10 houseplants that work well in small spaces
Greenery can add a breath of fresh air to any home, but it can be hard to dedicate much-needed inches to houseplants if you live in a small space. Plus, living things aren’t exactly a “set it and forget it” accessory. If you care for your plants properly, they’ll grow taller and wider — which is another reason to be strategic when choosing which ones to bring into a small home.
Before you buy a plant, think about where you’ll put it, the conditions of that space and the level of care you’re willing and able to provide. “Then, choose a plant that can both physically fit and thrive in that space,” says Lily Cox, co-owner of the Washington-based plant shop Rewild.
Here are some options plant experts suggest using in small spaces.
Snake plants. If you’re short on floor real estate, think vertical. Lindsay Pangborn, a horticulturist at the plant delivery service Bloomscape, likes the snake plant for its upright leaves and easy care. The hardy plant has adapted to survive without direct sunlight, so it can live in poorly lit apartments or basements. Snake plants also grow relatively slowly which is ideal for anyone concerned about their plants outgrowing their space.
ZZ plants. Another plant that grows vertically is Zamioculcas zamiifolia, a.k.a. ZZ. Cox says the plant works well in a corner on the floor, because its stems and leaves grow up rather than out. Like the snake plant, the ZZ plant tolerates low sunlight. It also typically grows slowly, so you won’t them out of dark rooms. have to worry about it Bamboo palms. Small overtaking its designated spaces don’t have to limit space. you to small plants. You
Ferns. If you’d like a just need to choose wisely. girthier plant, try a fern. Splaying, treelike plants You can hang it from the can quickly get in the way, ceiling, place it on a shelf so houseplant consultant or display it in a wall Jocelyn Perez-Blanco, planter, so you won’t have founder of the New Yorkbased to sacrifice your valuable company Herban floor space. Lemon button, Garden, suggests the bamboo crocodile or bird’s nest palm for those with ferns work well on bookshelves limited floor space. “They or hung from a grow more upright and hook on the ceiling, while don’t splay out like a majesty staghorn ferns can live in or parlor palm, so wall displays. Pangborn they’re great corner says ferns require consistent plants,” Perez-Blanco says. watering. The parlor palm, which
Hoyas. Drought-tolerant prefers bright, indirect plants, such as vining, light, is resilient enough to semi-succulent hoyas, can tolerate a few missed waterings. be placed on tall shelves that may be difficult to Philodendrons. The reach for watering, Cox trailing philodendron can says. Hoyas come in many hang from the ceiling or sit varieties — some trailing, on a shelf across from a some flowering — but all window. If you’d rather use prefer medium to bright your wall, Cox suggests indirect light, so keep setting a plant on a side table or shelf and creating an ivy look by fastening the trailing growth to clear hooks. Pothos, also part of the aroid family, is another popular low-maintenance trailing option. Both philodendron and pothos thrive in bright, indirect light with watering once a week or every other week, depending on light exposure.
Cactuses. Verticalgrowing cactuses, which lend a sculptural look to a room without compromising horizontal space, thrive in bright (south-, east- or west-facing) windows. Cactuses “have very slender growth, so they’re a more minimalist option physically and aesthetically as opposed to a leafy, meandering or bushy plant,” Cox says. Just beware of prickles if you have children or pets.
Stromanthe Triostar. Like others in the prayer
plant family, the striking pink-and-green stromanthe’s leaves fold upward at night and splay out a bit when it’s sunny. But overall, Perez-Blanco says, the plant remains compact even as it grows taller. Stromanthe plants do best with weekly watering and bright, indirect light, especially if you want to maintain their coloring.
Peperomia. Nick Cutsumpas, a Los Angelesbased plant consultant, recommends the slowgrowing peperomia for new plant parents and those in small spaces. Peperomia have succulentlike properties, so they tend to retain water and require less maintenance. Try putting one in a small
pot on a bookshelf or nightstand facing a window; you probably won’t have to repot it as frequently as other houseplants.
Air plants. If you’d prefer not to fuss with pots at all (and you like a less traditional look), Cutsumpas recommends air plants, which don’t require soil to grow. You can display air plants in a terrarium, on a shelf or on a table as a centerpiece. They also don’t require much maintenance. “Some people like misting air plants, but if you prefer not to get your furniture wet, you can submerge them in a sink full of water for 10 minutes once every few weeks,” Cutsumpas says.