Houseplants are a great way to spruce up your dorm with some color, purify the air, and give you the satisfaction of helping something grow! As you leave your family and pets to move into your dorm room, a plant can keep you grounded with a small amount of responsibility and make your room feel like home. However, plants are not as easy to care for as some might think. Before you go out to buy a plant, there are a few things to consider such as the space, light, and care difficulty.
- Space
Your plant should not interfere with your or your roommate’s routines or take too much space on your desk. In a freshman dorm, you will likely not have enough surface space on your furniture. So, it might be best to settle for a smaller plant for the corner of your dresser or windowsill. I would suggest picking a plant that lives in a 4-inch diameter pot or smaller. If you have more space and want a larger plant, make sure to consider the transportation aspect. You will likely have to lug this plant back and forth every time you move in or out; therefore, consider the space in your car and the weight of the pot before choosing a larger plant. Another thing to bear in mind is, if you care for it well, it will grow! This means you might need to repot into a larger pot.
A good rule of thumb is to start with a smaller plant that will grow with you throughout your years in college!
2. Light
The lighting in your room is extremely important when choosing a plant for your space. If the lighting is too low in your room, your plant will not be able to photosynthesize halting future growth and eventually killing your plant. If you have too much light, it could burn the leaves making brown and crispy. Most plants are bought with tags that say the light the plant prefers. The tag will say something like ‘direct light’, ‘bright indirect’, ‘low’ light. This might also be signified with a sun icon that is colored in, half colored, or blank, respectively.
The lighting in your room is mostly determined by the direction your window faces and anything blocking the light.
A western facing window catches the afternoon direct light.
An eastern facing window catches the morning direct / indirect light. (plant may also be labeled as part as part shade).
A southern facing window catches bright indirect light
A northern facing window catches low indirect with no direct light.
If you have anything shading your window, such as tree or building, you have indirect light.
If you do not know what kind of light your room has, chose a plant that requires lower light. If the leaves start to burn and brown at the tips, move it back from the window a few feet. Its usually better to have too much light than too little!
3. Care difficulty
Some plants require a lot of attention and are finicky until they have perfect conditions. I suggest avoiding them at all costs for your dorm. Make sure to look up the care instructions for the plant or read the plant’s tag before purchasing. The most common way to kill plants (from personal experience) is to overwater! Most plants thrive on neglect and only want to be watered every couple of weeks. The amount of water required is determined by the type of plant and the amount of light it gets. A plant that gets more light will require more water because the sun will dry out the soil faster. If you are a helicopter parent, pick a plant that says to ‘keep soil moist’. That’s ‘moist’ not soaking wet! I prefer plants that require less water. The plant care instructions will likely say ‘water when surface is dry’ or ‘let soil dry between waterings’. A plant that requires less attention will likely be better for your busy college life. It is also very important to have proper drainage to prevent root rot. Make sure your pot has a hole in the bottom and set it on a saucer to collect water that flows out.
My favorite dorm plants:
- Succulents and cacti!
Succulents and cacti are classic plants for tight spaces. They can add a cute touch to your room on a windowsill and can be bought at virtually any hardware or grocery store for a few dollars.
Light: Bright or bright indirect
Water: when the soil gets dry. Water about every two weeks.
- Golden pothos
Beautiful plants that grow long vines with green and yellow variegated leaves. This plant is a medium to large plant usually that would do best in a 6-inch pot or larger.
Light: indirect light and can tolerate low light
Water: water when soil is dry ( 1-2 weeks)
- Aloe Vera
Aloe plants are fun succulent-looking plants that have medicinal uses to relieve burns. These come in a variety of sizes.
Light: bright indirect or indirect
Water: once a week
- Snake Plant (Sansevieria)
Snake plants have long spiny leaves that come in a variety of sizes and variegation patterns. The plants are perfect for a low light room!
Light: Low to indirect
Water: 2-3 weeks
- Dumb cane (Dieffenbachia)
Variegated leaves with a white center and green edges. This a larger option for those with a little more space. The only con of this plant is that it is highly poisonous to pets!
Light indirect to bright indirect
Water: once a week. Can cope with being overwatered!