Best Plants for an Apartment
Denver apartment living can be rough, especially when you’re trapped indoors during Colorado’s winter snowstorms. It’s definitely something that can make your indoor living space feel bleak, even if you’re a native to Colorado. Fortunately, with a little TLC, you can spruce up your area and make it feel more comfortable, homey, and vibrant. From purifying the air to making your Denver apartment feel more welcome and alive, there’s a wide variety of reasons to select house plants to incorporate into your apartment decor. Now, the trick here is getting the best houseplant for Colorado that will live a long and happy life with our ever-changing weather.
We know. Not everyone is blessed with a green thumb. In fact, the majority of folks will admit to killing more than three plants in their lifetime. Still, becoming a plant parent is much easier and less stressful than, say, caring for a living thing like a pet or a small human. For this reason, we highly recommend decorating your Denver apartment with various plants; they can really transform the overall look and feel of your decor. In order to make this easier for all self-proclaimed plant killers, we’ve compiled a list of easy-to-care-for plants. Plus, we’re also talking specifically about the best plants for an apartment, because apartment living is its own sort of hurdle.
Cactus
One of the best plants for an apartment is cacti.
In general, cactus is a beginner type of plant for those who require an introduction into the world of greenery. They’re basically a plant on training wheels. They come in all shapes and sizes, and many have pretty flowers, but they require very little maintenance. Keep them warm, give them sun, and water occasionally, actually, sparingly. Cactus are designed to thrive in a very harsh living environment and are resilient to plant owners who may be more prone to watering neglect.
Definitely watch out for needles. Cacti are also a great way to change up your interior decor. They offer texture and color that help give a small space dimension and character. Yes, for those wondering, they still thrive even in Denver. With Denver’s near 300 days of sunshine, cactus live very happily in our climate and are one of the best houseplants for Colorado, in general.
How to care for a cactus plant in your Denver apartment:
- Place in a sunny location, but be sure to routinely observe it. If it turns yellow or brown, the spot may have too much direct sun.
- Water regularly, once per week. Be sure the soil is dry between waterings.
- Choose drain-friendly dirt or pebbles.
- In Denver’s winter months, move the plan to a place with the adequate sun with at least 3-4 hours of bright light.
- Don’t fertilize in the winter months and provide less water.
Kitchen Herbs
The second best plants for an apartment are simple herbs.
When space is limited in your Denver apartment, it’s a good idea to fill your home with things that serve more than one purpose.
So if you’re thinking about growing plants, why not choose herbs to use in your kitchen? Not only are they practical, but you’ll also feel proud of the meals you’ve made since you’re responsible for the extra flavor. While many people grow herbs in their outdoor gardens, many of them can also be grown indoors very easily. Some popular indoor herbs people often grow in Denver include:
- Lavender
- Parsely
- Thyme
Every Denverite with a green thumb and a love of gardening will offer recommendations on the best types of herbs to grow for the Colorado climate. Herbs – fyi – can be grown indoors in pots, or outdoors in a raised garden or similar. This will likely depend on the type of herb you select. For Denver apartment living, there are a few ideal herbs to consider.
The herbs that grow well in pots or what’s normally referred to as container growing, include:
- Basil
- Chives & Garlic
- Cilantro
- Dill
- Fennel and Florence fennel
- Lemon balm
- Oregano
- Rosemary
Important items to address with herbs include ongoing care and harvesting. It’s important to harvest herbs as they produce crops. But don’t pick stems from the base of the plant, select from the top instead. Also, it’s a good idea to feed your herbs liquid seaweed. This item can help develop strong plans with flavorful herbs.
Succulents
Succulents are great plants for anyone not really wanting to go to the trouble of gardening. They’re colorful and pretty, but they’re also nearly impossible to kill. There are a ton of varieties, so just go to a plant store and choose one that looks nice. They tend to be on the smaller side which makes it easy to place anywhere in your Denver home and need very little water to thrive.
Aloe Vera
This plant is included in a lot of products aimed at improving your health, but having one at home can cut out the middle man. The gel from the inner leaves is great for burns (especially when half your face is advertising the fact that spent the day on the ski slopes), and it also can be eaten to help with a variety of different ailments. This is one of the best indoor plants for Denver as they tend to grow quickly and are easy to split up into multiple pots.
Denver apartment care for aloe vera:
- Prefers bright light whether indirect sunlight or artificial light. Ideally, it should be placed in a western- or southern-facing window.
- The ideal temperature for the aloe average is between 55° and 80° F.
- Fertilizer should be no more than once per month and only in Spring and Summer months.
- Water well but infrequently. allow the soil to dry between waterings.
Orchids
To be totally honest, orchids aren’t necessarily the easiest plant to care for. However, what they lack in ease they make up for in beauty. They are small, get lots of compliments, and as long as you treat them right they can survive very well as an indoor plant in Denver. Many recommend watering these fickle plants with ice cubes rather than straight water. It’s also important to keep their leaves dry. To plant experts and indoor plant enthusiasts, many consider orchids elegant and poised. Their delicate flowers are something to admire.
Snake Plants
Don’t be afraid! These plants just get their name from their long slender leaves that look like a snake. Another common name for them is “Mother-in-Law’s Tongue” because of their sharp edges, but let’s not go there… They’re very low maintenance, and they do a great job at filtering air. It’s literally a green alternative to those mechanical air purifiers which makes it a perfect houseplant for Colorado.
Bamboo
Bamboo is tough to kill, but it looks elegant and exotic.
You may just find yourself wanting to put some in multiple pots to spread around your apartment. It gives an oriental feel to an apartment, a very deep green color, and as it’s not native to Colorado by any means it’s a nice change to the plants you typically see in nature.
Lavender
When selecting from among the best house plants for apartments, choose a multiuse plant
Lavender needs plenty of sun, but it isn’t so picky about the amount of water. However, it has such a pleasing scent that it acts as a natural air freshener. For those whose sense of smell is just as important as their sense of sight when it comes to plants, this is an excellent option.
There are many things you should consider when choosing the plant you’d like to start caring for. Weigh your options before you begin spending money because you first need to know what’s ideal for your day-to-day lifestyle. Plus, you’ll need to understand the habits of the plants you choose. For instance, think about how well lit your Denver apartment stays year-round. If you have dim lighting or lack of natural light for the majority of the day, you’ll likely want to select from plants that don’t require 12 hours of direct sunlight.
Here are some tips when selecting the best plants for an apartment to consider:
Think About the Smell
It can be tempting to get something with a strong smell. Many people assume this will act as a natural perfume, and some even think it will mask the odors of kitchens full of dirty dishes or overflowing laundry baskets. But, be careful about this. A strong plant smell can get to you after a while, and there’s no way to turn it down. Minor scents like lavender can work, but often in small spaces, you’ll be much happier with an odorless plant.
Watch Out for Growth Spurts
Another word of warning is to think about how fast something will grow. It can be very tempting to buy a cute little tree in a nice big pot, but make sure you find out how long it will stay that way. Some little plants grow up (literally), and they start taking way too much of your space. Plus, they can be so heavy that they’ll be a nightmare to get out the front door.
Selection of Plant Stores in Denver
The natural environment is important to residents of Denver, so there isn’t a shortage of plant stores. There are too many to list, but here are a few to get you started.
- Urban Roots – This is a nice little shop that specializes in plants for limited space (such as apartments), so it’s a perfect starting point for urban dwellers.
- Echter’s Nursery & Garden – This oasis nestled in sunny Arvada is a great place to consider when purchasing house plants. They have an entire nursery to select your best house plants for an apartment. Plus, the staff is welcoming and helpful when asking questions about proper care and plant maintenance.
- Planted – This business is run by a plant expert who makes plants while recycling and using sustainable practices as much as possible. If you don’t think there’s an art to houseplants, then you need to stop by and be amazed.
- Wild Flowers – A lovely little boutique that sells houseplants and other home décor. It’s a good way to save time because you can get some other nice decorations while looking for natural roommates.
- IKEA – This massive retailer seems to have everything, and it definitely isn’t lacking in the plant department. Plus, many of them are picked especially for apartment life, so you will have plenty of choices. And don’t worry, there’s no assembly required, so you won’t have to follow any of those impossible instructions!
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