Now that the first few weeks of classes have come and gone here at Skidmore, perhaps you’ve settled in and realized that your dorm room is missing that little extra something. Maybe you need a little green to break up the dull colors of the stacked books on your desk, or a leafy companion to sit with you in your window seat. A plant is a great addition to any dorm room, and not only are they great decorations, but the National Institutes of Health has published findings connecting interaction with house plants to lower levels of stress, which almost every student can benefit from. Plants are also known for their ability to increase air quality. Whatever your needs, the following list of plants are easy to care for and hard to kill: making them perfect for busy or forgetful college students.
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Aloe. Originating from the Arabian Peninsula, the Aloe Vera plant has become widely popular in skin care and has many other medical purposes. Findings suggest that aloe have been used for these properties since the 4th century BC. Fell asleep doing homework on Case Green and got a sunburn? The gel in the leaves of the Aloe Vera plant can help, and growing your own aloe plant is incredibly easy. The light that is filtered by your dorm room window creates the perfect indirect sunlight that aloe plants prefer. As a bonus, if you’re forgetful, this plant is ideal for you; watering is required only once every few weeks. Make sure your plant has a well-draining pot with drainage holes at the bottom to allow excess water to filter out, and to fully saturate the soil when you do water your aloe.
Pothos. Pothos plants are fun for dorms because of the long vines they grow, adding a particularly decorative element to this plant. Similar to aloe, a pothos does best in indirect sunlight. Most pothos plants have light colored streaks in them which can’t photosynthesize or make energy for the plant, meaning the green parts will need to absorb more sunlight to make up for it. So, the more light colored streaks your plant has, the more sunlight it requires. Pothos plants can also be easily propagated, meaning they can be grown from clippings of another plant, rather than seed. Have a friend with a pothos plant, and want your own but don’t know how to get soil? Clippings of pothos can also be grown in a vase of water. Otherwise, well draining soil that prevents water from pooling, and subsequently prevents the rotting of roots, will serve a pothos well. Once the soil is completely dry, it should be watered again.
Sensitive Plant. Want a fidget toy and plant all in one? The sensitive plant, also called a shameplant, has leaves that will curl inwards when stroked. The sensitive plant originates from tropical areas in South and Central America, and is considered a creeping shrub, (a small plant that grows close to the ground), or herb. The sensitive plant does require a bit more sun than the other plants on this list. Direct sunlight, or light that falls directly on the plant, is best. If the leaves don’t open during the day, your plant is not getting enough sunlight. A well-draining soil is best for the sensitive plant, and once the top layer of soil dries, it should be watered again.
Coleus. Coleus plants are a particularly colorful addition to your dorm, and are fairly easy to care for. You can find examples of large coleus planted by the entrance to the Williamson Sports Center. These plants are found near the shade of trees or buildings, which is consistent with the partial shade that is preferred by this plant. Along with the other plants on this list, soil that allows for water to effectively drain is best. Coleus can also be grown in jars of water rather than soil, similar to a pothos. Unfortunately, this plant is not ideal for those of us who are forgetful: coleus plants do require more frequent watering, and prefer their soil to be kept damp.
Lucky Bamboo. Stressed about an upcoming exam? Although lucky bamboo is actually a tropical water lily and not actually related to bamboo, lucky bamboo is said to bring good luck as per Chinese tradition, especially if you were given one of these plants as a gift. This symbol of good fortune dates back nearly 4,000 years to China, where lucky bamboo is still popular, especially during the New Year and other festivals. Lucky bamboo does not do well in direct sunlight, which could scorch the leaves. Nutrient rich, well-draining soil that is kept damp works well for this plant. However, these plants are also commonly grown in a vase of water or pebbles.
There are a countless number of house plants available to the average person: large plants, small plants, succulents, vines, and so on. It can be daunting to figure out which plants are easy to care for, and if you have an environment where they can thrive. We hope that this list, although limited, can provide you with a starting point to identify the best plant for you, whether you are a new plant parent or have a green thumb. Happy growing!