16 Small-sized Indoor Plants for the Limited Spaces

ZZ Plant also called Zanzibar Gem, Zuzu Plant, Aroid Palm or Emerald Palm is among the most popular indoor plants due to its compact size, attractive, glossy, dark-green foliage and tolerance to less than perfect growing conditions.

Zanzibar Gem grows to a height of 90 cm from a stout underground succulent rhizome. It is a good air cleaner getting rid benzene, toluene, xylene and ethylbenzene from indoor air. On account of its compact size and air cleaning properties, Zuzu Plant is one of the best plants for for a study table as it boosts concentration.

Zamioculcas zamiifolia blossoms in bright, indirect light (partial shade), average warmth of 15-26⁰C, moderate humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fertile, succulents potting soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.

Read more on how to grow and care for ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

Pothos are very colorful and very versatile plants. This coupled with their air cleaning properties make these plants excellent choice for hassle-free houseplants.

If kept away from draughts, direct sunlight and with moderate watering, these plants will thrive. Pothos can be treated as a trailer in a hanging basket or as a climber on a moss-stick, a trellis or a wall or as a table-top plant.

Scindapsus aureus grow best in medium to bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight, moderately warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil.

Learn more on how to grow and care for Pothos

Chinese Evergreens are small-sized plants which bear spear-shaped leaves on short stems which grow with a minimum outward spread and are ideal for limited spaces. They are also good air indoor cleaners.

Chinese Evergreens are easy to grow and adapt well to varying light levels; they will even thrive in the poorly lit spots.

Aglaonema thrive in medium to bright light away from direct sunlight, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, well-drained soils.

Read more on how to grow and care for Chinese Evergreens

Snake Plant bears long upright and beautifully colored foliage with a minimum outward spread making it perfect for limited spaces. This plant is slow growing, low maintenance, extremely hardy and almost indestructible.

Snake Plant can withstand low light, dry air, draughts and periods of dryness. It is also effective in cleaning indoor air of various indoor air pollutants.

Snake Plants require bright light with some direct sunlight, average warmth and moderately moist, loose, fertile, free-draining soil.

Learn more on how to grow and care for Snake Plants

Heartleaf Philodendron also called Sweetheart Plant is a popular plant for small spaces. It is perfect for a hanging basket, as a climber on a wall, trellis or moss-stick or as a table-top plant.

Sweetheart Plant is easy to grow due to its ability to withstand neglect and poor conditions. It is also a good indoor air cleaner.

Philodendron scandens thrives in medium to bright indirect light away from direct sunlight, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soils.

Read more on how to grow and care for Heartleaf Philodendron

Peace Lily also called White Sails or Spathe Flower bears glossy, dark-green leaves with a minimum outward spread which makes it ideal for small spaces and is also a good air cleaner.

White Sails like Cigar Plant (Cuphea ignea) are grown for their beautiful foliage and large flowers which are magnificent in any space.

Spathiphyllum wallisii grows best in bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight, average warmth, moderately humid conditions and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil.

Learn more on how to grow and care for Peace Lily

Spider Plant also called Airplane Plant, Spider Ivy or Ribbon Plant is a popular, beautiful indoor plant for a hanging basket or a table-top. It is fast growing, easy-care and is also a good air cleaner.

Spider Ivy are extremely adaptable to a wide range of growing conditions and will grow in hot or cool rooms, in sun or shade and will withstand dry air.

Chlorophytum comosum thrives in bright, indirect light, average warmth and consistently moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with regular feeding.

Read more on how to grow and care for Spider Plant

Corn Palm or Corn Plant grows with a minimal outward spread which saves on space, making it perfect for small spaces. The brightly colored foliage will add a splash of color to any space. It can be grown as a stand alone plant to provide a bold and attractive focal point.

Corn Plant is easy to care for but the leaves may die if exposed to direct sunlight. Light shade is the best position for this plant.

Dracaena fragrans requires bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight, average warmth and consistently moist, rich, well-drained soil.

Learn more on how to grow and care for Corn Palm

Teardrop Peperomia is one of the popular Peperomia varieties and bears delicate, fleshy, dark-green, oval-shaped leaves and hence the common name, 'teardrop'.

Teardrop Peperomia is a semi-succulent, slow growing, compact plant which grows to a height of about 6 inches. On account of its compact size, Peperomia orba and its cousins Peperomia verticillata (Red Log Plant), Peperomia obtusifolia (Pepper Face Plant), Peperomia puteolata (Parallel Peperomia) and Peperomia polybotrya (Coin-leaf Peperomia) are perfect for the limited spaces.

Peperomia orba grows best in medium to bright light away from direct sunlight (dappled light), average warmth of 15-26⁰C, humidity of 60-75% and moderately moist, fetile, well-drained, succulents potting soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.

Learn how to grow and care for Teardrop Peperomia (Peperomia orba)

Desert Cacti are plants with minimal outward spread which is ideal for the limited spaces in the home, office and any other place. Their growth habits and forms occupy very little space.

The trailing types can be grown in a hanging basket and the ball-like can be grown as a table-top plant while the columnar types can be grown as stand alone plants.

Desert Cacti like Aloes, Echeverias, Gasteria, Haworthia and Sempervivums are small-sized, hardy plants which easily withstand a high level of neglect but hate soggy soil where monthly or fortnightly watering is perfect for them depending on existing temperatures.

Desert Cacti grow best in in bright light to full sunlight with at least 2-3 hours of sunshine per day, average warmth of 16-28⁰C, moderate humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, well drained, cactus potting soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.

Learn more on how to grow and care for Desert Cacti

Panda Plant also called Pussy Ears Kalanchoe or Chocolate Soldier is one of the popular Kalanchoe varieties with silvery-green, brown-edged, furry or woolly leaves and hence its other common names.

Chocolate Soldier Plant and its relatives Kalanchoe marmorata (Penwiper Plant) and Kalanchoe thyrsiflora (Paddle Plant) are popular plants for limited spaces on account of their compact size.

Kalanchoe tomentosa blossoms in bright light to full sunlight, average warmth of 16-26⁰C, moderate humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained, succulents potting mix coupled monthly feeding during the growing season.

Learn more on how to grow and care for Panda Plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa)

Jade Plant grows upright with minimal outward spread which makes it ideal for small spaces. It is easy to grow, will tolerate some level of neglect and can go for a considerably long period without water.

Jade Plant and its cousins Crassula tetragona (Miniature Pine Tree), Crassula tomentosa (Woolly Crassula), Crassula coccinea (Sunglow Plant), Crassula picturata (Tiger Jade Crassula), Crassula elegans (Elegant Crassula) and Crassula perforata (String of Buttons Plant) are some of the popular Crassula plants for the limited spaces.

Crassula ovata flourishes in bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sunshine, average warmth of 15-26⁰C , moderate humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, rich, well-drained, succulents potting soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.

Read more on how to grow and care for Jade Plant

String of Beads Plant also called String of Pearls Plant is among the popular Senecio varieties and bears pendant thread-like stems on which grow spherical, green leaves, resembling a neck-lace of beads or pearls while making it ideal for a hanging basket, tabletop, shelf and other limited spaces.

String of Pearls Plant is one of the popular string of plants whose succulent leaves and stems enable it survive considerably long periods without being watered which makes it one of the best drought-tolerant plants for the home.

Senecio rowleyanus blossoms in bright light with 6-8 hours of direct sunlight, moderate warmth of 20-27⁰C, average humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained, succulents soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.

Learn more on how to grow and care for String of Beads Plant

Chinese Money Plant also called Missionary Plant, Friendship Plant, Pancake Plant or UFO Plant is easy to grow and propagate which makes it easy to share with friends and hence the common name, 'Friendship Plant'.

Missionary Plant like Cyclamen persicum is a low-growing, compact plant with a minimal outward spread which makes it ideal for small spaces like a tabletop, desktop, plant shelf or windowsill.

Pilea peperomioides requires bright light away from direct sunlight, warm and moderately humid conditions and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil.

Learn more on how to grow and care for Chinese Money Plant

Arrowhead Vine also called Goosefoot Vine, Arrowhead Plant, African Evergreen, Arrowhead Philodendron, American Evergreen or Nephthytis is a compact plant with arrow-shaped leaves which dramatically change in shape as the plant ages.

There are many Syngonium plants varieties with the main difference being in the position and extent of the cream or white markings. Some leaves are almost entirely white, pink, red or yellow.

Syngonium podophyllum flourishes in bright, indirect light, average warmth of 15-28⁰C, moderate humidity of 50-55% and consistently moist, rich, well-drained, all purpose potting soils coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.

Read more on how to grow and care for Arrowhead Vine

Pygmy Date Palm also called Dwarf Date Palm is among the popular palms on account of its beautiful foliage and tolerance to drought and shade conditions.

Dwarf Date Palm like Parlour Palm (Chamaedorea elegans) and Kentia Palm (Howea forsteriana) is a small-sized plant and is perfect for the limited spaces in the home, office and other suitable places.

Phoenix roebelenii prospers in bright indirect light (filtered light), average warmth of 16-28⁰C, humidity of 50-60% and moderately moist, fertile, well drained, all purpose potting soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing period.

Learn more on how to grow and care for Pygmy Date Palm (Phoenix roebelenii)

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