Apartment life can often leave something to be desired when it comes to nature and greenery. But don’t despair just yet – some houseplants are quite adept at living indoors. There are many low maintenance plants for those of us without a green thumb. Apartment plants don’t just add an aesthetic, instagrammable element to your living room -some of them remove carbon dioxide and pump out oxygen in return! Others can remove toxins that become airborne from the dust and bacteria that build up in carpets or rugs. So, no garden- no problem! We’ve compiled a list of the ten best apartment plants based on their self-sufficiency, air-quality benefits, and aesthetic beauty.
Rubber Plant
This guy can grow up to ten feet tall and provide quite the aesthetic charm with its shiny, circular leaves. Rubber Plants retain water rather well, and but nonetheless should be kept moist and in indirect sunlight. The only drawback is that the sap can be poisonous, so this is not the plant to have in your apartment if you have pets or children. Otherwise, the Rubber Plant is the perfect apartment plant!
ZZ Plant
This plant gets its nickname from its scientific name, Zamioculcas zamiifolia. It’s been called the plant of the future because of its low-maintenance and purifying talents. It only needs to be watered around three times per month and thrives even without direct sunlight. It can improve air quality considerably and doesn’t attract bugs or pests.
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
Pothos
The pothos is one of the most aesthetically beautiful plants on our list. It’s a ‘cascading’ plant, so when planted in a hanging basket or placed on a bookshelf or mantle, the branches will grow to cascade down, creating beautiful strands of leaves. Pothos can thrive in a variety of light conditions and are known to purify the air from toxins found in carpets and rugs.
Fiddle-Leaf Fig
This tree-like beauty offers a tropical aesthetic with its wide leaves. Fiddle-Leaf Figs tend to grow tall and thin so it does well in a space with high ceilings. It requires medium sunlight, and only needs water when soil is dry to the touch. It is not toxic to humans and markedly improves air quality in the home.
Heart Leaf Philodendron
This beauty removes lots of toxins from the air and creates a beautiful statement piece in any apartment. It does best in moderate to low light and moist soil. This is a good plant for first-time plant parents, as it will ‘tell you’ exactly what it wants. In too much sun, it becomes yellow, and if it wilts, it just needs water. This is also not the plant for apartments with children or pets as it can become toxic if ingested.
Snake Plant
This plant does not require frequent attention and is known for its exceptional air-purification, removing serious toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, toluene, and nitric oxides. It will do well in any level of sunlight and doesn’t tend to get too big. Snake Plants grow tall and lean with beautiful yellow borders on their undulating leaves.
Cactus
No surprise here, this low maintenance beauty only requires water once a month, and in colder weather maybe not even need that much! They don’t enjoy direct sunlight as much as indirect sunlight, so they do well on mantles and coffee tables. Cacti come in many shapes, sizes and colors to fit any decor motif!
Ficus
With its beautiful braided, intertwined trunk and verdant leaves, the Ficus is a statement piece. This plant is easy to care for, only requiring medium light and infrequent watering. This plant also thrives in humid environments so no worries if you live in a humid state. The only thing to consider is that this plant can get quite large in both height and diameter, so it’s best for larger spaces.
Areca Palm
These fern-like plants grow tall and flourish in indirect sunlight. They should be kept moist in warmer months, and dryer in colder months. NASA actually named this species as a top air-purifier, as well as acting as a natural air-humidifier. This plant, however, is a little bit sensitive to environmental conditions, so keep an eye out for yellowing or wilting leaves.
Succulents
These adorable little plants have exploded in popularity over the last few years. They are the most low-maintenance plant on our list, requiring only moderate sunlight and water once every other month! They will not get too big in either height or width and can be replanted easily. For these reasons, succulents make great apartment plants!
