We as students are renowned for not being fantastic at looking after things. 90% of the time it is an effort to even keep ourselves thriving throughout the day, nevermind the added pressure of plants… but they are very, very pretty. Well not to worry, this is a list of hard-to-kill plants that are perfect for your uni room. I’ve done the research for you so that you don’t have to, you’re welcome.
Chinese Money Plant
Pilea peperomioides (Chinese money plant) is a modern-looking houseplant that is fairly straight-forward to grow and maintain. They like a bit of sun but putting them on the window-sill may be a little OTT, try and pop it on a table near to the window but not in direct view. In regards to watering, this can be done approx. once a week but look out for vital signs if this needs to upgraded or downgraded. If the leaves start appearing droopy, take a look at the soil, from this you can gather if you need to reach for the watering can or not!
Aloe
Aloe Vera is one of the easiest succulents to care for, making it fabulous for a uni host. Similarly to the Chinese money plant, Aloe vera thrives from in-direct sunlight so make sure to find somewhere suitable! The Aloe plant enjoys a deep watering but not very often. Having come from settings of high heat, it is used to draught and therefore can withstand a lack of water. In summer, it is best to opt for watering the plant every 2-3 weeks and in the winter, even less so.
Philodendron
Like many indoor plants, the philodendron is a native of tropical environments. Due to this, it is helpful if you try your best to recreate this habitat. You can achieve this by ensuring plenty of warmth, bright light, and moisture. Water this plant every 1-2 weeks, increasing if it is exposed to more sunlight.
ZZ Plant
The ZZ plant, or Zamioculcas zamiifolia as it is formally known, is native to to Central America. The plant is used to extreme weather conditions such as extended periods of draught followed by intense rainfall. This is a blessing for you as if it can survive that, surely you can’t be the grim reaper? You can keep this one in low-lit rooms and it will still flourish just as well as in the desert. It’s best to water around once every two weeks, though make sure to keep an eye out if it does care for any more.
Pothos
The Pothos plant is otherwise known as ‘devil’s ivy’ due to it being practically impossible to kill… perfect for students. The beauty of this plant is that it thrives in most environments, if you fancy it in bright indirect light, perfect! Or perhaps, you would prefer it in a low-lit room, that is equally as great! It is best to water around once every 1-2 weeks, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. It is also important to know that this plant can be toxic to dogs and cats so it is best to keep out of the way in this event.
Aglaonema
The Aglaonema plant is also known as the Chinese evergreen. They are a very attractive plan, well sought after due to their vibrancy and colour variation. The best thing that you can do to keep this plant thriving is to give it a warm and moist environment. Do not expose any of these plants to direct sunlight! Throughout the summer, water throughly and mist to raise humidity. However, when the winter months arrive, make sure to water less but don’t let the plant dry out completely.
Jade Plant
This succulent has a resemblance of a miniature-tree, making it very sought after when it comes to browsing for houseplants. Try to give them maybe 3 hours of direct sunlight per day before returning to indirect sunlight, this will allow them to reach their best results. Water once every two weeks checking that the soil is completely dry before re-watering. Make sure that the bottom of the dish is run-off and not left to sit as this is the easiest way to kill this plant. If your Jade plant is losing leaves or has spots on the leaves, it is most commonly under-watered.
Snake Plant
The essential to Snake plant care is to be wary with watering. You do not want the plant to get root-rot. In the summer, it is advised to water every 2-3 weeks. On the other spectrum, in the winter, it is advised to leave them up to 6-8 weeks. Also, make sure to wipe down the leaves of these plants to avoid dust/ water build-up as this can cause further problems down the line for you. These plants bloom in medium light, meaning a little bit of shade but a little showing of indirect sunlight too.
Dracaena
Dracaena’s are pretty low maintenance and look rather splendid! To optimise the positivities of this plant, it is best to give it what it craves. Filtered indoor light is where it seems to fit best, preferably through a in front of a sunny window or through a sheer curtain. This plant doesn’t require as much water as most and flourish best when they are drained well. Always allow the top soil to dry before adding any more. Typically, watering every 10-14 days will give a sufficient amount of water to this plant.
Rubber Tree
A Rubber plant tree is also known as a ‘Ficus elastica.’ It is important to note a few key things about this plant but it is not as difficult to look after as you now may think. It has similar needs to Dracaena in that it enjoys sunlight but is best hidden behind a sheer curtain, ensuring that it doesn’t become over-exposed. In the growing season, it should be water more frequently, once a week perhaps, try to keep moisture by wiping down the leaves with a damp cloth. Then in the dormant season, water a lot less, around once or twice every month.