Easy Low Maintenance Indoor Plants for Small Spaces

The Best Low-Maintenance Plants for Your Apartment

If you want to add some green to your space but don’t have a lot of time for gardening, fear not. There are plenty of easy-care indoor plants that only need minimal watering and care. As someone who has lived in apartments for years, I’ve tried various low-maintenance plants to find which ones thrive best with minimal effort. In this article, I’ll share the top plants I’ve found to be practically foolproof for apartment living, along with tips to keep them happy and healthy.

Pothos

1. Pothos is perhaps the easiest houseplant of all. From my experience, it can go weeks without water and still persist. It thrives in low to medium light and tolerates a wide range of conditions.
2. To care for pothos, water when the top inch of soil is dry. You can let it dry out more in winter when growth is slower. It may drop a few leaves if soil is too moist.
3. Pothos is very forgiving of neglect. I’ve forgotten to water mine for a month and it bounced back with no issues. Its trailing vines grow long, making it a great choice for hanging baskets or letting it climb poles.

Snake Plant

1. Snake plant, also called mother-in-law’s tongue, is notoriously tough. I rarely water mine more than every few weeks, and it seems fine with low to medium light as well.
2. Allow the soil to dry out mostly between waterings. Avoid overwatering, as soggy soil can cause root rot. Like pothos, snake plant stores water in thick leaves, making it drought tolerant.
3. Snake plants clean the air indoors by removing toxins like formaldehyde. Keep them around for an easy-care option that may also improve your indoor air quality.

Chinese Evergreen

1. With leathery green or colorful leaves, Chinese evergreen looks beautiful while needing minimal upkeep. I find it thrives in medium to low light.
2. Let soil dry slightly between waterings. Chinese evergreen is susceptible to root rot from soggy conditions, so water just enough to keep the soil slightly moist.
3. It grows slower than other plants mentioned but remains very low-maintenance. Be sure not to overwater, which is often the main cause of issues for Chinese evergreen.

Peperomia

1. With hundreds of varieties, peperomias come in many shapes and colors and all need little care. I keep mine in medium to low light and water every 1-2 weeks.
2. Their squat growth habit makes them well-suited to small spaces. Many varieties have interesting texture and bloom year-round with no special conditions needed.
3. Peperomias store water well, so err on the side of under-watering rather than over. Like the others mentioned, they withstand drought and bounce back easily from the occasional dry spell.

Zanzibar Gem

1. Also called Zanzibar blue star, this unusual plant looks almost artificial with blueish wavy leaves. I find it adapts well to low, medium, or bright light though may get leggier in low spots.
2. Water when top soil is dry. Use care not to overwater, as soggy soil causes pale leaves and poor growth. It recovers quickly from underwatering.
3. Zanzibar gem brightens up spaces with unique foliage that seems to glow. It remains compact and thrives with simple care that focuses on watering only when soil is very dry.

Cast Iron Plant

1. Another tougher plant suitable for neglectful gardeners like me, cast iron plant tolerates lower light conditions superbly. Mine does well near a west-facing window.
2. Water when top inch of soil is dry. Like its namesake, cast iron plant withstands drought and neglect. It may drop a few older leaves if soil remains dry for prolonged periods but quickly rebounds.
3. Its upright bamboo-like evergreen foliage adds subtle texture and dimension to an area without fussiness. Cast iron plant remains compact and relatively slow growing.

Wandering Jew

1. If you want something fast-growing and cheerful, wandering jew provides colorful foliage in shades of purple, red, and green. It shines in medium to low light.
2. I find it grows best when kept evenly moist. Allow the top inch of soil to dry slightly before watering again. It takes well to propagation via stem tip cuttings.
3. Wandering jew adds dynamic color and movement as stems trail or climb any surface. It’s a cheerful option to brighten a room with pastel hues while hardly any care.

ZZ Plant

1. With thick, waxy leaves, ZZ plant tolerates very low light conditions, making it great for apartments with little natural sunshine. I keep mine near a north-facing window.
2. Water infrequently, only when topsoil is totally dry. ZZ plant forms hard, drought-deciduous leaves that store water and survive long dry spells.
3. Its low maintenance ways earn it the nickname “cake plant.” ZZ plant remains compactly bushed with no pruning or trimming needed. Under-watering poses no threat to its well-being.

Hope this list provided an overview of some outstanding low-maintenance plant options suited for apartment living! Feel free to start with just one or two, and once you see how easily they grow, you may want to expand your collection. From these suggestions, I’ve found snake plant, pothos, peperomia, and ZZ plant to be practically indestructible even with inconsistent care. Just be sure not to overwater, give them medium to low light, and they’ll reward you with wonderful foliage needing very little effort on your part. Over time, the right plants can really help brighten up your space. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Easy Plants for Small Spaces

Plant	Light Needs	Water Needs	Care Level
Pothos	Low	Allow soil to dry slightly between waterings	Low
Snake plant	Low	Water when top inch of soil is dry	Low
ZZ plant	Low to medium	Water when top inch of soil is dry	Low
Spider plant	Medium	Water when top inch of soil is dry	Low
Peace lily	Medium	Water when top inch of soil is dry	Low

FAQ

1. What are some easy houseplants to care for in an apartment?

   Some of the easiest plants to care for in an apartment include pothos, snake plant, ZZ plant, philodendron, and peace lily. These plants don’t need much light or water and can tolerate neglect pretty well.

2. Do I need a green thumb to keep plants alive indoors?

   Not at all! While a green thumb certainly helps, there are lots ofPlant varieties that basically don’t require much effort to look after. As long as you water them occasionally and give them at least a little sunlight, many plants will survive indoors. So don’t feel intimidated – even novice plant parents can keep some greenery happy in their home.

   

3. How often should houseplants be watered?

   The frequency of watering depends on the type of plant and the growing conditions. As a general rule, most indoor plants need water when the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch. Some plants such as succulents only need water once every couple weeks, while others like peace lilies like to be kept consistently moist. The best approach is to check each plant individually and water when needed rather than following a set schedule.

4. Is it hard to care for plants that like humidity?

   Plants that enjoy humidity, such as ferns, calatheas, and monsteras, can be a bit more challenging to keep happy indoors where the air is drier. Nevertheless, there are some things you can do to boost the humidity level around these kinds of plants without too much effort. Group humidity lovers together, mist their leaves occasionally, and consider using a pebble tray or humidifier. So with a little care, even finicky plants can thrive.

   

5. What are some low-maintenance floor plants?

   Some excellent large plants suited for floors that don’t require a lot of fuss are bamboo palm, fiddle leaf fig, dracaena, and rubber tree. As long as they’re watered regularly when the soil is dry and receive ample bright, indirect light, these beauties should remain healthy with minimal work. Just be sure to choose a spot away from heating vents where it may get too hot or dry.

6. How can I revive a sickly plant?

   If a houseplant is looking under the weather, don’t give up hope! Often a plant can bounce back with some TLC. Check the soil for proper drainage and moisture level, move it to a more suitable spot, and look for signs of pests. You may also try repotting into fresh soil, pruning away damaged leaves or stems, and giving it a dose of fertilizer as a pick-me-up. With patience and care, many sad-looking plants can be nursed back to wellness.

   

7. Can plants remove indoor air pollutants?

   As it turns out, certain varieties seem especially gifted at absorbing common toxic compounds in the air we breathe indoors. NASA research points to plants like english ivy, bamboo palm, and peace lily as particularly efficient at cleaning the air of chemicals like benzene and formaldehyde. So in addition to decor, houseplants may offer some health benefits by helping purify the environment. Not a bad bonus for such low-maintenance companions!