Bringing a little bit of nature into your living space enhances your quality of life to a great extent. Not only do plants add vibrancy and colour to your otherwise dull indoors, but also they purify the air and keep diseases away.
You can try it. Just bring some plants (succulents or otherwise) into your room and see the difference they make! You will love the appeal that your tiny space gives out after adding some greens.
known about Pilea Microphylla
Small plants for apartments: Quick facts
But before you do that, here are some quick facts about small plants along with small plants name that you should know:
| Name of the species | Uses and Benefits |
| Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller) |
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| African Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha) |
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| Asparagus fern (Asparagus setaceus) |
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| Chinese Money Plant (Pilea perperomioides) |
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Now, besides knowing these small plants’ names, you should also be aware of how to care for them. Most of these plants do not require too much maintenance. Just a little care and careful steps will keep them healthy always.
Read about: What are the types of money plants?
Small plants for apartments: Small plants name
Aloe Vera
Source: Pinterest
The plant is well-known for its inherent hardiness, as it can survive infrequent watering without any effect on growth. Pick a terracotta container and add a mixture of sand and well-draining potting soil or succulent mix. If you already have an Aloe Vera plant, transplanting its young offshoots in the new container will do the job.
You can also get transplants from the market. Now, keep the container in bright but indirect sunlight. As it is a succulent, there is no need to water it frequently. You can water it once every two weeks for optimum growth. However, Aloe requires a lot of sunlight. Keeping it indoors will be alright if you have a sunny spot at home. Otherwise, growth may stop.
Types of Aloe
- Aloe vera – Also known as True Aloe, it is the most common type of Aloe that may grow up to 40 cm long
- Aloe aristata – This dwarf Aloe takes a spherical shape but is considered highly poisonous.
- Aloe arborescens – Known as Krantz Aloe, it is known to have some healing quality but, like aristata, it can be poisonous too.
- Aloe polyphylla – This one takes a spiral shape and is also poisonous for consumption or application.
- Aloe variegata – Also known as tiger aloe, this dwarf species looks quite cute when kept indoors. But again, it is strongly advised not to consume its sap or apply it on the skin because of its inherent toxicity.
Benefits of Aloe Vera
Besides adding some vibrancy to your home space, these houseplants are also famous for several benefits that their fleshy, green leaves offer:
- The Aloe gel consists of essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that can be put to medicinal use
- The gel is also used to treat wounds because of its antibacterial and antiseptic properties
- Aloe Vera gel is known to reduce hair loss issues, and reverse skin ageing
- The Aloe gel is said to get rid of dental plaque when used as a mouthwash
- Mouth ulcers, canker sores and related issues can be treated naturally with Aloe Vera
see also about: bird’s-nest fern
African violet
Source: Pinterest
Take a well-drained, slightly acidic potting mix to grow your African violets in a container. Find a 4-5 inches plastic or ceramic container with self-watering features. You can get those online as well. However, you need to learn how to water the plant carefully in a self-watering pot so that water doesn’t soak through. If you are using a normal pot, just water the plant enough to keep the soil as damp as a sponge (wrung-out one). Also, be careful not to spray water on the leaves, or they will grow dirty, brown spots.
Keep the container in a place that gets the wind as well as the sun (not direct, though). Notice the leaves carefully. If they develop a lighter shade, cut out the light supply a little, and if they become dark green, add more light then. The plant thrives in humidity, so take care of the necessary conditions. Also, feed it with the right fertiliser meant for African violets. You can get those online or in a gardener’s store.
Types of African violets:
Yes, there are a few different varieties of this small plant as follow:
- Lyon’s Lavender Magic– These are standard-sized with moderately green foliage and little star-shaped white and light purple flowers.
- Summer Twilight– This one has variegated leaves with frilled lilac flowers having white borders.
- Persian Prince– A miniature variant with medium green leaves and dark purple flowers (semi-doubled).
- Little Maya– It is characterised by its dark green leaves and crimson red flowers (a little different from its sisters).
- Lonestar Snowstorm– Now this one, as the name suggests, has single, frilled white flowers with variegated leaves.
Benefits of growing African violets
- Low maintenance and less watering
- Looks beautiful throughout the year
- Non-toxic to humans and animals
- Can easily be propagated and shared among friends and family
The African violets are prone to infestations from certain pests, like mealy bugs, cyclamen mites, spider mites, and even some fungi. Spraying a neem oil solution or a good insecticide can keep these pests away from your violets.
Known about Chinese violet
Asparagus Fern
Source: Pinterest
Though they are not ferns, the gentle foliage that spreads gracefully gives these plants this name. They improve the aesthetics of any home space when hung from pots on the ceiling or kept on a shelf. If the plant gets the right conditions, it also gives small white flowers. However, the Asparagus Fern is mainly grown for its intense foliage.
These plants require a minimum temperature of 13 C, adequate humidity, and indirect, bright sunlight to grow healthily. You should keep the plant moist always, but take care not to soak it in water completely. Under a central heating system, you can spray mist on an Asparagus Fern along with other plants occasionally.
Types of Asparagus Fern
- Foxtail Fern – As the name suggests, the foliage resembles a fox’s bushy tail and grows up to 2 feet tall and 4 feet wide
- Compact Sprenger Asparagus Fern – It grows quite compact and stays small, the leaves spreading airy and hanging over the containers
- Sprenger’s Asparagus Fern – These have arching leaves covered in soft needles and can grow up to 3 feet tall
- Asparagus Plumosa Fern – Soft and beautiful, their feathery leaves resemble a real fern. They also give pretty greenish-white flowers that have the shape of a bell.
Benefits of growing Asparagus Fern:
- Hardy indoor plants that can tolerate drought to a great extent
- Extreme low maintenance
- Is a natural aphrodisiac and a laxative
- Is also said to promote heart health
Note: The plant can spread out quickly, so make sure you have enough room for it.
Chinese Money Plant
Source: Pinterest
These greens are best suited for Scandinavian interiors with their bright green, pancake-shaped leaves and cute appearance. Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves, so these serve as amazing indoor plants. You can invest in a variety of pots and containers to keep these cute greens and enhance the aesthetics of your home space.
Also, do not over-water it, as it is also a succulent and can survive a drought quite effectively. Regular trimming, misting and cleaning are all this plant takes to keep growing those pancake leaves. However, be careful while cleaning, as the leaves are quite delicate. Use a damp cloth if the foliage gets too dusty that misting cannot remove completely.
Benefits of keeping Chinese Money Plant at home
- It helps purify the air by eliminating air-borne pollutants, like carbon monoxide, benzene and xylene, from indoor air.
- It is proven to be an anti-radiator and helps reduce the radiation emitted by electronic devices, thus maintaining healthy conditions at home.
- It also acts as a stress remover and keeps anxiety levels down.
- Last but not least, the Chinese money plant is said to bring good financial luck, and that is how it derives its common name.
Besides the Chinese Money Plant, there are some other money plants in Feng Shui that you should know of:
- Pothos– A fast-growing, almost indestructible, low-maintenance house plant but toxic to pets when consumed.
- Pachira aquatica (Money Tree)– Also fast-growing and is said to build a good financial fortune.
- Lucky Bamboo– One of the most popular Feng Shui plants that is said to bring good fortune, happiness, luck, power, and prosperity.
- Jade plant– A pretty-looking indoor plant that is said to bring good fortune, happiness and prosperity to the owner.
Air plant
Air plants, also known as Tillandsias, belong to the Bromeliad family. These plants are epiphytes; that is, they can thrive without soil, and get nutrients and moisture from the air and rainwater. They are mainly found in tropical regions such as forests, mountains, and deserts in Central and South America.
Types of airplants
There are several types of air plants, such as Tillandsia Ionantha, Tillandsia Aeranthos, Tillandsia Bulbosa and Tillandsia Xerographica. These varieties exhibit a wide range of colours, shapes, and sizes.
Benefits of airplants
- These are low-maintenance plants as they do not need soil. Also, they can survive in indirect light and are adaptable to different temperature conditions.
- They can also be displayed in unique ways, such as mounted on driftwood or used as hanging plants.
- These plants improve indoor air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide during the day and releasing oxygen
- Airplants also help regulate humidity levels. Hence, they are suitable for spaces that tend to be dry.
Anthurium
Anthuriums of the Araceae family are plants characterised by their shiny, heart-shaped flowers called Falmingo flowers. They grow widely as houseplants, indoors, in gardens and greenhouses in suitable climates.
Types of Anthuriums
Some varieties of Anthurium are:
- Anthurium andraeanum plants, which aree characterised by large, waxy flowers in red or pink hues.
- Anthurium scherzerianum, which is another variety with compact flowers of red, orange or pink shades.
- Anthurium crystallinum, which is known for its dark green foliage.
Other varieties of the plant are Anthurium Veitchii and Anthurium Magnificum.
Benefits of Anthurium
- Anthuriums are also known to purify indoor air as they remove toxins such as formaldehyde, xylene and ammonia from the environment.
- The plant has long-lasting flowers with modified leaves, giving a distinct appearance.
- Anthurium plant blooms multiple times in a year.
- Plant maintenance is easy as they grow in indirect light.
Baby toes
The Baby toes plant, which is known by its botanical name Fenestraria Rhopalophylla, is a succulent plant of the Aizoaceae family. It has small, cylindrical leaves, resembling tiny toes. These are widely grown in homes as they are easy to maintain and add a visual appeal.
Types of Baby toes plant
Some popular varieties of the plant are:
- Fenestraria Rhopalophylla Aurantiaca known for its orange or reddish leaves.
- Fenestraria Rhopalophylla Subsp. Rhopalophylla, which has pale green or bluish-green leaves.
Benefits of Baby toes plant
- The plant is known for its adaptability to different growing conditions.
- They require minimum maintenance as they can store water in their thick leaves.
- These plants are ideal choices for succulent gardens or container gardens.
Cast-iron plant
The cast-iron plant, also known as Aspidistra Elatior, is an evergreen plant found mainly in Asia, particularly China and Japan.
Types of Cast-iron plant
- Variegata’ known for its green leaves with white stripes
- ‘Asahi’ is another variety characterised by its green leaves that develop white tips as they grow
- ‘Hoshi-zora’, which means starry sky, has green leaves speckled with yellow or white dots.
- ‘Lennon’s Song’ variety is known for its leaves with light green or yellow stripes.
Benefits of Cast-iron plant
- The plant can thrive in areas with low natural light. Hence, they can used as indoor plants for offices or rooms with limited windows.
- The plant can also adapt to varying temperature ranges, including both warm and cool environments.
- The plant requires minimum watering and can handle low humidity levels
- They are highly resistant to pests and diseases
- Cast iron is also known for its air-purifying properties. Thus, it is widely used as an indoor plant.
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