These 10 SMALL Houseplants Have a BIG Impact!
Have you always wanted a small oasis in the comfort of your home but think you lack space? We’ve all been there!
Stay with me if you need quick and simple solutions for your tiny garden! I’ll go through my curated list of small houseplants which will soothe your soul.
This article actually sent me back to when I was a young professional seeking refuge in greenery. I remember I’d come back home exhausted from work, only to find beige and blues. But one day I had a bit of free time, so something in me decided that was about to change!
Inspired by my father’s relentlessness, I knew there could be space-friendly options for growing plants in my rather small place at the time. I immediately strolled down to my local market and was so pleasantly surprised to find a variety of lush small houseplants, perfect for my needs.
Do you want a houseplant but don’t have plenty of spare space in your home? You can still enjoy houseplants that won’t cover much floor space and won’t grow taller than a foot or two.
The following 10 plant options are easy to place on desktops and shelves, making them super easy to cater for in smaller spaces.
Feel free to do some quick brainstorming with your floor plan in mind beforehand. Some homes can even host houseplants vertically with wall-mounted pots and hanging planters.
As long as your houseplants get enough sunlight and look healthy, these can truly be no-brainer solutions for your home.
If you’re not so good with remembering to water plants or have poor natural light in your home, I got you! There are options for that as well!
Alocasia (Alocasia hybrids)
Alocasias are usually 12 to 36 inches tall, but each type is slightly different. This plant thrives when watered regularly during the warmer season, from spring to fall, and less often during the colder season.
Pots with drain holes are the key to keeping alocasias healthy by allowing the soil to absorb only as much moisture as it needs.
It’s important to be aware that some types of alocasia can grow as tall as 6 feet. Regardless of their size, alocasias are exotic-looking houseplants that prefer warmth. So, keep them well-lit, in temperatures above 60° F.
Blue star fern (Phlebodium aureum)
Smaller varieties of the blue star fern are generally sized between 10 and 14 inches in height and prefer mostly moist soil. Like with most ferns, keep this houseplant in bright but indirect natural light in a relatively humid room.
The blue star fern can develop bluish lobes over time, hence its name. Smaller ferns are actually among our go-to houseplant options due to their versatility – can be trimmed as you wish, can sit in the corner, and can absorb the room moisture for you!
Calathea (Calathea spp.)
It’s no secret that the calathea can be a sensitive houseplant. Despite that, we think it’s worth having one in your now tropical home!
This beauty grows up to 30 inches tall and prefers mostly moist soil as well. Smallish calathea plants can always be part of your decor due to their striped leaf foliage.
Depending on your type of calathea (there are 60 out there!), follow specific care suggestions and use fertilizer monthly if you want to foster more growth.
Never Never Plant (Ctenanthe spp.)
Originating in Brazil, the so-called never never plants can be excellent houseplants for small spaces. Similar to other tropical-originating plants on our list, the Never Never plants prefer mostly moist soil.
Additionally, spray the upper foliage for more moisture, and treat your houseplant to distilled and pure water.
Did you know that the Never Never plant is also called the ‘prayer plant’ because of the leaves that lay flat during the day and fold upward at night?
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Perfect for vertical spaces, the pothos plants can grow vines up to 10 feet long. In case you wanted to integrate small houseplants into your interior design vibes, this species will be your most adored houseplant.
Keep it potted, hang it up, or create trails across walls. Sounds really good? Then you might need more than one pothos!
Do make sure you let your pothos dry the soil surface before watering it again.
Peperomia (Peperomia spp.)
Just look at their lovely tropical foliage! Peperomia plants, also known as radiator plants, prefer well lit and humid spaces. This small houseplant can grow up to 12 inches tall, only needs watering weekly, and is so so easy to take care of.
Some 1,000 peperomia species grow in the tropical and subtropical climates of the world. Their bright jungle-green will surely change your space positively!
Even more, get prepared for this small houseplant flowering season to colour your shelves purple, pink or white!
Zebra haworthia (Haworthia attentuata)
This adorable small houseplant will be your favorite if you like succulents. Like other succulents, this haworthia plant needs a drier soil, as it stores plenty of moisture inside its spiky rosettes.
It is guaranteed that this houseplant will stay small, up to 5 inches in height. Also, it doesn’t need tons of light, which makes it another suitable candidate for low maintenance plants in your small home.
Philodendron (Philodendron spp.)
Mostly associated with the pothos plant up above, the philodendron plants can grow in vines up to 8 feet long. Isn’t the green natural decor so precious, though? We thought so, too!
Carefully grow philodendron houseplants in low lighting and even outdoors. Water regularly so that the soil moisture is well balanced below the surface.
Arrowhead vine (Syngonium podophyllum)
The arrowhead vine is yet another jewel of a small houseplant. I would personally combine it with one medium-sized pothos and one philodendron, as the arrowhead vine plant can climb up to 6 feet.
This vine plant prefers a well balanced soil moisture, indirect lighting, and humid spaces. It also changes leaf shape over time but you can always trim it down.
Tradescantia (Tradescantia spp.)
Tradescantias are often ‘feeling flirty’ and cheering you up with their pink and purple foliage. This small houseplant can trail up to 3 feet and needs mostly moist soil.
As such, place it in wall mounted planters or hanging baskets. Keep it more compact or more wild and free.
Did you know that drain hole pots protect plants from root rot?
SMALL houseplants, BIG personalities
So, we’ve learned that you can easily adapt your available floor space and spare space to fit small houseplants. From my experience, small houseplants can transform your home, making it a cozy, greener, relaxing space.
Whether you’re trying to soothe yourself or do some interior design improvements, I can tell you houseplants are definitely the way to go.
And rest assured, the effect doubles when you combine colors like tropical green and purplish foliage!
Do you need vertical garden ideas? Check out this simple but aesthetic hanging planter here.
If you found this article helpful, why not read on: The Most Stunning Houseplant Combinations for Every Room in Your Home!
