How to Care for Houseplants in Small Spaces (Without Turning Your Home into a Jungle)
I’m often asked how many plants are “too many” for a small apartment. This is a complicated question with no one rule for everyone, but I’m a bit of a contrarian by nature. While most of the internet is pushing the “urban jungle” aesthetic—where every square inch is covered in vines—I prefer a different approach.
My answer usually veers toward: what is the maximum number of plants you can keep alive without sacrificing your own living space? Making a room look like a botanical garden is fine for a photo shoot, but it’s not always the best indicator of a functional space.
The “Jungle” Trap
Many people suggest that more plants make a home healthier. I disagree. Too many plants in a tight layout creates a list of problems that no one talks about: trapped humidity, soil gnats, and the constant fear of knocking over a ceramic pot every time you reach for the TV remote.
Skills can be learned, but the physical constraints of your apartment are fixed. If your “hobby” is making you feel claustrophobic in your own home, you’re going to stop enjoying it long-term.
The Strategy of “Negative Space”
In a small space, what you don’t buy is just as important as what you do. Instead of buying ten small succulents that clutter up your coffee table, I prefer choosing one or two “statement” plants that fit into corners you aren’t already using.
- Go Vertical, but Carefully: Use shelves and stands that have a small footprint. If a plant stand takes up more floor space than the plant it’s holding, it’s a bad investment for an apartment.
- The “One-In, One-Out” Rule: If you want a new plant, you have to decide which one is currently underperforming. It may sound harsh, but it helps prevent your home from becoming a warehouse.
Maintenance Without the Mess
The biggest challenge of the “urban jungle” is the mess. Watering thirty plants in a studio apartment usually means getting water on the hardwood or dragging pots to the kitchen sink for three hours every Sunday.
I focus on low-friction maintenance.
- Uniformity in Gear: Using the same type of self-watering inserts or consistent pot sizes makes your “supply” shelf much smaller.
- Strategic Placement: Keep your high-maintenance plants near a water source. If you have to carry a dripping watering can across your bedroom carpet every day, you’ll eventually skip the watering.
Keeping it Realistic
At the end of the day, your apartment is a place for you to live, not just a place for your plants to exist. I’m a big believer in the idea that a few healthy, well-placed plants look better—and are much easier to care for—than a crowded room full of struggling ones.
Don’t let the “jungle” trend convince you that more is better. Better is better. Focus on plants that fit your lifestyle and square footage, and leave the vine-covered ceilings to those who don’t mind living in a greenhouse.
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