Horticulture, the act of caring for plants, has gained popularity. While plant care can seem intimidating to some, it is all about consistency and providing the basics — water and sunlight. Having a houseplant in your dorm room could alter space by adding color and life. Susan McQuillan wrote an article for Psychology Today addressing multiple ways plants can improve metal health, including lowering stress, improved memory retention, higher creativity levels, and more.  

Regular interaction with houseplants can reduce stress and mental strain. College can be stressful, with the constant workload and social pressures. Repotting plants and spending time with your hands in the soil and/or cleaning the roots, has been proven to reduce blood pressure and increase feelings of comfort.  

Caring for plants can seem intimidating but just keep in mind that consistency is key. In my experience, listed below are plants that are happy with weekly watering, if they have access to sunlight. Some plants are more forgiving and rewarding than others.  

Here is a quick how-to guide on how to care for five common, dorm-friendly houseplants. Ordered from most to least challenging, with notes on watering, light, and overall care.   

#5 The Weeping Fig  

Water this plant once a week, or when the top inch of soil is dry. It prefers bright indirect light. Place this plant next to a window or in a corner, where it can be in shade for most of the day. The weeping fig will thrive with higher humidity or consistent misting. This plant will start as a small bush or twig depending on where you purchase it from and can grow into a small tree. The plant shown is about 20 years old.  

#4 The Peace Lily  

Water this plant once a week or when the top inch of soil is dry. It prefers low, indirect light. Keep it in a shaded spot by a window. The peace lily has glossy leaves and prominent flowers which can add a pop of color to any space.  

#3 The Snake Plant  

Water this plant every two weeks, or when the soil is almost completely dry. It is best to fully saturate the soil and then allow to drain any excess. It prefers bright indirect light, having it next to a window or farther back where it’ll be in a sunspot for a few hours is perfect. 

The snake plant is drought resistant and very tough due to the ability to store water in its leaves, perfect for someone new to plant care!  

#2 The Pothos 

Water this plant once a week, or when the top inch of soil is dry. These plants prefer bright indirect light in front or next to a window, however, they can also survive in low-light spaces. 

Coming in a wide array of different varieties, my personal favorites are the golden pothos, silver pothos, and the dragon’s tail pothos — they are all fast growers and very low care.  

#1 The Spider Plant  

Water once a week, or when the top inch of soil is dry. These plants prefer medium to low light, keep in a room with a curtain or away from the window away from direct sunlight.  

If you do put these plants in direct sunlight, or water them inconsistently they grow pups—these are small spider plants. You can cut them off and make new spider plants for your friends!  

What are the best ways to water these plants?  

The three easiest options are self-watering pots, bottom watering, or keeping rooted plants in water rather than soil.  

Self-watering pots:  

These have two layers: one to hold the soil and roots with space for water to enter, and the second layer is a standard-looking pot that gets filled with clean water. The first pot gets placed into the second, water filled pot. The water then keeps the soil consistently moist, providing the roots with ample water. However, this is not suggested for the weeping fi, peace lily, or snake plant.  

Bottom watering:  

When the top inch or two of the soil is dry, take a wide-based bowl and fill it halfway with clean water. Grab the plant that needs watering and place it in the bowl, then leave it alone. Remove the plant after an hour or two, or when the water is fully absorbed. This is my preferred method of watering and doing so once a week for most of my plants has shown the best results.  

Water instead of soil: 

This mostly works for any kind of pothos; they thrive in water. If you get a pathos in soil, remove it and clean off the roots, then place it in a clear cup with clean water. This provides the roots with sunlight and lets you monitorthe roots’ health. Make sure the water is replaced once a week. Keeping plants in water is one of my favorite methods, because I love seeing how the roots grow, and because it reduces the chance of gnats by almost 100%.  

Any houseplant can offer a splash of color to your dorm space while giving the benefits of better air quality, reduced stress, and a new hobby. I encourage you to go out and find a plant you connect with!