Best small houseplants for a normal apartment
Not a list of what photographs well. A list of what is still alive six months later in average indoor light, watered by someone with a job.
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Tier 1 — survives neglect
Jade (Crassula ovata)
Direct sun, water every two to three weeks, lives for decades. The only serious risk is overwatering, and it has the decency to drop leaves as a warning first. Note: toxic to cats and dogs. Jade care guide.
Small cactus
Wants the brightest windowsill you own and water roughly monthly. Almost impossible to kill by neglect, easy to kill by kindness. Spines are a hazard for pets and toddlers. Cactus care guide.
Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata)
Tolerates low light and long dry spells better than anything else on this list. Slow, so buy the size you want — it will not grow into it quickly. Also toxic to pets.
Tier 2 — good with weekly attention
Small fern (Boston, button fern)
Bright indirect light and never fully dry soil. Rewards you with new fiddleheads constantly. Fails if the room is dry and the pot is small, which is the usual combination. Fern care guide.
Air plant (Tillandsia)
No soil, no pot, no mess — but a genuine weekly soak and thorough drying. Best small plant for a desk or shelf where a pot will not fit. Air plant care.
Pothos
Fast, forgiving, propagates in a glass of water. Will grow in low light; will look much better in bright indirect light. Toxic to pets if chewed.
Tier 3 — bought often, regretted often
- Assorted succulent trios. Three water needs in one pot; one dies first and it is usually not the one you wanted. Fine if you separate them immediately. How to handle it.
- Flowering gift plants (mini roses, cyclamen, ornamental peppers). Bred for a two-week display, not for a windowsill. Not a care failure when they decline.
- Anything carnivorous in a small pot. Needs distilled water, constant moisture and strong light. Demanding, not difficult in an interesting way.
- Calathea and other prayer plants for a beginner. Beautiful, and unforgiving about humidity and tap water.
Buy the two supplies first
Small pots fail for boring reasons. Fix those before buying more plants:
Terracotta pots, 3–4 inch
Two-inch pots dry out fast. Unglazed terracotta plus drainage is what keeps small root balls alive.
Check on AmazonSucculent soil mix (gritty)
Regular potting soil holds water too long for succulents and jade. Use a mix that drains in seconds.
Check on AmazonWhere to buy the plants
Two established sellers that ship potted plants with a care card and a decent arrival guarantee. Both are worth comparing on price for the specific plant you want — this is not a "cheapest" list, it is a "arrives alive" list.
The Sill — potted starter plants
Potted plants shipped in a nursery pot with care card. Best all-round pick for a first small plant.
Shop at The SillBloomscape — pet-friendly plants
Ships from the grower's greenhouse at a larger size. Filter by pet-safe if you have cats or dogs.
Shop at BloomscapeFor pets: filter any retailer by pet-safe species, and check the individual plant rather than the category — jade, snake plant and pothos are all common "easy" recommendations that are toxic to cats and dogs.
What to check when it arrives
- Does the pot have a drainage hole? If not, it is a cover pot. Move the plant into a nursery pot inside it.
- Is the soil soaking wet? Sellers ship wet. Leave it out of direct sun and do not water again until the top inch is dry.
- Are the roots coming out of the bottom? Then it is already root-bound and wants a pot one size up in spring.
- Check the leaf undersides and joints for pests before it goes near your other plants. Quarantine it for two weeks if you have a collection.