17 of the best houseplants that stay small

As houses and apartments become smaller, especially in cities, many city dwellers feel a need to bring greenery into their homes. They are specifically looking for houseplants that stay small. Not only to liven up a place, but also purify the air. Bringing plants indoors makes us happy. Simply just looking at plants help our level of positivity increase and stimulate creativity.

While you may have always eyed that gorgeous lush green philodendron or majesty palm, big plants like these are not always practical in small homes. Fortunately, there are also many houseplants that stay small that you can jazz your interior up with. These can be used to add the right touch of green almost anywhere. You can really get creative. Small houseplants can be hung from the ceiling, displayed on a window sill, placed on the kitchen counter, or on a bedside table. Vertical wall gardens have become very popular. These are great for both indoor or outdoor areas. Don’t forget flowering plants. They may need a little more attention than other greenery, but bring color into the home and may even have a scent.

When it comes to houseplants that stay small, succulents and air plants are obvious choices. The Peace lily, a slightly larger plant is a good choice too, since it does not require a lot of floor space and can be placed on top of the table too. This article looks at 7 of the most fabulous small houseplants that will spruce up space.

17 Popular houseplants that stay small

These gorgeous houseplants are perfect for smaller spaces and homes. They should be available at every good nursery. Because of their size, houseplants that stay small are easy to order online these days. Find an online store near you and browse their catalog, alternatively, you can order online from Amazon too.

African Violets (Streptocarpus sect. Saintpaulia)

Houseplants that stay small — African violets

These pretty flowering plants are very popular. Native to Tanzania, African violets produce attractive little flowers and stay in bloom all year round. They are not high maintenance but do require you to pay careful attention to how you water them. Take care to not let the roots of this plant stay in the water. Let the soil dry in between waterings too. They need indirect light in order to thrive. Direct light can burn the leaves. Take care that the air does not become too dry. African violets prefer standard humidity and temperatures at 65 to 75°F (18 to 24°C).

Aloe vera (Aloe vera)

These easy to grow and low-maintenance succulents are popular houseplants. Not only do they make attractive houseplants, but their fleshy leaves can also be used to treat sunburn or help heal wounds. Make sure the soil is dry in between waterings. Place them near a window that gets sun. Aloe is toxic to animals. Check out this article for more info on plants that are unsafe for cats.

Radiator plants (Peperomia)

These small compact perennial usually likes to grow in rotten wood but will be just as happy in indoors with you. Peperomia are plants that belong in the peppercorn family. They make great houseplants, are easy to care for, and also clean the air. They like medium to bright indirect sun. You can water them every 1 to 2 weeks,. Allow for the soil to dry in between waterings.

Cacti (Cactaceae)

Super low maintenance, cacti are well adapted to dry, arid conditions. Watering them only a little now and then. Some cacti only require water every few months. Place yours near a sunny spot by a window. There are about 1750 known species for you to choose from. Popular cacti include the Bunny ears cactus (Opuntia microdasys), Chin Cactus (Gymnocalycium), Old Lady Cactus (Mammillaria hahniana), Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii), and Moon cactus (Gymnocalycium mihanovichii). Choose the one that makes you happy to look at it. Or combine 2 or more in a little indoor cactus garden.

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Every home should have at least one pothos. These easy to care for houseplants are very popular and available almost everywhere. They are small and very attractive vines, that can be placed in a bookcase or hanging basket. They make great air purifiers. Pothos like partial to full sun and the soil needs to drain well.

Cyclamen (Primulaceae)

Cyclamen are beautiful flowering plants from the species Primulaceae. This plant is the perfect compact size for a small space. It grows 6 to 9 inches tall and wide. It is a tuberous perennial with sweet-scented pink, purple, red, or white blooms. It needs bright indirect sunlight, well-drained organically rich soil. Water when the soil is dry.

Orchid (Orchidaceae)

These beautiful blossoming houseplants are not as fragile as they look. They don’t require much care, need little water, and have no direct sun. When orchids find the right spot indoors, they thrive, producing a great number of blooms. They like areas inside the house that are mild, warm, and slightly humid. They can be watered once a week, but see that the water drains out from the pot’s bottom.

Peace lily (Spathiphyllum)

Peace lilies are easy to care for houseplants with spoon-shaped white flowers and shiny green leaves. These small plants don’t require much care. Just put them in an area with indirect sunlight, keep the soil moist and they will happily bloom away.

Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)

These plants are really cute with their unusual round leaves. Commonly known as Chinese money plant, but also called missionary plant, pancake plant, lefse plant, or bender plant. Only recently gaining popularity, these plants are often featured in Scandinavian interiors. Native to the southern provinces of China, these plants are not easy to obtain but propagate easily. If you get hold of a cutting. They like bright lights, but no direct sun. Light shady makes their leaves grow bigger and cold temperatures may encourage them to produce their tiny white flowers.

Other popular houseplants that stay small include:

Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata)

ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

Polka-Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)

Baby Rubber Plant (Peperomia obtusifolia)

Anthurium (Araceae)

Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata)

Bird of paradise (Strelitzia)

String of pearls (Curio rowleyanus)

Last thoughts on houseplants that stay small

This list barely covers all the possible options out there. There are many more houseplants that stay small, perfect for an apartment or smaller house to be found. Familiarize yourself with smaller plants by giving your local nursery or plant store a visit. Make a list of the plants mentioned in this article and take it with you. You can really get creative with houseplants that stay small and elevate your space for maximum enjoyment. Most of all, have fun!