To spruce up that bare dorm room, consider bringing the outdoors in. 

Bringing nature into your room not only makes for excellent interior design, but also proves to have physiological and psychological benefits. According to a study published by the National Library of Medicine, it was concluded that young adults who interact with plants on a daily basis decrease their sympathetic nervous system activity, reducing stress and anxiety. Plants bring in a natural environment and produce soothing, relaxing vibes. 

Deciding the best plant(s) for a dorm room can be tricky, as there are many factors to examine before buying one. The level of maintenance, a plant’s water intake, price and the amount of sunlight needed should all be taken into consideration. To eliminate that tedious research, here are some of the best dorm-friendly plants students can bring into their habitat. 

Succulent plants

A succulent plant is great to start with for students who want something small, making it popular among students in dorms. These houseplants thrive when put near a window, on a desk or hung from the ceiling. Succulents require little water, as they already store water in their leaves. They should be watered twice a month, on a bi-weekly basis, so their soil should be primarily dry. They do, however, need sunlight, so open the windows and let that light in. 

“I currently do not have a plant but I would get a succulent because it’s just easier to take care of,” Theresa Hoang, a first-year business major said. 

Her friend, Valeria Rangel, a first-year marketing major agreed, as she already owns a succulent. 

“I have a succulent because I’m terrible with plants and I don’t have to take care of it as much,” Rangel said.

Aloe vera

For a soothing, good-smelling room, an aloe vera plant does just that. It is part of the succulent family, so all it needs is plenty of indirect sunlight and a little water. The plant’s leaves are thick, containing aloe gel that’s commonly used on sunburnt skin. 

Ironically, much like humans, aloe vera plants can get sunburnt, so placing them in direct sunlight causes their leaves to turn yellow. These houseplants make for good decor and don’t have leaves that fall to the floor.

Spider plant

Named for its dangling, arching leaves, a spider plant gives the dorm room some character. Because of its narrow, long leaves, hanging it from the ceiling will surely brighten the room.

Come spring when the dorm rooms may get too hot and dry, buying a mister for this plant will assist it in retaining its humidity. Spray distilled water evenly every other day. Spider plants can be kept indoors all year round, only needing water one to two times a week. If starting off with a baby spider plant, within a few months it will need to be transferred to a larger pot as it grows. Its roots will be the indicator; when they start to grow outwards and circle the bottom of the pot, a pot change is needed. 

Money tree

Unlike its name, this houseplant can’t grow money, but it will foster responsibility and growth. Money trees are perfect for plant parents who want to take it up a notch as they can grow anywhere between six to eight feet tall. It requires lots of sunlight and little water. 

This plant has a unique, braid-like trunk which makes it stand out from other trees. When taken care of right, these trees grow fast and can make a comfortable addition to your dorm room.

Lavender plant

For color and relaxation, a lavender plant provides both with low maintenance care. This type of plant requires a lot of warmth and water only when its soil becomes dry. Lavender’s scent is produced from its leaves, which makes for a nice-smelling room and a soothing atmosphere. 

A study from clinicaltrials.gov showed that lavender aromatherapy reduced stress in a group of patients who underwent MRI procedures. The scent of lavender has been well-known to significantly decrease anxiety and stress, which makes it perfect for college students.