When it comes to being at college, dorm room decorating is one of the major things that can make living on campus bearable for many students. Although there are many ways college students like to decorate their dorms, plants are undeniably a great and popular option. Having plants in your dorm room comes with many benefits: they bring a connection to the earth, help freshen the air, and brighten up the room. Plants also have been proven to help reduce levels of anxiety and depression. Because of this, there are many reasons to bring plants into the dorm outside of them simply looking cute, although it should be said that their decorative aspects are just as valid.
Let’s talk Plants
Considering that most college students have a lot going on in their lives, and are usually a little short on funds, it’s important when shopping for dorm plants to remember to look for plants that are both on the cheaper side and are easy to maintain and grow.
There are two main categories to discuss when it comes to the best dorm room plants—those that like bright light, and those that are okay with low light levels.
Bright Light Plants
While a few of these plants prefer direct light, most of these plants are okay with (or prefer) indirect light, which means the sun is not shining directly onto their leaves. This is especially helpful to help avoid the burning of their leaves, and these plants can be great for dorm rooms or spaces with limited access to sunlight.
- Aloe (and other succulents)
- String of bananas
- Cacti
- Calathea
- Spider plant
- English Ivy
Low Light Plants:
These plants all do well in lower light levels, which means even if you put them at the other end of the room from the window, they should still grow fine. Low-light plants are also typically okay with bright light levels as long as their leaves are not burning.
- Golden Pothos
- Snake plant
- Bamboo
- ZZ plant
Let’s talk light
If your dorm room does not receive much direct sunlight (such as when another building is shadowing it), it could be wise to invest in a grow light. Grow lights are helpful because even if your dorm room does not receive direct sunlight, your plants can thrive under the grow light in just a few hours.
Let’s talk water
When it comes to watering, it is important to develop a schedule and know how much water your plant prefers. It is best to always make sure the plants’ soil has completely dried out before watering the plant again. When it comes to succulents and cacti, you can sometimes go several weeks before watering again. One of the biggest dangers in taking care of plants is over-watering. So, remember to avoid this as much as possible. But if forgetting to water is more of an issue for you, watering globes can be helpful. Simply fill them up and stick them into the soil, they will take care of slowly releasing water into the pot. They are usually made of colorful glass and are both decorative and useful.
Happy Growing!
Overall, plants are all about having fun. So, have fun buying them and taking care of them. Taking care of them should bring you joy, and if it stresses you out too much, there are some great faux plant alternatives out there! Happy Growing!
