If your apartment doesn’t allow pets and you want something to take care of, you might be looking to get a houseplant. They’re versatile, hardy, clean, and beautiful. Not to mention, they’re good for the air in your apartment or dorm.
If you’re a first-time plant owner, don’t worry! Houseplants are tough, and there’s a lot of good plants out there for beginners. They come in every shape and size you can think of, each with their own needs, for whatever you can keep up with. From a big house to a small dorm, you can find a plant that matches you.
So here are a list of some good beginner plants, and you might even find your plant soulmate.
1. Succulents
Cacti and succulents are great for any type of beginner. Usually pretty small, and ranging from all sorts of patterns and colors, they can handle being forgotten for a week or two, as long as they have plenty of light. Some cool options are aloe vera, Christmas cactus, haworthia, and just about anything in between. Good for someone who’s forgetful with watering, but has a warm room with plenty of sun.
2. Spider Plant
Don’t worry, these plants won’t attract spiders to your home. Spider plants are pretty cool looking plants with long ‘spidery’ leaves, that with the right care, can get pretty big. After they’ve been growing for some time, they also grow offshoot ‘babies’ which can be replanted for more spider plants. They like to be left in sunlight and don’t like a whole lot of water, but do well with a little bit of care. Good for someone with a lot of sunlight, who’s pretty punctual with their watering.
3. Devil’s Ivy / Pothos
Devil’s ivy isn’t actually ivy, but a subgroup of plants called ‘pothos’. These guys act a lot like ivy does though, and they tend to grow their long vines pretty fast, which is rewarding to watch. Contrary to our other contenders, these plants don’t need a whole lot of sun and can do fine near a small window or in a dark dorm room. Water them a fair enough, and they’ll thank you with dozens of their heart-shaped leaves. Good for someone with more laid-back watering habits, and a small window.
4. Common Ivy
Common ivy is actually ivy, along with English ivy. These small plants grow quickly, and can be moved to decorate walls or tables. They’re pretty hardy, and can be clipped to be grown into new growing plants. These guys like to be kept rather moist and don’t need a whole lot of sun. Good for anyone with anxious watering, who doesn’t have a lot of sunny spots.
5. Dracena
Dracena is the name for a large group of plants that all look relatively the same, except for differences in leaf shape. These plants are pretty large, some ranging from 4-6 feet tall. They need a lot of water, because of their size, but they’re not too picky with their sunlight, though they’ll take as much as you can give them. Other than that, these gentle giants just need a good amount of floor space, and they’ll happily sit there all day. Good for someone who’s looking for a bigger plant, and has a good window to plant this guy by.
6. Peace Lily
These gorgeous plants can are some of the few flowers on this list. These beautiful white lilies look great in any home and grow rather large, rather quickly. They like to be watered regularly, and like bright sunlight, but are pretty tough regardless. Good for anyone who likes flowers more than regular houseplants, does a lot of watering, and can give this plant some sun.
So I hope you found the plant that is right for you! If not, do some more research, since there are plenty of cool houseplants out there, and there’s going to be one that’s perfect for you.
