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Back when I was a student, over a decade ago, there weren’t that many houseplants available on the market. I remember I had three peace lilies that miraculously survived on top of a dresser and bloomed in rock-hard soil that was almost white. I didn’t know much about changing the soil, didn’t bother learning about soil aeration, and wasn’t very good at figuring out a watering schedule for my plants. Between classes, assignments, part-time tutoring and a modicum of a social life, I had a lot of other things on my mind.
Oh my, how things have changed! Houseplants are widely available at student-friendly prices nowadays. As is access to information and to all sorts of plant-care devices that would have come in handy for keeping those three peace lilies happy. (They’re still alive, by the way, and in the care of a family member in my hometown.)
Today’s post is a contribution by Maëva Vervaeck who is currently a grad student and a bit more attune to what houseplants are available and suitable for a dorm room than I am.
Take it away, Maëva!
The joys of living in a dorm room as a student come with their own side-effects. And, trust me I know what it’s like. There’s never enough space. Sometimes, there’s not enough natural light. And the restrictions on decorating your own room can sometimes feel suffocating. I mean, not that you can’t decorate, but since you’re renting the place, hanging art and drilling into the walls isn’t a good idea. That only leaves your desk and shelves as a space available for decorating. And if you’re lucky to have floor space, that’s also a bit of the room that you can personalize.
That leaves houseplants as a perfect way for students to spruce up their decor. I know what you’re thinking. Why would I buy houseplants? I’m drowning in work and I don’t even have time for myself. I can’t take care of a plant. And I don’t believe there are suitable houseplants for students.
I must confess that the first houseplant I had in my dorm room wasn’t a real plant! But I wanted to change this, I started by buying my first real houseplant, one that was easy to take care of. This gave me the much-needed confidence, so I bought another one and another one, each time trying to bring a new plant in my dorm room that had special needs to improve my “houseplant care skills”. And in time, I have learned how to take care of plants, even the more demanding ones.
In this post, I’m going to talk about 10 houseplants for students and dorm rooms that are going to light up your interior and that are suitable for busy students with far too many commitments and way too little free time.
1. Philodendron Scandens
Why you will like it: its heart-shaped leaves and tree-looking shape will cheer up any dorm room. It can grow a bit too large for most rooms, so only get one if you have the space.
How to take care of it: place this houseplant in indirect light. Philodendron Scandens likes its soil moist, but not soggy. So check if the top two inches are dry before watering it. If you can still feel some moisture in the soil, wait another day before you water it.
You can buy Philodendron Scandens from Brumley and Bloom (Flint, Michigan) or from Sara Sprouted in Texas.
2. Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema)
Why you will like it: It’s a medium-sized plant, so it’s perfect for decorating your desk. It’s easy to take care of and it’s an excellent filter of air pollutants. It’s super easy to propagate it through dividing its basal shoots or through rooting cuttings in water, so it’s easily shared with friends and flatmates.
How to take care of it: the most important thing about Chinese Evergreen is that it’s not kept below 59°F (about 15°C). It can be placed in a spot with low lighting, but it’s better to keep it in bright indirect light. However, do not place it in direct sunlight.
American Plant Exchange has a gorgeous Cherry variety – yes, it’s pink. You can buy a Chocolate variety from Bijan Tropicals (the one pictured above) or a classic variegated green one from The Fab Flora. All three growers ship from Florida.
3. Aloe Vera
Why you will like it: This is the houseplant for forgetful students, hands down. It doesn’t require frequent watering, and will give you plenty of warning signs when it does (the leaves will start looking wrinkled and pale). It is a slow grower, so you won’t need to transplant it to a new pot very often.
How to take care of it: Aloe Vera requires little water since it’s a desert plant. As for watering, just wait until the soil is dry. And, place it near a window with a maximum of light, but not direct sunlight.
The Flower Pot Nursery ships compact Aloe Vera plants from Loranger, Louisiana.
4. Ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
Why you will like it: It’s drought-tolerant, slow-growing and super hardy. This houseplant has a funny look, so it’ll bring a little bit of amusement to your dorm room with its unique appearance.
How to take care of it: keep the Ponytail Palm in a bright light. Just recreate a desert place, so only water it when the soil is totally dry (it could take 7 to 10 days). Then soak it, let the water drain through the drainage holes and don’t let it sit in water after that.
You can buy a 6-inch Ponytail palm from Eureka Farms (ships from Florida).
If you want a Ponytail palm in a super funky planter (and are willing to splurge a bit), Florida Plants Garden has a nice futuristic-looking planter.
5. Money tree (Pachira Aquatica)
Why you will like it: This plant might not bring about an overabundance of money (or good grades), but it’ll light up your small dorm room. It looks like a little bonsai, so the cute factor is off the charts.
How to take care of it : place the Money Tree in medium to bright indirect light. It likes deep but infrequent watering, so don’t water it too much. Moreover, never let your money tree linger in water after you’ve soaked it. It’s a good idea to rotate it every month to promote equal leaf development on all sides.
Thorsen’s Greenhouse sells mid-sized money trees from Ohio (pictured above). For a bonsai money tree version, check out this one on offer from Samurai Bonsai. Keep in mind that it takes a long time to grow and train a bonsai, so the price usually reflects the effort.
6. Parlor Palm
Why you will like it: A little parlor palm will add a tropical vibe to your room (and hey, if you want to add some small umbrellas to its pot, who am I to judge!). And it’s easy to take care of.
How to take care of it: it can be placed in indirect light and it does not require bright light (which most dorm rooms lack, for some reason.) Don’t place it under direct sunlight. Keep the soil moist and well-drained.
You can buy parlor palm from Savage Plants (based in Kansas City). If you want one that already comes with a pot, check out UP shining (based in New York).
7. Snake plants (Sansevieria)
Why you will like it: These little plants can endure little maintenance which makes them the perfect houseplants for students. There are so many types of sansevierias to match any decor. My personal favorites are Sansevieria cylindrica and Sansevieria moonshine. Although the most common one (and thus the most affordable) is Sansevieria laurentii.
How to take care of it: Keep your snake plant in indirect sunlight and let the soil dry out before watering it. Not many people know, but mature Sansevieria will bloom in early summer. The blooms have a delicate peachy scent, not too sweet and not too strong.
8. Tradescantia Nanouk
Why you will like it : Its shades of green and pink will bring color to any dorm room. And coming back to so much color and cheerfulness is guaranteed to make you feel better after a long day of classes.
How to take care of it: Place this houseplant in a spot with medium to bright indirect light. Water your plant when the first centimeters of the soil feel dry to the touch. The plant will grow in length (rather than in diameter), so if you want to keep it bushy and full, you can start cutting off lanky strands, propagate them in water, and repot them in the same pot. It does have a tendency to get compacted soil due to the way its roots grow and absorb water, so you’ll need to repot it and refresh the soil once a year.
You can buy a small Tradescantia Nanouk from Plant Vers on Etsy. For a larger plant, check out the Costa Farms plant store.
9. Shingle plant (Rhaphidophora cryptantha, Rhaphidophora hayi)
Why you will like it: If you’ve ever dreamed of botanical wallpaper in your dorm room (yeah, dreams!) this plant is the closest you’ll get. It’s a climbing houseplant, so it will grow against a wall or a moss pole. It grows slowly, so you won’t be invaded by leaves in your dorm room overnight. It’s an unusual plant that will stand out in your decor.
How to take care of it: Choose a spot with medium to bright indirect light. Don’t expose your plant to direct sunlight, otherwise it will burn. Water your Shingle plant when the top two inches of soil are dry to the touch. If you don’t want it climbing your wall, you could get a moss pole, a plank or a bamboo trellis. It really is a show stopper with its silver linings on a velvety green background.
Shop Plantaholic has some perfect Rhaphidophora Hayi for sale shipping from Florida.
10. Hoya Carnosa (Krimson Princess or Krimson Queen)
Why you will like it: This cascade-growing houseplant is a good fit if you have a spot you could hang it from. It’s a lovely tricolor plant with green, yellow and white. The Krimson Queen has variegation around the edge of the leaf, while the Krimson Princess is variegated in the center of the leaf. They are both gorgeous, so get whichever one you can find first.
How to take care of it: Place it in bright indirect light. This plant tolerates dry soil, but it’s better to water it when the first two inches of topsoil feel dry to the touch.
I hope this list of 10 houseplants for students and dorm rooms will help get you started on your way to plant parenthood. Maybe you’re a little lost with all the plants I talked about, but don’t worry. Take it one step at a time. I was like you. Don’t forget that the only plant I had wasn’t even a real one!
Just choose the one you like most (or the cheapest one you can find) and give it a go. You’ll learn along the way, and maybe even kill a few houseplants. That’s totally ok; we’ve all been there.
If you want to read more about houseplants and gardening, hop on my once-a-month newsletter list. There’s no endless email sequence here. Just a monthly email to keep in touch and chat about plants.
Disclaimer: Please do your due diligence before buying a houseplant or any other supplies. Some houseplants may be toxic if ingested (especially for pets and children). You can check on the ASPCA website for a list of plants that are poisonous.
