5 Best Small Indoor Plants

Can You Grow Houseplants In Small Spaces?

There are a range of houseplants that are well suited for small spaces. There are also many unique ways to place plants in your home that won’t take up much floor or table space. They can be styled in a hanging basket, placed on a bookshelf, or can sit on a windowsill.

While you can prune large houseplants to fit in small spaces, there are many houseplants that remain small and won’t require constant pruning.

Best Small Indoor Plants

Air plants

Air plants don’t require soil to survive, which gives you endless and creative ways to display them in small spaces. Air plants are commonly styled in terrariums, hanging planters, or any other type of hanging mobile. Additionally, air plants could be mounted on bark or shells, or put in a glass globe. Most air plants are tiny, only ranging from 2-12 inches tall.

Air plants need bright indirect light, and they also do well under a grow light. To water this special type of plant, soak it in a bowl of water once a week and let it dry on a towel.

Succulents

Mini succulents have water-storing stems and leaves, making them low-maintenance plants able to tolerate inconsistent watering. In fact, succulents are commonly killed due to overwatering, so don’t worry if you forget to water it.

Certain succulent varieties like plenty of light, while others easily adjust to low light and low humidity. Not only are they the perfect size for small spaces, but they are also a great option for beginners or for plant parents who travel a lot.

Fill small, decorative pots or geometric terrariums with succulents that fit on a shelf, table, or windowsill. Succulents can also become wall art decor by being placed in planters that attach to the wall. Some types of mini succulents that work well for small spaces are living stones, zebra plants, echeveria minima, sempervivum, and flower dust plants.

Snake plants

Snake plants grow vertical with upright leaves and no outstretched stems, which is great for limited spaces. Snake plants have adapted to survive without direct sunlight, so they can live in poorly lit apartments or basements. They also grow slowly, which is ideal for those concerned about a houseplant outgrowing its space.

Small varieties of snake plants include Sansevieria trifasciata, Sansevieria fernwood, Sansevieria cylindrica, and Sansevieria boncel starfish.

ZZ plant

ZZ plants are great to have in homes or offices. They are low-maintenance, thrive in low light conditions and low humidity, and have air purifying qualities. They only need to be watered when completely dry, and will survive inconsistent watering.

ZZ plants can be displayed on table tops in decorative pots. They are popular houseplants because of their smooth, waxy green leaves. These slow-growers rarely need pruning, making them perfect for small spaces.

Jade plant

Jade plants are perfect for people that live in small places as they are often described as looking like “mini trees.” They feature woody stems with fleshy, dark green oval leaves that store water.

Jade plants don’t grow fast or large, and the tallest an indoor jade plant can grow is around four feet. This type of houseplant thrives in small containers with a solid base to handle the weight of the plant when it reaches maturity. Keeping your jade plant in a small container will control its growth without affecting the health of the plant.

Jade plants need bright, indirect sunlight and prefer dry environments, so keep it out of areas with high humidity such as bathrooms.

As a bonus, jade plants are very easy to propagate. Since they’re said to bring good luck and prosperity to a home according to Feng Shui, baby jade plants make a fantastic gift to share with friends.

Flowering plants

Begonias, African violets, gardenias, and kalanchoes are excellent small plants if you’re looking to add a burst of color with a flowering plant.

Trailing plants

Trailing plants, such as string of pearls, string of hearts, and golden Pothos, with its heart-shaped leaves are also ideal space savers. Style these hanging plants in a sunny corner of your living room or bathroom to add a pop of greenery to a small room without taking up much space.

Plants To Avoid

If you’re looking for small plants that don’t take up a lot of space, avoid these large tropical plants:

• Banana plant

• Bird of paradise

• Corn plant

• Dragon tree

• Ficus tree (Weeping fig)

• Fiddle leaf fig

• Golden bamboo

• Money tree

• Monstera (Swiss cheese plant)

• Parlor palm

• Rubber plant

• Umbrella tree

• Yucca

Frequently Asked Questions

What plants are good for very small pots?

Air plants, cacti, and some varieties of succulents can stay in tiny pots for several years before needing repotting.

Which indoor plant purifies the air the most?

The indoor plants that purify the air the most are the peace lily, spider plant, snake plant, corn plant, and the ZZ plant. These types of plants remove carbon dioxide and various pollutants from the air while returning oxygen to the air through the process of respiration.

Which plants need the least amount of light?

Bromeliads, Chinese evergreens, cast iron plants, Dracaenas, Dieffenbachias, english ivies, and Philodendrons are just a few low-light indoor plants.

What is the best plant for an office?

Low-maintenance plants that grow under artificial light are the best types of plants for offices. Some plants that are easy to care for and can survive without regular watering are peace lilies, spider plants, Chinese evergreeens (Aglaonemas), and Anthuriums.