With the fall semester coming up, it's time to start getting everything you need for your dorm room! I'm sure everyone has already got the basics: a wall calendar, notebooks, and that twin XL sheet set. But do you have seeds, pots, soil, and a green thumb? Keeping a few plants in your dorm room will not only help you stay responsible and in a routine, and it'll also help keep the air in your room fresh and maybe have a few extra benefits too! These are some of the best plants to keep in your dorm room.
1. Mint.
Mint is a great addition to any room, but it's great for a dorm room because it is super easy to grow and will grow like a weed in most conditions. Mint only needs moderate temperature, a sunny window, and some water every day and you're good to go! It has some bonus health benefits, like being calming to help you unwind after an exam, and it can help soothe an upset stomach as well. It's a great addition for jazzing up some plain water to help you keep hydrated and healthy!
2. Air plants.
Air plants come in all shapes and sizes, and there are a ton of varieties. They're a part of the bromeliad family, so they only bloom once in their life and then grow babies from the bottom of the plant. This means that just one air plant can eventually give you a ton of little plants to keep around your home! Air plants are ridiculously easy to care for, after all, they're called "air" plants for a reason. They filter nutrients from the air so they don't need any soil or substrate. All you have to do to keep your air plant alive is put it near the window and mist it with water once a week! They may not be edible but they're so easy that they make up for what they lack! Plus, they filter the air, keeping your room fresh.
3. Succulents.
Succulents are similar to air plants in that they don't need a lot of care. They're built for an arid environment, so planted in rocks with occasional weekly (or maybe even bi-weekly) watering is when they'll be happiest. Not all succulents are thorny cacti, so if you're not into prickly friends, there are still options for you! There are even services, like Succulent Studios, that will send you succulents every month to help you grow your collection. Some succulents, like aloe, are edible and can have healing effects. Having aloe around your dorm room will definitely make you the most popular friend after beach weekends.
4. Mother In Law's Tongue.
Mother in Law's Tongue, also known as Snake Plant or Snake Tongue, is a great hardy plant perfect for dorm rooms, despite its unfortunate name. This plant is best grown in a pot, so it's the perfect indoor plant. It also takes an awful lot to kill this plant, so when finals roll around and you totally forget that anything other than your textbooks exist, you'll still have this plant at the end (just make sure you water it as soon as soon as you come back to the real world). It grows pretty tall, so can be a good plant to sit on the floor, if you're willing to give up and precious floor plant, but it can also make a good desk decoration with its deep green patterned leaves. This is definitely a must for a male living space, as it can be seen as a little less "girly" than some other plants. Guys deserve clean air too!
