Plants are beneficial in many ways; they remove toxins and provide more oxygen to the air, create a calming atmosphere, make sure that your concentration and focus improve, and are just very nice to look at. I LOVE them! Keeping them alive can be tricky though, especially as a social student. That’s why, in this blog, I’ll talk about 10 beautiful plants that are very easy to grow indoors (and don’t mind not getting a drink for a little while ;)).

#1 Monstera

My absolute favourite is the Monstera! They just look so tropical and cool with holes in their leaves. I got mine from the Albert Heijn about a year ago and it’s still thriving! Especially now that the weather is warm again, it gets loads of new leaves. It’s quite an easy plant to take care of as it doesn’t need direct sunlight, only medium to bright indirect light, and only needs water every 1-2 weeks (but make sure that the soil has dried out between waterings!). The plant grows best in temperatures between 18-30 degrees Celsius.

#2 Pothos

Pothos is a beautiful hanging plant and can be found in many different types. There are pothos with one-coloured leaves, but also pothos that have streaks of white, yellow or light green on its leaves, such as the Marble Queen Pothos. So, if you’re looking for an eye-catcher, look no further. The plant does well in many environments and can survive in bright, direct sunlight but also in low light. They grow very fast and their soil needs to be completely dried out before watering. Be aware that this plant is toxic to pets!

#3 Cacti

Cacti couldn’t not be part of this list because they need little water, which comes in handy when you’re a forgetful person like me. All they need is to be put in the warmest and sunniest spot in your room and to be fed some water once every few weeks. Even when they look wrinkled because you’ve forgotten to water it for a little bit too long, you can bring them back in shape in no time! It’s definitely a good choice to get started with.

#4 Prayer Plant

Another nice-looking plant that’s on my wishlist is the Prayer plant, which is a member of genus Maranta. This plant family is named after Bartolomeo Maranta who was a 16th-century Italian physician and botanist. The plant does well in medium to bright indirect light (definitely not in direct sunlight) and only needs lukewarm water once every 1-2 weeks. Make sure not to let the soil dry out completely!

#5 Pilea Peperomioides (AKA the pancake plant or Chinese money plant)

Fun fact: this plant is known as the “Pass It On” plant because it is often gifted between friends, especially because the plant grows quite fast and produces lots of little plant babies that need new homes. It originally only grew in China, but, in the 1940s, it was brought to Europe by a Norwegian missionary. Just like most plants on this list, it grows best in bright, indirect sunlight and definitely needs to be kept out of direct sunlight. Check the soil regularly as it’s best when you let it dry out almost completely and then water it again.

#6 Aloe Vera

The Aloe Vera plant is not only a cool plant to have on your windowsill, you can also use its gel for many different purposes. The gel can soothe sunburnt skin or help healing cold sores, but unfortunately you cannot eat it because it will cause indigestion and nausea. It can even be toxic when ingested in large amounts so it might be safe to keep it away from pets as well. Other than that, it’s an easy plant to take care of. It needs a bright spot with indirect sunlight, but it can occasionally take some direct sunlight. Although the soil should be drenched, make sure that the water can be drained because otherwise you’ll have a very brown and dry aloe vera ;). 

#7 String of hearts (for the romantics out there)

This romantic plant might be a good one if you want to add some colour to your green plant collection as it is characterised by heart-shaped leaves that have red edges, which makes it seem as if the plant is made out of actual hearts. Choose a nice spot out of direct sunshine and let the soil completely dry out in between waterings, and you’ll have a thriving string of hearts!

#8 Kentia palm

The Kentia Palm will bring a little bit of rainforest into your room as it originates from Lord Howe Island in Australia. It loves warm temperatures, but can easily adapt to other conditions such as moderate cold and dust. Indirect sunlight is best for palms less than five years old, but after that they can easily handle direct sunshine. Water it when the top layer of soil is dry and occasionally trim dead fronds. Yet another plant that should definitely be on your wishlist!

#9 ZZ plant

Another lovely tropical plant is the Zamioculcas Zamiifolia a.k.a. the ZZ plant or the Zanzibar Gem, which is native to the East of Africa. It has smooth and shining leaves which makes it an eye-catcher - a literal gem. It can tolerate harsher conditions such as moderate cold and lower indirect sunlight, but thrives in medium to bright indirect sunshine and warmer temperatures. What’s excellent is that you only have to water the plant every 2-3 weeks, or everytime the soil has dried out. So, a very easy plant to take care of water-wise!

#10 Parlor palm

Lastly, there’s the Parlor Palm, which is also known as the bamboo palm because it has bamboo-like stems. Just like the Kentia Palm, the plant is native to (sub)tropical areas, and originates from the Americas. This palm has been popular since the Victorian times and symbolised elegance and wealth during that time. The conditions in which the plant thrives is medium to bright indirect light while getting water every 1-2 weeks after the soil has dried out completely. If you want to bring some elegance into your room, this plant is for you!

If you want to start your own plant family, now is the time to do so! You’ve got a whole list of easy and beautiful indoor plants for students right here that are beneficial for your health, concentration levels and living atmosphere. Let us know which plants are on your wishlist and if you have any good tips for taking care of them.