For small-space, low-light living
Big garden energy
in a small flat.
You don’t own the walls, you can’t drill into windowsills, and your best light is a north-facing strip. Here are six plants — and five guides — that work anyway.
Apartment gardens have three constraints: limited floor space, weak light, and no permission to repaint. The plant picks below all tolerate small pots, mediocre light, and being moved when the landlord visits. Add a few hanging cuttings of pothos and a peperomia on the desk and you’ll have a real plant room — without losing your deposit.
Start with these guides
Low-light plants
The 14 plants we’ve tested in north-facing rooms and shadowy corners.
Read guideBest plants for an office desk
Tiny plants for tiny spaces. Pet-safe options highlighted.
Read guidePlants for north-facing windows
The compromise window. Here’s what actually grows there.
Read guideIndoor plant care basics
The five things every indoor plant needs — and how to give them on a renter’s budget.
Read guideWhy your plants are leggy
Low light is the usual culprit. How to fix it without buying grow lights.
Read guidePlants we recommend for you
Pothos
Trails from a shelf, propagates in a jar, tolerates your dim hallway.
Snake plant
Goes a month without water. Survives the office holiday shutdown.
ZZ plant
Will tolerate the windowless guest bathroom. Will tolerate you forgetting it.
Philodendron
Heart-leaf trailer for a north-facing window. Faster grower than pothos.
Peperomia
Compact, pet-safe, happy on a small desk under indirect light.
Calathea
High visual interest, prefers north light. Wants humidity — bathroom-friendly.
What to ask Growli first
These are the conversation starters that get the most useful answers for your situation. Open the app and tap the chat bubble.
1. "My apartment is dim. What can I grow?"
Tell Growli the direction your main window faces and the rough hours of direct sun you see. We’ll match plants to your real light — not a generic "low light" tag.
2. "What’s the smallest pot for [this plant]?"
Living in 400 sq ft means every pot fights for shelf space. Send a photo of your spot and Growli will recommend pot size, drainage solution, and a no-drill stand option.
3. "Can my cat eat this leaf?"
Type a species name and Growli pulls the ASPCA toxicity record. We’ll suggest a swap if your plant is risky for chewers.
4. "When should I water if my flat is heated to 24°C?"
Central heating dries soil faster than gentle window light alone. Growli adjusts the watering interval for your indoor climate, not just the species.
Frequently asked questions
+What plants are best for a small apartment?
Pothos, snake plant, ZZ plant, philodendron, peperomia, and calathea all thrive in apartments with limited light and floor space. Pothos and philodendron trail from shelves to save horizontal space; snake plant and ZZ plant stay vertical; peperomia fits on a desk; calathea works in a humid bathroom.
+Can I keep plants in a north-facing window?
Yes. ZZ plant, pothos, snake plant, philodendron, and calathea all tolerate north-facing exposure. You won’t get fast growth, but the plants stay healthy. Avoid succulents, peppers, and most flowering plants — they need brighter light to bloom or fruit.
+How do I add plants without drilling into rental walls?
Use tension rods between window frames, freestanding plant ladders, command-hook macrame holders, and floor-standing plant stands. Most apartment plants thrive on a windowsill, side table, or bookshelf — you rarely need to mount anything to a wall.
+What if my apartment doesn’t get any direct sun?
You’ll still grow successfully with low-light tolerant species. ZZ plant, snake plant, and pothos famously survive in offices with only overhead fluorescent lighting. Just rotate plants every few weeks so all sides get even exposure to the indirect light.
+How often should I water apartment plants in winter?
Roughly half as often as in summer. Central heating dries air and surface soil, but plants grow slower in winter and use less water overall. Test with a finger in the soil before watering — if the top inch is damp, wait another day.
+Are these plants safe if my cat chews them?
Of the six on this page, only peperomia and calathea are ASPCA-confirmed non-toxic to cats. Spider plant is also pet-safe. Pothos, snake plant, ZZ plant, and philodendron are mildly toxic if chewed. If you have a chewer, see /for/cat-parent for a pet-safe-only list.
Ready to plant boldly?
Download Growli on iOS or Android. We'll take it from there.