Decor can sometimes be a tricky thing to navigate when you’re living in a college dorm. On-campus housing has so many different restrictions on what you can and cannot use to make the space your own. Plants are a great way to add color to your space and not violate any college dorm rules. There are hundreds of plants out there, but here are five of the easiest to maintain.
- Snake Plant
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Snake plants are known to be one of the most tolerable plants, in almost any environment under almost any condition. They are known to have long green leaves that usually stand up straight. The plants do not need to be kept in direct sunlight and usually only need to be watered every couple of weeks, especially during the wintertime when it’s best to dry them out entirely. Besides being extremely easy to care of, they are also very beneficial for removing toxins in the air. Just make sure that the soil allows for proper drainage so the snake plant doesn’t rot.
- Pothos plant
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Pothos plants, like snake plants, can also grow in almost any environment. They do well in both direct and indirect sunlight and are even super easy to propagate. To propagate, all you need to do is trim a stem off and stick it in a jar of water, and the stem will continue to grow longer and sprout new roots, which can then be placed into a new pot. The great thing about pothos is that they do not need nutrient-rich soil and can be planted and grown in almost anything. They only need to be watered once a week and sometimes even once every two weeks in the colder months. The long green vines with abundant small green leaves make it the perfect plant to hang or sit anywhere in your dorm and add a nice touch of color.
- Succulents
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Succulents are amazing! They come in so many different shapes and colors and add a fun little pop of detail to any space. Most succulents are small and are super easy to keep in small spaces, like your dorm room. Because most succulents originate from dry desert locations, they don’t really need to be watered constantly. In fact, it’s probably best if they dry out between waterings, making them super low maintenance.
- Peace Lily
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Peace lilies (like the above options) also do not need direct sunlight to grow. They do well in medium to low light environments, and watering them should be based on how dry the topsoil feels. Most peace lilies do better when underwatered rather than overwatered, so it’s okay if you forget to water it every once in a while. The peace lily is gorgeous. Its long shiny green leaves have a tendency to sprout pretty white “flowers,” which are actually just the specialized leaf bract that grows hooded over the flowers. Like the snake plant, peace lilies are also beneficial to the air and help create a clean environment within your living space.
- String of Pearls
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One of the more unique-looking plants, the string of pearls, is a type of succulent that, like the rest, only need indirect sunlight to thrive. They do really well indoors and don’t need a specific amount of humidity to grow. They need watering once every two weeks, which makes them incredibly easy to care for. Like the pothos, they grow super long and would look so pretty if draped from somewhere higher in your dorm room.
Adding something different to your room, like plants, livens up the space and adds a feeling of home, especially ones that are super easy to take care of. You can find these plants almost everywhere, but the farmer’s market in Amherst Center always carries plants that you can take home. They are open every Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. until Nov. 20, so make sure to check it out!
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