Good Plants for a Small Apartment
Despite what you may think, there are good plant varieties for a small apartment. Apartment dwellers don't have to feel cut off from the natural world, even in an urban high-rise. Bring a little piece of the jungle indoors to enjoy year-round greenery and improved air quality. The smaller the apartment, the more strategic your choices must be, but, with some careful planning, you can find room for the right plants even in a tiny studio flat.
Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
Also known as table palm, this plant adapts well to life in a small apartment. It grows slowly and does well in low light. If you have a cat or dog that likes to browse on anything leafy, the parlor palm offers the happy bonus of being nontoxic to pets.
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
When floor space is at a premium, hanging plants are an attractive, space-saving choice. Suspend a fast-growing spider plant, with its long tendrils that sprout miniature plants at the ends, to provide a cascade of greenery at eye level. The spider plant is known as one of the most effective houseplants for cleaning and purifying indoor air.
Peperomia (genus Peperomia)
If you're lucky enough to have a window that admits a good amount of indirect sunlight, consider giving a potted peperomia its place in the sun. Choose one of the compact upright varieties and place it on a windowsill or a shelf.
Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra eliator)
The hardy cast iron plant has earned its name by being almost impossible to kill through neglect, and by thriving in very low-light environments. Its large leaves and 3-foot height at maturity make the cast iron plant a good choice for greening up a shadowy, low-traffic corner of your apartment.
Mint (genus Mentha)
Finally, for an indoor plant that really pulls its weight, you can't beat mint. Grow some mint in moist soil and moderate light for a little patch of green that not only looks lovely, but also provides edible leaves to garnish your tea and add to recipes, and gives off a pleasant, natural aroma that's better than any air freshener in a can.
Any of these plant options will enrich your indoor space, no matter how small!
