Dorms are the kind of black hole that will suck in anything green and turn it into dead leaves down the garbage disposal. Add long hours, spending most of the day with the lights off in a blanket, and confusing coffee with water, and most of us will kill a plant (or several). But if you can keep something alive, a little bit of green can go a long way in making a tired room feel alive again. Dorm plants can also revitalize the air in your room by filtering out the toxins given off by three-week old garbage.
African Violets
These plants produce bright, small flowers multiple times a year and do especially well under fluorescent lighting. The fuzzy surface of their leaves is an especially fun tactile distraction. Water once a week by filling their base dish with a little bit of tap water, and they’ll do just fine.
Succulents
They’re popular right now for their wide variety of available colors and types, but these hardy little plants are also impossible to kill. A small cactus will only cost you a few dollars while providing a spot of adorable green. Keep in intense light and water only when the soil completely dries out. These plants like a good misting over a cup of water dumped on them.
Aloe Vera
A desert plant native to warm and dry environments, they’ll do especially well in a window and grow as large as the pot allows. While they’re a type of succulent, they like a little more water. Don’t allow the soil to completely dry out, but don’t water them too much, either.
Anthuriums
These plants don’t technically flower, but they sport brightly colored leaves around the tops of their stems that resemble Easter lilies or similar plants. They like high light levels, but not quite direct sunlight, and would do well on the kitchen table. Water when the soil is just slightly dry, and remove any dead leaves to allow more “flowers” to grow in.
Christmas Cactus
Known for flowering in December, this species of cactus is actually native to the tropics, and requires a little more water than the standard succulent. Set up a tray with a small bit of water underneath the pot to keep the plant hydrated and happy. These plants prefer indirect sunlight to direct – slightly away from a window will work best. They’re a little extra work for a dorm plant but will reward with flowers when Alabama pretends that winter exists.
ZZ Plants
These waxy-leaved plants can survive just about anything. They’ll thrive in any light level and only like being watered when the soil completely dries out. This is the plant for someone who killed their bean sprouts in eighth grade. The only way to murder this one is by watering them too much.
Snake Plants
The broad leaves of this houseplant sport a zigzag, snake-like pattern that gives them their name. Like ZZ Plants, they’ll tolerate any light levels, and like to be watered about weekly. With a little coordination, you can water all your plants at once during the weekend and forget about them until the next Saturday.
