These house plants will liven up your dorm room, no green thumb required

Written by Emma Pilger. Illustration by Avery Helmer.

Dorm rooms are drab. Flat white walls and limited natural light are not what comes to mind when thinking of “cozy” or “inviting.” To bring some color into these boring rooms, students and their families spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on making dorm rooms feel personal, unique and homey. From Target bedding, blankets and pillows to storage hacks and homemade decor, students know every trick in the book. But, to truly liven up a space, bring plant life in.

Science shows that indoor plants improve air quality, reduce stress levels and boost productivity. The magic of plants can’t be overlooked, but not everyone has a green thumb. Worried about taking care of a living thing? Don’t worry, these plants are easy to take care of and ideal for small spaces. Here are some beginner plant parent favorites:

ZZ Plant (Zanzibar Gem)

These plants are the perfect place to start for beginners. While some easy-care plants can look a little boring compared to others, ZZ plants have bright, waxy leaves and strong stalks that sprout outward. ZZ plants are low-light plants, meaning they don’t need direct or reflected sunlight to thrive– they’ll be just fine in a corner of a dorm, far from a window. The only downside of this plant is they are toxic to pets, so stay away from this plant if you have a curious animal. To care for a ZZ plant, water it every 2-3 weeks and pot it in a standard indoor potting mix.

Dragon Tree (Dracaena Marginata)

Dragon Trees are wonderfully eye-catching with unique, sharp leaves. These sturdy plants do well even when they’re not watered for a long time, making them nearly impossible to kill. Native to Madagascar, Dragon Trees do well in almost any light conditions but thrive in indirect, reflected sunlight. They can grow up to six feet indoors, so keeping good care of this plant can pay off. These plants are also toxic to pets so be aware. To care for a Dragon Tree, water it about once a month (as needed) and pot it in tropical, loose potting mix with rocks in the bottom of the pot to avoid overwatering.

Anthurium (Flamingo Flower)

To bring more color into a dorm, go for a red or pink Anthurium. These plants are the longest blooming indoor plants and almost always have brightly colored, waxy leaves. Anthuriums are toxic to pets and humans but are great for beginners who want something special. To care for this plant, water it every 1-2 weeks, making sure the soil drys out between each watering, and pot in standard indoor potting mix. Place Anthuriums in indirect sunlight for best results and avoid direct sunlight.

Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea Elegans)

Parlor Palms are exactly what the sound like– a palm suited for a parlor. These tropical, leafy plants are uniquely textured and lively, making it the perfect plant to spice up a dorm room. They’re safe for pets, too, so this is a pick for dorms with animals. To care for this plant, place in indirect sun. Direct sun will scorch this plant, so be careful to make sure it’s in the shade. Parlor Palms need water about every 1-2 weeks and pot in standard indoor potting mix.

Cuddly Cactus (Cereus Jamakaru)

This plant’s name seems like an oxymoron, but it’s not. Cuddly Cactuses lack the spines that other cactuses possess, making it a great option for a bustling dorm room where things are constantly bumped and moved. Plus, this plant is easy to care for since it’s a succulent and retains water for a longer period of time. This is a good pick for a window plant, as Cuddly Cactuses require full sun. To care for this plant, water every 2-3 weeks and make sure the soil dries out between waterings. Pot in cactus and succulent potting mix to avoid overwatered, soggy soil.