5 Best Apartment Plants for Indoors: A Green Thumb Guide for All Skill Levels

Finding the best apartment plants offers many benefits besides aesthetics. Many species can improve air quality or deter pests as a natural repellent. Studies also show that houseplants can even improve your mood by lowering stress levels and increasing focus. 

Whether you have gardening experience or not, here are our top recommended indoor plants for apartments that consider size and maintenance needs for all skill levels.

Green Your Space: 5 Best Apartment Plants for Indoors with Care Tips

Below are the five best apartment plants with indoor care tips and where to buy them online. 

1. Small Succulents

If you don’t have a green thumb, small succulents are the perfect place to start. They’re easy to maintain because they need minimal water, and many can live in low-light conditions, making them practical for beginners. 

Succulents also come in various species and compact sizes, making them ideal for decorating small apartments, such as:

Dwarf Jade Plant

The Dwarf Jade Plant can have paddle, pagoda, straw, or propeller shapes that bloom beautiful yellow, red, and orange flowers. Most species only need watering twice a month when the soil is dry in indirect sunlight, and are easy to propagate by removing lower leaves. 

You can expect growth in about eight to 10 weeks. They’re perfectly sized for adding greenery to bookshelves or at-home desk spaces.

Hawthoria (Zebra Plant)

The Hawthoria, also known as the Zebra Plant, is one of the best apartment plants because it’s only about six inches big and takes a long time to grow with little maintenance. 

You can leave them in low light with no drainage hole needed. However, they thrive in bright light and temperatures between 50 and 85 degrees year-round. Zebra Plants are naturally durable and only need watering every two weeks if the soil is dry, or even up to a month.

They look similar to aloe vera with white pearl-like stripes and pointy leaves. Even if you forget to water them when going to work or on vacation, it’s hard to kill Zebra Plants except by overwatering or in frosty conditions.

2. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia)

The ZZ Plant is one of the best low-maintenance plants for apartments. It only needs watering three times a month, can live in low natural light, and doesn’t attract bugs. It’s a small potted plant with shiny dark green leaves that can be placed on nightstands or in bathrooms for added greenery. 

3. Golden Pothos

The Golden Pothos is a viney plant that’s perfect if you’re tight on space because it hangs vertically. You can place it in windows or walls to free up your floor, and it also helps purify the air. However, Golden Pothos are toxic for dogs and cats, so ensure they’re placed out of reach of your pets.

This plant can live in low light, but thrives best in bright indirect light and only needs watering every one to two weeks when the soil is dry with a drainage hole.

4. Weeping Fig (Ficus Benjamina)

The Weeping Fig is a small potted tree species that adds natural dimension to your apartment. They’re perfectly sized for walkways, living rooms, or bathrooms. Weeping Figs bring a tropical vibe with deep green, glossy weeping foliage and gray contrasting bark. 

This plant thrives indoors with air-purifying qualities and a strong root system that makes it easy to grow. You can place Weeping Figs in indirect light and water them once a week (twice during summer).

5. Ficus Bonsai Tree

Want to step up your indoor gardening game without the full commitment? The Ficus Bonsai Tree is a lower-maintenance bonsai species and is practical for expanding your planting skills. It looks like a small, exotic tree that can enhance your living space without taking up much room. 

Ficus Bonsai Trees are durable, with over 800 stunning varieties that tolerate under- or overwatering well. They’re a tropical plant that needs consistent indirect or direct sunlight and is recommended to place them by windows to thrive. 

You’ll have to check the soil daily for dryness and potential pests, but they’re easy to remove with an insecticidal soap or rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab.

Make Your Chicagoland Apartment Your Own Green Oasis

Moving to the Chicagoland area and looking for apartments to rent? With over 30 properties, we have the perfect place to turn your space into a green haven. 

At TLC Management Co., we have unique and convenient apartment amenities to suit diverse lifestyles, including:

•Luxury buildings with EV charging stations and resort-style swimming pools

•Private bark parks, picturesque waterfalls, and tree-lined walkways

•High ceilings, walk-in closets, and patios/balconies with city or lakeside views

Browse our Chicago or suburban listings or contact us at info@chicagorentals.com to start your search today!

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