I have always loved plants and having houseplants in particular and even shared our herb garden several years ago. One of the hobbies I really stepped up during quarantine was my houseplant collection and care. I’ve added so many new plants to our home and even propagated some of my existing plants! Since they have become a passion, I thought I would share our experience living with plants in small spaces, with this apartment plant tour.
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Living with Plants in Small Spaces
When we moved into our apartment, we came with three plants and adopted two more before we even moved any furniture in. I am a huge fan of the modern boho and eclectic jungalow design aesthetics, and plants are a big part of that. Plus, I just love them!
Over the years I have acquired, and subsequently killed, a handful of plants, so having a green thumb was not something I could boast. Following my great-grandfather’s funeral in August 2018, my grandma gave me one of the plant baskets the family had received. I didn’t have a lot of faith in myself, yet somehow managed to keep them alive that first year. When we moved here, I separated the plants and repotted them in separate, larger pots. Two of the three thrived, and I repotted them again as part of Earth Day this year – a Dracaena sanderiana (Lucky Bamboo) and Dracaena marginata (Dragon Tree Plant).
Living Room House Plants
Some day when we have a house I can imagine building a small greenhouse and having a garden but since we live in a 2 bedroom apartment I have had to learn to live with plants in a small space. The largest of our houseplants are in the living room as its the largest room flowing into the dining area and kitchen.
Dracaena Marginata aka Dragon Tree Plant
Dracaena Marginata are great for house plant newbies. They aren’t particularly fussy and can do well with the three basics. Light, water and occasion food.
Epipremnum Aureum aka Golden Pothos
Golden Pothos are SO easy to grow. You can practically ignore them and with the occasional feeding, watering and plenty of light they will THRIVE. In addition they are easy to start from cuttings. I think they make a great “first timer” plant.
Bedroom Plants
Our bedroom has one large window which allows plenty of natural light. Its a great environment for the two plants I keep in there. I wish I could have a whole jungle but since it is small I settle on just keeping a couple on the windowsill.
Asplenium Nidus aka Bird’s Nest Fern
Bird’s Nest Ferns can be a bit persnickety, like many ferns. They are happier in humid environments so perfect for areas like Georgia. These plants need low light and constant, even moisture. Don’t venture into fern can unless you are diligent with your houseplant maintenance.
Monstera Deliciosa aka Swiss Cheese Plant
Look how much this Monstera deliciosa has grown! I purchased it the beginning of July (photo above) and this is all the growth by mid September (below). It’s still a young plant, so most of the leaves don’t have fenestration (holes). You can tell which leaves started the plant because they’re more mature and have since grown two leaves with fenestration. It’ll still be 2-3 years for the rest of the plant to mature. I love how big and vibrant this plant is! So far it is ok in it’s pot and I may actually hold off repotting until next spring because it’s still thriving. It will need some moss poles soon just to help with stabilization.
Here are some supplies to stabilize larger plants like this:
Office Plants
I love displaying my the plants in my small office space in cute containers. Anything whimsical and fin draws my attention, like the cute face container which houses my air plant.
Cute Planters for Displaying Air Plants
Sansevieria Fasciata, aka Snake Plant aka Mother-in-Law’s Tongue (ha!)
Plant Notes: I ended up putting this out on the balcony for about six weeks beginning in August. It got bright indirect light there, and thrived! It’s easily twice the size from when I bought it in April.
Balcony / Patio Outdoor Plants
Fiddle Leaf Fig Drama
This Fiddle Leaf Fig is one of the plants I purchased when I moved here a year ago. It was NEVER happy anywhere I tried to put it in the apartment. In June my Fiddle Leaf Fig plant was down to FOUR leaves, two of which looked very unhealthy. A friend of mine who lives in Florida suggested throwing it outside to the patio, saying that it might really like the humidity through summer. Here it is right before I did just that. And guess what? THEY WERE RIGHT!! The photo below was taken a month later on July 20! It’s safe to say this diva thrived out there!
Here is a month later on August 20! As far as care, I watered when the top inch or two felt dry and used liquid fertilizer monthly. I also lightly misted the leaves once or twice a day up until mid September. I just brought this plant in two days ago because the nights are starting to cool down quite a bit. Fingers crossed I can keep this plant happy indoors until spring!
Fiddle Fig Plant Care
Ficus elastica aka Rubber Tree Plant
This Ficus elastica (Rubber tree plant) is the other plant I bought (from the same seller) upon moving in. It did okay for a year or so but was down to a handful of leaves by the time spring hit. I actually have regrets with this plant. After taking two cuttings (see below) to water propagate a new plant, I wish I would have keep the rooted stems. In my heart I know I could have brought that plant back, but I’m just going to let it go (haha).
Propogating a Rubber Tree Plant
This was a fun and easy plant to propagate! Make sure to include the nodes when you take your cuttings. I put these two leaves in water on June 26. On July 14 it was ready to be planted! On August 26 I noticed the first two new leaves starting to push out. Here we are today! (see below) If you’re looking for a quick and simple (also satisfying!) propagating experience, highly recommend. This took 3 months from cutting to established plant.
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This post was originally published September 2020, but has been updated and republished.
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