Finding the best dorm plants can be confusing and tedious. Most people will settle for the first thing they come across in the store which can often lead to a lot of dead plants. That why CollegeTechBits has done the research for you so you can have the best plants under $30 for your dorm room.
What is the best plant for a college dorm? With limited space and time, the perfect plant will be minimal maintenance, low light, and size appropriate. We have provided a list of our favorite plants to spice up your room. Continue reading to see why our list of 20 contains the best plants under $30.
1. Pothos
Our favorite plant is the pothos, and for good reason. The Pothos is known for its low maintenance and its ability to thrive in less than ideal environments. Pothos do well in bright and direct light as well as low light. This makes them great for crowded college dorm rooms. Almost every greenhouse or nursery carries pothos plants of different variations. This makes them very easy to obtain and comes at an appealing price. Most pothos plants are priced around 8 to 15 dollars depending on the size and type of the plant.
Fun Fact:
Pothos plants are nicknamed the “Devil’s Ivy” because of how hard they are to kill.
2. Inch Plant
The inch plant prefers medium to bright light but tolerates low light. These hardy plants only need to be watered once or twice a week when the topsoil dries out. If well taken care of inch plants will tend to branch out along shelves and windows. This makes the inch plant ideal for window sills and shelves because of its ability to offshoot.
Fun Fact:
Confined spaces like a dorm room, often lead to disarray and unwanted smells. With the help of an inch plant, your room will be purified in no time.
3. Snake Plant
The snake plant is ideal for indoor growing because they require minimal light. They also endure drought, shade, and almost all soil types. Snake plant’s vertical leaves add a level of class to even the dingiest rooms. The snake plant’s bold pattern is unique and distinctive. They also provide a natural protectant against airborne allergies.
Fun Fact:
The snake plant can absorb pollutants such as CO2, benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene which are considered cancer-causing toxins.
4. Spider Plant
Spider plants are highly adaptable and are among the easiest plants to grow. The name comes from its string-like leaves which often branch into new chutes. At the ends of these chutes, are the start of new plants, easily potted. This makes propagating and sharing starts simple. These plants are great candidates for those who are wanting to dip their toes into the plant world as they are durable and don’t require a green thumb.
Fun Fact:
As spring rolls around, the spider plant begins to produce white flowers off of its shutes which develop into spiderettes (new starts).
5. Jade
Jade plants are perfect for tight spaces specifically for desks and shelves seeing as they don’t get very big. They are fairly resilient and long-lived making them very durable even when moving. The jade plants prefer direct sunlight and should be watered one to two times a week.
Fun Fact:
During the Winter and Spring, the flowers produced by the jade plant, attract butterflies and bees through their sweet scent.
6. ZZ Plant
The ZZ plant is great for its dark attractive leaves that fill up empty spaces making them ideal as centerpieces. ZZ plants are great for those that don’t have that much experience and can hold up against a lot of neglect. Only needing low light and little water, the ZZ plant is great at setting and forgetting. The best part is the ZZ plant only grows to a height of two to three feet making it perfect for smaller spaces like a dorm room.
Fun Fact:
The ZZ plant is however very toxic, so don’t eat it and wash your hands after use.
7. Cast-Iron Plant
Cast-iron plants are considered to be among some of the most indestructible plants, making them desirable for busy college students who still want to have an aesthetically pleasing room. This plant maintains its deep green color even in light to no direct sunlight, which specifications fit many dorm rooms. Iron plants should be watered once a week, letting the top soil dry out in-between waterings.
Fun Fact:
The name cast-iron plant comes from the object itself because of its resilient and
tough demeanor, just like a cast-iron pan.
8. Succulent
Succulents are one of the most fun and easy to care for plants because of a variety of factors. For one, they come in a wide span of colors, shape, texture and size. Succulents come in just about every color imaginable, making them more personable and unique depending on the buyer’s preference.
These plants are also space savers and can upgrade even the most cluttered desk. Succulents do require generally direct sunlight, but can be placed in a window sill and nearly forgotten about without any worry because of their negligible need for water. This is because succulents store water in their thick leaves and stems, allowing them to go long periods of time without being watered.
Fun Fact:
There are over 10,000 succulent species found worldwide.
9. Cactus
The cactus plant is one of the most unique plants on this list and for good reason. Cactus plants can live in some of the most extreme environments and can survive with little to no water. They are able to do this with the thick stem, which acts as water storage. What also makes the cactus so cool is the bizarre growth patterns of the stems. It’s like having your own little personal plant perfect for showing off in your dorm.
Fun Fact:
Cacti are one of the oldest plants known to man, most likely due to the fact of how persistent they are against extreme conditions.
10. Hoya
The hoya plant is a very eccentric and distinctive plant because of its blooms. This plant adds texture, color and life through it’s fragrant blooms and waxy, vine-like leaves. Hoya plants are great for hanging baskets because their vines can wrap around fixtures, adding dimension. Hoya plants are also easy to care for, requiring medium indirect light and watering around once a week, these plants are perfect for the schedule-packed student.
Fun Fact:
Hoya plants are also known as porcelain flowers. These flowers, when blooming, are
seemingly star-shaped and form in clusters.
11. Aloe Vera
Most of you will recognize this plant from the many times you have gotten sunburns but did you know they make great house plants? Aloe Vera plants are great house plants requiring a basic understanding of the plant’s needs. These plants need bright indirect sunlight meaning they need to be close to a window but not in the direct sunlight. This may require careful placement but will result in a healthy green plant. Be sure to water deeply every few weeks and you should be good.
Fun Fact:
Aloe Vera’s gel is a great way to heal sunburns and reduce inflammation.
12. Peace Lily
Peace lilies are beautiful plants that require a little bit more of a green thumb, but if watered consistently adds a level of class that can upgrade a room all by itself. Peace lilies do best in indirect light, but can also tolerate fluorescent light. Although peace lilies can be a little more temperamental, the end result is well worth it.
Fun Fact:
Peace lilies are often associated with symbols of peace, tranquility and prosperity. All
of which could be beneficial to a stressed college student.
13. Ferns
Ferns are some of the most appealing plants because of their texture. They also make great house plants because of their minimal need for water and ability to survive in normal lighting, requiring less maintenance. Ferns also need average to above average humidity making them great in kitchens and bathrooms.
Fun Fact:
Ferns are over a million years old and don’t have any flowers.
14. Sago Palm
Sago palms are a great addition to any dorm. With their feathery palms and extruding bulb at the base of the plant, indoor Sago Palms are an eye-catcher without a doubt. These palms do best in direct sunlight, but will also tolerate medium to low light. Sago palms like to be thoroughly watered but are prone to overwatering. Although Sago Palms are slightly morefinicky than some beginner plants, because of their need for well drained soil, they are guaranteed to add a tropical vibe to any dorm, even during finals week.
Fun Fact:
In a time period of 15 years, an outdoor Sago Palm can reach heights as tall as 15
feet and can live for over a 100 years.
15. Bamboo
Bamboo is a great plant to add to your dorm because of its survivalblity. This makes bamboo great for those looking for an interesting plant that can take a little abuse. Bamboo does need to be taken care of to look its greatest so its important to make sure you provide it enough light. Once the bamboo is established, it develops a drought tolreance letting it go without water for a while.
Fun Fact:
Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants in the world. Make sure to have a properly sized containter to control the growth of the bamboo.
16. Mint
Mint is one of the more functional plants, but in no way does that demean it. Mint can be used for a variety of things and is relatively inexpensive. It grows best in indirect sunlight and likes to be watered one to two times a week in a pot with good drainage. Although not anything special to the eye, the leaves grown on mint plants can be used for personal use such as additions to beverages, desserts and more.
Fun Fact:
Mint is one of the oldest and most well known herbs, used both culinarily and
medicinally.
17. Rubber Plant
The rubber plant is yet another great plant to add your collection in your dorm. Able to grow to any height you like by simply trimming the top lets this plant adapt to any area it is in. This makes it great for any dorm room because of the ablity to be sized to fit any location. Rubber plants are one of the most beatiful plants making them great to impress your friends.
Fun Fact:
Rubber trees can grow to impressive sizes even surpassing 100ft and be size to fit inside your room.
18. Pray Plant
Prayer plants are perfect desk and bedside plants because of their size. They are typically sized from around 6 to 12 inches tall and the same wide. Prayer plants also do well in hanging baskets. These plants grow best in partial shade and indirect light with moderate watering weekly.
Prayer plants are also distinct in their leaves pattern with bright pink grooves and red stems. Much like other plants listed, this plant is among some of the hardier plants and would be
great for a beginner looking to up their room game.
Fun Fact:
The name “prayer plant” was obtained after learning that the leaves are prone to fold
together during the night, similar to a pair of hands.
19. Bromeliad
Bromeliads are very low maitience making them great for busy students. Only needing to be watered once a week makes the bromeliad perfect for those that are forgetful. Bromeliads can also flower but usually won’t inside which is another perk making them hard to attract bugs.
Fun Fact:
Bromelaids only bloom once making them great if you don’t want to attract bugs.
20. Ficus Bonsai Tree
Ficus Bonsai Plants are among the plants that need a little more attention in order for them to thrive indoors. These plants do prefer medium to low light on a regular basis and the occasionally direct sunlight to perk them up. Ficus bonsai plants need watering one to two times a week with adequate drainage. With the correct care, these plants can create a sense of serenity and calm that many college students can only dream of.
Fun Fact:
Ficus Bonsai trees can live for over 1,000 years, 25% longer than most tree species
Conclusion
Finding the perfect plant to spruce up your room can be challenging. Hopefully after reading about our favorite plants you have an idea of what would be perfect. We recommend that you look for something low maintenance so you can worry less about your plant and worry more about your next exam.