Plants are a wonderful way to liven up a living room or bring a bit of pizzazz to a kitchen. They are, after all, Mother Nature’s interior designs. And this is true whether you rent or own. If you live in an apartment, there are several ways to help your plants flourish. Go out on a limb and consider the following:
Look For Plants that Do Well in Containers
Plants with shallow root systems tend to do well in containers, as they don’t require the complexity natural soil offers. Some plants known to thrive on the idea that less space is more include tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, figs, and ferns. Vegetable plants do well, too, and they have the unique feature of saving you money on your produce bill.
Consider Space
When it comes to apartment plants, size matters…and it may also be deceptive: a plant that starts out small doesn’t always stay that way. This is why you must consider plant potential when shrub shopping. Refrain from buying plants based on what they look like now, and instead, make note of the growing pattern and average size. You probably don’t want to care for and raise a plant only to have to give it away to someone with very vaulted ceilings.
Factor in Sunlight
The sun is of vital importance (no wonder the world revolves around it!). For plants, sunlight is a component of survival. But this doesn’t mean you need to live in an apartment that is bright and shiny all the time. Rather, you just need to purchase plants that can thrive in whatever your environment offers.
Often, this can be broken down in the following ways:
Full sunlight: Direct sun for at least six hours a day
Light shade: Between three and five hours of sun a day
Partial shade: Two hours of sun a day
Full shade: Less than a direct hour of sun a day
No matter what category your apartment falls into, you can find a plant that fits.
Don’t Overwater
While underwatering can certainly harm a plant, many plant owners tend to do the opposite, over-hydrating their foliage without recognizing the harm of going H2O overboard. Some signs that your plant may be affected by a free-flowing faucet include yellowing leaves, wilting, root rot, and fungus.
Start with Low-Maintenance Plants
Low-maintenance plants are plants that don’t require much care or attention and tend to be resilient. Starting with these easy plants benefits you in two ways. First, it gives you a crash course in indoor gardening with a plant that is patient enough to help you learn from your mistakes. Second, it gives you confidence in your botany skills, encouraging you to add more foliage to your home.
Plants have the power to bring a lot of life to an apartment, assuming, of course, you keep those plants alive. Consider these tips to help your shrubs and herbs stay rooted in health.
The Piedmont Apartments in Avon, Colorado offers luxurious, modern homes for residents that blend privacy with epic views of the Rocky Mountains. Contact us today to learn more about mountain town living in our picturesque apartments.