Guide to Developing Your Apartment Green Thumb

Plants are the perfect way to add décor to your apartment because they’re easy to move around, require no tools to “install” and are replaceable (although with this post’s tips, hopefully you’ll never have to replace a plant again!). If you’re looking to elevate your space with live plants, follow these tips for beautiful, stylish foliage.

Spruce Up Your Plants with On-Trend Containers

News flash: Terracotta pots, thankfully, aren’t your only option when it comes to plant containers. There are so many colorful, chic or just plain crazy plant containers on the market today that choosing the right one for your space and your plant is an easy way to add oomph to your décor.

For example, instead of a typical pot, I used a color-blocked basket woven out of natural fibers to hold my fiddle leaf fig — you’d never guess it was actually a wastebasket! Plus, while it’s a blogger favorite, the fiddle leaf fig can be notoriously fickle, and it doesn’t like moving around or being reported. I chose to use a basket so I could keep the fiddle leaf in its original plastic pot and just slip it inside the basket.

And for added visual interest, I like to hoist my plants up on plant stands. This makes my plant feel more like a cool piece of furniture, and it’s also a good way to prevent small pets from nibbling on leaves. The best part? Picking out a personality-packed container requires no green thumb at all!

Choose Low-Maintenance Plants That Make a Big Impact

If you don’t consider yourself a natural green thumb, go for plants that have a “wow” factor but are also easy to care for. For example, the thick, glossy leaves of my non-climbing philodendron is the perfect desk accessory, and it requires minimal care.

 Likewise, my pencil cactus plant (so named because its branches are about the size and thickness of a pencil), adds a totally unique element to my living space, and because it’s a member of the succulent family, it doesn’t take much water to grow. Other easy-to-care-for plants include on-trend succulents, climbing philodendrons, the rubber tree (which can grow up to eight feet tall!) and the snake plant. Be aware, though, that some houseplants can be toxic to children and pets, so read warnings carefully when picking out your plant.

Add Drama with Trailing and Climbing Plants

Is there anything more romantic than pretty green tendrils reaching up toward the sun or trailing over the edge of a chest or bookcase? I love to use trailing or climbing plants to add instant drama to rooms in my apartment, like this classic English ivy that feels right at home on my bathroom shelf. Plus, many trailing and climbing plants are low maintenance, ivy included. Other good choices include climbing philodendron, pothos and Swedish ivy. If you don’t have room on your shelves or furniture for a climbing plant, you can use a hanging pot secured from the ceiling so the plant’s tendrils can hang over the sides of the pot.

A terrarium is also a good choice for apartment dwellers who are working on developing their green thumbs. And if you’re looking for even more tips on indoor plant care.