil to dry between waterings and use well-draining pots. Their resilience makes them easy to grow even for beginners.
Air Plants
Air plants or Tillandsia are epiphytes that cling to surfaces instead of needing soil. Their roots absorb moisture and nutrients from the air. Just soak or mist your air plants weekly while allowing them to dry fully in between. Mount them on driftwood, seashells, hanging terrariums, or wire frames. No potting required! With hundreds of air plant varieties, it’s fun to create a living wall or tabletop display.
Polka Dot Plant
The polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) is a dainty foliage plant covered in spots. It reaches just 4-6 inches in height but delivers big visual impact with its vivid pink, white, and green color pattern. Provide medium light conditions, high humidity, and well-draining soil. Pinch back the stem tips regularly to encourage bushiness. Polka dot plants add a bright pop of color without monopolizing space.
Peperomia
With over 1,000 species, Peperomia offers immense plant variety in a petite package. Most plants reach just 8-12 inches in height. Water them when the soil is partly dry and make sure the pot has drainage holes. Bright to medium, indirect light is ideal. Peperomia thrives in terrariums or hanging planters. Choose from varieties like watermelon peperomia, pepper face, ripple peperomia, and more!
Best Novice-Friendly Houseplants for Apartments
Brand new to the world of gardening? No worries! Here are some apartment-friendly houseplants that are nearly impossible to kill and ideal for beginner plant parents:
Pothos
With its cascading vine-like growth and ease of care, pothos or devil’s ivy is the ultimate starter plant. It tolerates low light and sporadic watering quite well. Prune back the long trailing stems or use propagation to fill planters and vases with lush pothos vines. The variegated varieties like golden and neon pothos add lovely pops of color.
Philodendron
Similar to pothos, philodendrons feature trailing/climbing growth habits and hardy nature perfect for newbie gardeners. They adapt to a range of light levels and are forgiving if you occasionally forget to water. Wipe leaves regularly and fertilize a few times a year. Choose from vining varieties like heartleaf philodendron or self-heading types like the Xanadu philodendron.
Spider Plant
With its long, arching leaves and fast growth rate, the spider plant is a hassle-free option for beginners and busy folks. Even if you neglect it, the spider plant will likely still grow and produce plantlets or “spiderettes” on short stalks that can be used for propagation. Provide medium to bright indirect light and water when the top inch of soil dries.
Hoya
Also nicknamed the wax plant, Hoya features waxy, star-shaped flowers that emerge in clusters on vining stems. Although a flowering plant, Hoya is quite forgiving for new plant parents thanks to its adaptable nature. It tolerates a wide range of light and irregular watering. The thick leaves retain moisture well. Slow but steady growth makes it undemanding.
Best Air Purifying Houseplants for Apartments
In addition to visual appeal, houseplants can enhance indoor air quality by filtering out pollutants. Here are some of the top air-purifying houseplants for apartments:
Peace Lily
With dark green leaves and elegant white blooms, the peace lily filters out harmful VOC’s like formaldehyde, ammonia, and benzene from the environment. It thrives in low to medium indirect light. Allow soil to partly dry out between waterings. When the large leaves start drooping, that signals the plant needs more water.
Fern
From classic Boston ferns to fluffy rabbit’s foot ferns, this plant type naturally removes formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from indoor spaces. Place ferns in bright, indirect light and keep the soil moist but not soggy. Mist the leaves often to recreate the humid, tropical environments where ferns naturally grow.
Red-Edged Dracaena
With strap-like leaves edged in red, dracaena marginata is an attractive and hardy air-purifying plant. It handles low light well but also tolerates bright light without scorching. Let the soil partially dry out between waterings to prevent root rot. Dracaena is effective at removing trichloroethylene, benzene, and formaldehyde.
Chrysanthemums
Cheerful potted mums not only purify the air of benzene, ammonia, and formaldehyde, but they also bring pops of color to your space when in bloom. Chrysanthemums need at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Keep soil slightly moist but not drenched. Fertilize every few weeks when actively growing and blooming.
Best Pet-Friendly Houseplants for Apartments
If you share your apartment with furry friends, ensure your houseplants are pet-safe. Here are some excellent pet-friendly options:
Spider Plant
Already mentioned for being beginner-friendly, the spider plant is also non-toxic for curious cats and dogs. So if your pets nibble on the long leaves, no need to panic! Just be sure to place out of reach of aggressive chewers.
Ponytail Palm
Resembling a miniature palm tree, the ponytail palm has a curly, tubular trunk topped with long green leaves. The plant’s drought-tolerant nature makes it pet-safe if consumed. However, the stiff leaves may pose a choking risk, so keep out of reach of rambunctious pets. Provide plenty of bright light for your ponytail palm.
Pilea Peperomioides
Also called UFO or pancake plant for its disc-shaped leaves, Pilea peperomioides is non-toxic for pets and air purifying. The bushy plant grows well in medium indirect light. Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out between waterings. Its whimsical foliage adds fun texture without endangering four-legged friends.
Purple Waffle Plant
With ruffled leaves in shades of green, red, and purple, the waffle plant (Hemigraphis alternata) is a safe choice for pet owners. It grows best in medium light near an east or west-facing window. Water when the soil is partly dry to the touch. Wipe dust off leaves periodically.
Best Flowering Houseplants for Apartments
While many popular houseplants are grown solely for their foliage, some varieties also produce gorgeous and often fragrant blooms:
Orchids
Available in stunning diversity, orchids produce exquisite flowers that last for months. Though they require specialized care, orchids thrive when you recreate the warm, humid, and bright environment of their tropical origins. Provide several hours of indirect sunlight, ample humidity, and well-draining potting mix.
African Violet
African violets produce delicate flowers in shades of purple, blue, pink, and white. Give them bright, filtered light to encourage blooming. Water when the soil is partly dry, keeping leaves dry to prevent spotting. Use room temperature water and monthly fertilizer. deadhead spent blooms to promote more flowers.
Bromeliads
With vibrant, exotic blooms and patterned foliage, bromeliads include varieties like pineapple, urn plants, air plants, and more. Most bromeliads only bloom once in their lifetime. But the unique plant and flower structures remain attractive even after blooming ends. Provide very bright, indirect light. Keep water in their cup-like centers.
Gardenias
Gardenias are treasured for their elegant white blooms and heady, sweet perfume. They need lots of bright, indirect sunlight. Keep soil consistently moist and humidity levels high. Feed with acidic fertilizer. Grow gardenias in pots to bring them indoors when temperatures drop outside.
Tips for Caring for Houseplants in Apartments
Caring for houseplants in apartments presents unique challenges but also easy solutions. Here are some top tips for helping your houseplants thrive within small urban living spaces:
- Pick suitable locations – Make the most of your apartment’s natural light. Place plants appropriately based on their light needs rather than decor. East or west-facing windows are ideal for many houseplants.
- Use grow lights – For extra illumination, install full spectrum LED or fluorescent grow lights. Use lamps, panels, bulbs in existing fixtures, or stands to provide artificial sunlight. Run lights 10-12 hours per day.
- Modify watering techniques – Water thoroughly until it drains from the holes. Pour out excess water so plants don’t sit in it. Allow soil to partly dry before re-watering to prevent oversaturation in small pots.
- Try self-watering pots – Self-watering containers with built-in reservoirs gradually release water to the soil and roots as needed, preventing droughts or excesses.
- Use pebble trays – Place small pebbles on a waterproof tray, then set the plant pot on top. Keeps nearby air humid as the water evaporates.
- Fertilize regularly – Apartment plants may require more frequent feeding since they lack access to outdoor soil nutrition. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-4 weeks during growing season.
- Trim and prune – Prune overgrown plants not only for size control but also to stimulate bushier and healthier new growth.
- Propagate overcrowded plants – Take cuttings from leggy pothos, philodendrons, snake plants, etc. to generate new plants and prevent a stretched-out appearance.
- Clean leaves – Wipe broad-leaf plants with a damp cloth to remove household dust that can block light absorption for photosynthesis.
By selecting suitable plants and using these plant care techniques, your apartment will be flourishing with healthy, happy houseplants!
The 11 Best Houseplants for Apartments: FAQ
What are the easiest houseplants to care for in apartments?
Some of the lowest maintenance houseplants for apartments include snake plant, zz plant, pothos, philodendron, peperomia, Chinese evergreen, and ponytail palm. All tolerate irregular watering and low light.
Which houseplants purify air the best?
Top air purifying houseplants are peace lily, English ivy, chrysanthemums, fern, aloe vera, red-edged dracaena, spider plants, and snake plants. They filter VOCs, ammonia, xylene, and formaldehyde.
How often should indoor plants be watered?
Most houseplants should be watered whenever the top few inches of soil become partly dry. The frequency varies based on plant type, container size, weather, and growth rate. Allow soil to dry more before re-watering plants like cacti and succulents.
What are signs a houseplant is being over or underwatered?
Indicators of underwatering include drooping, wrinkling, yellowing leaves and dry, shriveled soil. Overwatering causes leaf drop, brown crisp spots, mushy stems, mold growth, and foul odors from wet soil.
Should I mist apartment plants?
Light misting can increase humidity-loving plants like ferns and orchids. But avoid frequent, heavy misting which leads to increased risk of diseases like root rot in many plants. Use pebble trays for passive humidity.
How much light do indoor plants need per day?
Most houseplants need 4-6 hours of bright, indirect sunlight daily. Low light plants can survive with just 2-3 hours of ambient light. Direct southern exposure might require using sheer curtains to filter intense afternoon sun.
Conclusion
Bringing plants into your apartment can transform the space both visually and physically. Whether you desire a modern minimalist look with succulents or a tropical oasis feel with broad-leafed foliage, selecting from houseplants that naturally match your apartment’s unique conditions will set you up for success.
Remember to account for light levels, space constraints, and your personal plant care abilities when deciding which varieties to purchase. Fortify plants with adequate light and humidity. Water appropriately for the species’ needs. With a dash of patience, your urban indoor jungle will be thriving soon!