Best houseplants for renters
Renters need plants that move easily, propagate cheaply (so you can leave roots behind for the next tenant or share with friends), and adapt to wildly different light conditions when you change apartments. Skip the heavy floor plants and slow-growing investments — these picks travel light and grow fast.
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Spider Plant Chlorophytum comosum
Pet-safe Bright indirect Drought-tolerantPropagates itself — the babies are pre-rooted. Cheapest plant collection on Earth.
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Chinese Money Plant Pilea peperomioides
Pet-safe Bright indirectTrendy, compact, and produces pups around the base you can give away.
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Aloe Vera Aloe barbadensis miller
Toxic to cats and dogs Direct sun Drought-tolerantAloe Vera is very easy to grow, drought-tolerant, handles dry indoor air, listed by NASA Clean Air Study.
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Christmas Cactus Schlumbergera bridgesii
Pet-safe Bright indirectChristmas Cactus is easy to grow, pet-safe.
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Bromeliad Aechmea fasciata
Pet-safe Bright indirect Drought-tolerantBromeliad is easy to grow, drought-tolerant, handles dry indoor air, pet-safe.
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Echeveria Echeveria elegans
Pet-safe Bright indirect Drought-tolerantEcheveria is easy to grow, drought-tolerant, handles dry indoor air, pet-safe.
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Tradescantia Zebrina Tradescantia zebrina
Toxic to cats and dogs Bright indirectTradescantia Zebrina is very easy to grow, handles dry indoor air.
Honorable mentions
More plants in our database that fit this criteria but did not make the top 7.
- Watermelon Peperomia (Peperomia argyreia)
- Sweetheart Plant (Hoya kerrii)
- Baby Rubber Plant (Peperomia obtusifolia)
- Haworthia (Haworthia cooperi)
- String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii)
- Burro's Tail (Sedum morganianum)
- Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
- Zebra Haworthia (Haworthiopsis attenuata)
Final word
Buy plants in plastic nursery pots, not heavy ceramic. You can swap pots when you arrive — moving 15 plants in plastic is one trip; moving them in ceramic takes three.