If you are a New Yorker and live in a tiny apartment, you will know that it is not the best environment for many plants. Plants usually need fresh air, sunlight, space, etc. Everything that a lot of NYC apartments don’t have. Not to mention how much maintenance certain plants require. But that doesn’t mean you should give up having plants altogether. So, if you are one of those people who love plants but are unsure if you can keep them alive, this is the right article for you. We created a list of the best plants for your NYC apartment that are very low maintenance. And these plants are not just nice décor; they are also very useful.
We asked Joan Brothers, the owner of Manhattan Boutique Real Estate who owns a boutique residential real estate company specializing in New York City apartments, does having beautiful indoor plants add value to your NYC apartment, and she said, “having beautiful plants makes your home look more luxurious”.
Snake plants are very low maintenance and very easy to take care of
Snake plant
When it comes to low-maintenance plants, snake plants are one of the best options out there. Dracaena Trifasciata or better known as snake plant, mother in laws tongue, etc. This is a plant that is native to West Africa. It has gorgeously green, sharp, and pointed leaves that grow strongly upwards. It is one of the best plants for your NYC apartment. And we will explain why. They don’t need too much sunlight, and they don’t need much water. One of the biggest mistakes you can make with snake plants is overwatering. To know when to water it, just put your finger in the soil and see if it is too dry. The only other thing these plants can’t survive in freezing temperatures. So as you can see, they are effortless to take care of.
String of Hearts got its name thank to the beautiful and unique heart-shaped leaves .
One of the best plants for your NYC apartment
-String of hearts
If you are one of those who consider renting storage just so they have a place for extra items and can get even more plants in their apartment, this next plant is for you. That’s because the next plant on our list is probably the most beautiful one, and anyone who loves plants that much deserves to have it. It is a plant called Ceropegia or, more commonly, a string of hearts. That’s because it has cascading heart-shaped leaves that will make any room look more elegant. Plants as beautiful as this can be of great use when putting your home on the market. One of our questions for Joan Brothers was, “Are NYC apartments with nice decorative plants more likely to sell?” She assured us by saying, “Most likely. People are drawn to appealing sights of lovely greenery.” But beauty is not the top priority for this list; it is, in fact, maintenance. This plant doesn’t need direct sunlight. They also don’t require to be watered very often. You will know when to water it by the dryness of the soil. This resilient and beautiful plant is perfect for your NYC apartment.
Chinese Evergreen
The next low-maintenance indoor plant on our list is Aglaonema, also known as Chinese Evergreen. These plants don’t have any special requirements. And here is the great thing about them. How much sunlight they need depends on the color of their leaves. If your apartment has enough sunlight, you can take a Chinese Evergreen with light colorful leaves. But if you, like many New Yorkers, don’t have that much sunlight in your apartment, there is another option. A Chinese evergreen plant with darker green leaves requires less sunlight and can survive in your apartment. When it comes to watering, this plant is very resilient. Even if you forget to water it for up to two weeks, it can survive it. But it should be watered every 6 to 8 days. Anything more that would be considered overwatering, and it can cause your plant to die. You can tell by yellowed leaves if it’s overwatered. This beautiful plant can give your NYC apartment a peaceful and fresh look.
If you often forget to flower your plants, then this is the right plant for you.
ZZ plant
ZZ plant or Zamioculcas zamiifolia, is a type of flowering plant in the family Araceae. It is a plant native to eastern Africa. If you forget to water your plants or are away from home often, this is the right plant for you. ZZ plants need to be watered every two to three weeks. If you give it a bit more sunlight, you will need to water it a bit more. There will be clear signs that your plant needs watering. Signs like wilting and wrinkled leaves. At first, this plant has a lovely lime green color, but as it matures, the color gets richer and darker green. But Zamioculcas are not just beautiful house plants but have other qualities. For example, they are great air purifiers. They get rid of toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene.
Spider plant
Spider plant or Chlorophytum comosum is a flowering plant in the Asparagaceae family. It has very distinct, long, narrow leaves that look like spider legs hence its name. They are unique plants and can really elevate the look of your New York apartment. And according to experts at U. Santini Moving and Storage Brooklyn, this is the plant most New Yorkers have when they are relocating. Now onto its maintenance requirements. If you don’t have direct sunlight in your apartment, no problem. These plants actually need to avoid direct sunlight at all costs. Also not too many watering requirements. Just water it once a week in warmer months. And during winter months, even less. You will need to fertilize it, but rarely. And any all-purpose type of fertilizer will do, so you won’t have to go through the trouble of finding any specific one.
Bonus tip- Think ahead
When picking plants for your NYC apartment, it’s good to think ahead. Because maybe one day you will be moving out of that apartment, and your plants can come in handy when you decide to put it on the market. Plants make an apartment look better with their greenery, but it is particularly important to have plants around during showings and open houses – they make the space come alive. And when asked if indoor plants make an apartment look better during an open house tour, Joan Brothers confirmed this and said,” Yes, plants make your home more attractive during an open house tour”. So, when picking the plants, remember that they should elevate your home’s look. There could be plants that you like, but they don’t really fit with the aesthetic of your apartment. It’s better to pick a plant that will be low maintenance but still make your home look incredible and fresh on open house day.
In conclusion
These were the best plants for your NYC apartment. They are both resilient and beautiful. Perfect for small,
low-light apartments a lot of New Yorkers have. And also perfect for the usually very busy and chaotic lifestyle people in New York live. Even if you forget about these plants sometimes, they will still live. You can forget to water some of these plants for weeks, and they will still bounce back. So there is absolutely no reason or excuse why you can’t have lovely plants in your apartment. Now go to the nearest gardening store and find your perfect house plant.
