So you’ve finally gotten that Washington DC luxury apartment: the rosé is in the fridge, phone is on silent, Netflix is queued – but something is missing. That organic and grounding element – plants!
But what if your apartment doesn’t get all-day sun exposure? Or you don’t have a balcony for a few plants to catch some rays? No problem. We’ve got the top tips to help you choose the best indoor plants for your space.
How to Choose Plants for Apartments with Low Light
You may already know some of the benefits of having indoor plants – they can purify the air, elevate your design, and create a welcoming space. But what plants to choose? The decision doesn’t have to be hard! Here are some apartment plants ideas.
Look for plants that love low and medium light if you have minimal window sunlight. Think snake plants, peace lilies, lucky bamboo, and weeping figs. Depending on your apartment size, these plants can be quite large and make an impactful visual near your entryway.
Got a Lot of Light? Go for These Plants
If you’re lucky and have more sunlight coming in (these guys like more light!), choose plants like cacti, aloe vera, lavender, and those cute little succulents.
Houseplants give a real sense of style and can pull a room together – whether your look is bohemian, modern, or shabby chic. Now that you know which types of plants work best for your apartment’s natural lighting, you can play with your space’s personality without fear of killing off your new green statement pieces.
How to Care for Your Indoor Plants
So you’ve picked out your little green “roommates,” now what? You may know that plants need water, of course, and a bit of sun – but how much, really?
While it’s always best to talk to the garden center specialists where you purchased your greenery to make sure you know what your plants need, don’t forget to pay attention to the plant itself! Be sure to set up the planter correctly, with stones in the bottom for drainage. And as a rule of thumb for most houseplants, water regularly so that the soil is moist, not sopping wet.
If you notice changes – like brown spots, yellowing or wilting – check that you’re not watering too little, or too much! Your plant may need fertilizer, more or less sun, more or less humidity (hello, bathroom babies!), or is getting too hot or cold where it is. In more humid areas, like Washington DC, you may not need to water as much.
Don’t be afraid to move your plants around and adjust their feeding schedules if they are looking limp. Make it simple for yourself – if your plants look lush and are thriving, just keep doing what you’re doing. If they look sad, change up the routine.
Keeping indoor plants properly pruned and dusted can also go a long way in encouraging them to grow and keep you company for some time. Caring for your plants (even speaking nicely to them) ensures that they’ll be around longer than that vase of cut flowers from your birthday.