If you’re looking to breathe some much-needed life into your New York City apartment, we’ve got just the greenery for you! The following plants are the best for providing natural beauty within your living space without demanding a ton of time and attention. And in some cases, they can even add spice to some of your meals! Take a look below.
1. ZZ plant
The zamioculcas zamiifolia is a difficult name to pronounce but it’s one of the world’s easiest plants to grow indoors. This herbaceous East African native is similar to the Peace Lily plant, with wide, glossy dark green leaves. Office and apartment-dwellers love the ZZ plant because it thrives in low light and can handle being watered as few as six times a year!
2. Mint
If you want to add a fresh zing to your recipes without having to leave your apartment, try this vigorous perennial herb. A typical mint plant grows serrated leaves that have a powerful sweet aroma. It prefers light in the morning, shade in the afternoon, and a moist environment all the time, which makes it perfect for a bathroom windowsill.
Bright green mint leaves add a pop of color to a room.
3. Cilantro
From stalk to seed, every inch of this annual cool-season herb is edible. It also doesn’t take up much space, as cilantro likes getting cozy with other herbs in a deep clay or plastic container. With morning sun and minimal water, the plant will sprout green leaves and small pale flowers. You can harvest the leaves when the cilantro plant is about 6 inches tall.
4. Snake Plant
The snake plant gets its name from long, yellow-edged leaves that look like snakes, which grow upright in dense clusters. Their sharp tips have also earned them the nickname “mother-in-law’s tongues”. The snake plant’s leaves retain a lot of water and readily adapt to different lighting around an apartment. Treat your snake plant with some plant food twice a year in the spring and summer months, and you’re all set!
5. Lucky Bamboo
Prized for its feng shui design qualities, lucky bamboo is surprisingly simple to grow indoors as it favors indirect light. Give your baby bamboo plant 1 to 3 inches of water in which to set its roots. Once the roots grow, keep them submerged in water as well, changing the water out every 2-4 weeks. Try to use bottled water, as lucky bamboo is sensitive to the chemicals in tap water. Warm and humid conditions will keep the plant’s tips alive and healthy.
Succulents are easy to care for and perfect for small spaces.
6. Succulent
They’re small, cute, come in interesting shapes, and flourish even when neglected. What more could you ask for? When choosing a succulent plant, it’s best to go with one that’s green, as they tend to do better indoors than purple or orange colored succulents. And ensure that your succulents have ample breathing room and plenty of sunshine. (An apartment with an east-facing window is succulent heaven!)
7. Oregano
With an oregano plant on your windowsill, you’ll have delicious seasoning for your meals all year long. The herb is also known for its soothing qualities and has the power to fight off acne and a number of infections. Be sure to plant oregano in full sunlight or under fluorescent lights to strengthen the flavor. It loves well-drained soil, so you’ll only need to water it when the soil has gone completely dry.