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5 Foolproof Houseplants to Brighten Up Your Space

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Alberta chapter.

If you’re like me, you love the Pinterest and Instagram posts of jungle-esque apartments which are chalked full of houseplants. If you’re also like me, you maybe don’t have the best reputation as a plant mom. While I wouldn’t say I have a black thumb, it certainly isn’t green either. Maybe some shade of yellow? As such, the plants that I bring into my space tend to be easy to maintain; “Stephanie-proof”, as my husband would call them. If you’re looking to brighten up your space with a few plants, try one of these 5 easy to care for stunners! 

 

Aloe Vera 

My aloe vera plant was a housewarming gift from my Mom and is still going strong 2 years later. These plants are super easy to care for. While they need a fair amount of light, they can go for ages without watering. 

 

Snake Plant

Snake plants come in all patterns and colours, and are dead easy to take care of. They do well in many light conditions (though it’s probably best to keep them out of bright, direct light). As well, these plants require little water so it is best to let the soil dry out before you water again. As such, you can pretty much forget about these plants and they will still thrive!

Money Tree

Money trees come in many sizes and are characterized by their braided trunks. They thrive in both full sun and partial shade, and should only be watered every 2 weeks or so. As well, they are very expressive plants and will tell you exactly what they need via their leaves. Yellow leaves = too much water. Brown and crunchy leaves = too much sun or not enough water.

String of Pearls

These are such a neat and darling type of succulent, which as the name suggests, look like a pearl necklace. Keep these plants in bright, indirect light, and soak the soil thoroughly when watering, letting the topsoil dry completely before watering again. While they may not look like much at first, once these plants start to grow, they form dramatic and beautiful trailing strands!

Zebra Plant

These plants look like a smaller version of the aloe vera, but are darker and sport pretty white stripes (hence the name zebra). Much like the aloe vera, these plants do well with bright light and little water (and attention, for that matter). So long as you do not let the soil completely dry out, your plant will do well.

Stephanie Shin

U Alberta '22

Stephanie Shin (she/her) is a third year honours pre-law student, majoring in sociology and minoring in political science. When she's not studying fervently, you can find her enjoying a book, sipping at a cup of tea, playing with her miniature dachshund, Bentley, and spending entirely too much money on food.
Simi is a senior at the University of Alberta studying Sociology and Religious Studies. She grew up in Houston Texas and lives by the saying “go big or go home”. She is currently Her Campus Ualberta's Editor in Chief and Campus Correspondent. School, volunteering, clubs, and work occupy most of her time. You can find her on Instagram at @simi.bhangoo.