College dorm rooms are not the easiest places for houseplants. Light is often limited, the air can be dry, and busy class schedules make it hard to remember regular watering. Still, many students enjoy having a bit of greenery around. Plants can help purify the air, create a serene atmosphere, and add a splash of color and life to drab surroundings.

If your college isn’t one of the pet-friendly campuses, a plant can become the perfect low-maintenance companion. A few small pots on a windowsill or desk can add color and life, even in a very basic dorm room.

Since many students decorate on a tight budget, they often look for easy ways to cover the cost of plant pots, soil, or other dorm essentials. Some choose simple side hustles, such as making money by selling used books. This helps clear shelf space and brings in a bit of extra cash at the same time.

This list can help you choose plants that are both attractive and forgiving, so they can thrive even in a busy dorm environment.

Pothos Vine

This ultimate beginner’s houseplant is perfect for lower-light dorm rooms. It grows quickly, requires no fertilizer or special care, and offers a wide range of options for decorating style. You can put multiple cuttings in one pot and let them get bushy to fill an empty spot in a corner. Let the vine trail over a wire frame or wooden lattice in a topiary shape. Pothos is also great at sending out long runners you can drape across furniture, over curtain rods, and affix gently to the ceiling to totally transform the space.

Spider Plant

Often used as a hanging plant, this one also looks great in a pot on a high dresser or other furniture. It has long, ribbon-like leaves in green and white. The best thing about spider plants is that they produce runners that grow tiny, baby versions of themselves. You can pass them out to all your friends and share the love of dorm room plants. Although they need a bit more light, they’re very forgiving if forgotten about for a little while.

Lucky Bamboo

Although commonly referred to as bamboo and associated with Asian luck motifs, this plant is actually a form of dracaena and grows in the African rainforest. It can also grow in a dorm room quite successfully. The short, thick-stalked plant requires minimal water and tolerates low-light conditions. College students may benefit from luck on their next big exam, too. Lucky bamboo is not an alternative to lots of studying, though.

Snake Plant

The tall, stiff leaves of this popular houseplant resemble snakes in bold green shades. It won’t sprawl across your desk or grow out of control up your window frame. Instead, it will continue to grow slowly and produce new blades if you water it every couple of weeks and provide it with adequate sunlight.

Succulents – But Not All

People collect succulents because they’re unique and somewhat cute, especially among plants. They’re small enough to fit well in crowded college dorms, too. Unfortunately, not all of them are suitable because they need special treatment and careful conditions. Some that will work include aloe vera (great for skin care, too), the jade plant with its oval, jewel-like leaves, haworthia with its spikes, and the zebra cactus with its unique stripes.

African Violet

For students who love flowers and appreciate purple shades, this traditional plant can be a great addition to their dorm room. It doesn’t take up much space and only needs soft light and regular watering. They come in an amazing array of colors, ranging from pure white to pink, violet, and the deepest royal purple. Some even have striped or ruffled flowers or variegated leaves.

Peace Lily

The tall, broad leaves look showy even when this plant doesn’t bloom. It is considered one of the easiest options for people who are unfamiliar with plants and lack the time to dedicate to their care. The flowers are white, furled shapes with yellow centers that can add a touch of tropical style to any room.

The peace lily is also one of the top air-purifying plants. Although their abilities are rather limited in reality, they can introduce some comfortable humidity and improve general freshness over time. They won’t make the smell of dirty laundry or forgotten take-out food containers go away.

Kalanchoe

When it comes to sheer masses of flowers, this dorm room plant might top the list. The leaves themselves are not that exciting in most varieties. They form a dark green, glossy clump in the pot. The flowers grow in dense clusters all over the top. They come in bright red, orange, yellow, and pink. Kalanchoe is a succulent, so it prefers bright, indirect light and infrequent watering. As long as the dorm room has a big window, it should thrive.

Wax or Rex Begonias

Some begonias are annual bedding plants that are best suited for outdoor gardens. These varieties are beautiful houseplants with a wide variety of leaf colors, styles, and flower types. Although a bit fussier than some of the other options on this list, a bright window and regular watering should help them thrive.

Wax begonias range from deep green to rust, and some even have pink rims. Flowers grow in clusters of red, pink, and white. Rex begonias are all about the foliage. Their larger leaves have amazing patterns in green, white, red, and pink. They can grow quite large, so students need to make sure they have enough room first.

Christmas Cactus

For college students who might go home in the summer months, it’s wonderful to have a plant that blooms in the middle of winter instead. When everything else is gray and cold, the dorm room looks bright with green leaves and clusters of bright pink, white, or red flowers. Although it prefers strong light, you don’t have to water it frequently to keep it healthy and growing.

Final Thoughts

Dorm room plants can do so much for a busy student without demanding much in return. As long as you choose varieties that fit your schedule and space, they can be a wonderful addition to your room. For students on a budget, plants are an easy and affordable way to brighten up a dorm. You can even propagate certain plants and share the cuttings with friends. Just don’t spend all your savings on fancy pots and specialty fertilizers.