The Best Low-Maintenance Houseplants for Apartment Living
Real Plants from My Space That Actually Thrive Indoors
Bringing a little life into your apartment doesn’t require a green thumb or a ton of sunlight. These are the plants I’ve kept alive (and thriving) in my Fort Worth apartment with no grow lights, no humidifier and air-purifying.
Here are the top indoor plants that are low-effort but high impact when it comes to styling and air-purifying.
1. ZZ Plant
(Zamioculcas zamiifolia) ZZ Plants are basically indestructible. They thrive on neglect, don’t need a lot of light, and have glossy green leaves that instantly make a room feel styled. I keep one on my side table and another in a black plant stand near the sofa. That said, they can be a touch dramatic. After just one week out of being town, both mine and my roommate’s ZZ plants decided to yellow—apparently to show us how much they missed us. They bounced back quickly though.
Light: Low to bright, indirect Water: Every 2–3 weeks Why I Love It: Zero drama… unless you leave for vacation
2. Rubber Plant
(Ficus elastica) It grows upright with bold, waxy leaves. I keep it tucked near my couch where it gets filtered light from the balcony doors. It’s slow-growing, which makes it perfect for apartment living.
Light: Bright, indirect Water: Weekly Why I Love It: Adds height without being bulky
3. Ficus Audrey
This is my bedroom plant that lives in front of the window. It has a soft, velvety leaves and a lighter, more muted green compared to the other ficus plants. It loves bright, indirect light and doesn’t need constant attention to stay happy.
At this point, it’s growing so fast it might need its own room soon.
Light: Bright, indirect Water: Weekly Why I Love It: Big, leafy statement without being too dramatic
4. Calathea Rattlesnake
This one’s my favorite! It lives on my ottoman tray. The ripple-shaped leaves with deep green and purple tones are so unique. Bonus: it's pet-safe. Fun fact—this is a nocturnal plant. The leaves shift upward in the evening and rest flat during the day, like it has its own little routine.
Light: Low to medium Water: Likes humidity and consistent moisture Why I Love It: Statement foliage and safe for pets
5. String of Hearts
(Ceropegia woodii) This plant is dainty, trailing, and easygoing. The heart-shaped leaves grow on long, thin vines that look beautiful draped off a shelf or pot. I keep it in a bright spot and forget about it half the time—it doesn’t seem to mind.
Light: Bright, indirect Water: Every 10–14 days Why I Love It: Delicate, whimsical, and basically self-sufficient
6. Peperomia + Fern Combo
These mini plants live on my side table. Peperomia has dark, textured leaves and the fern adds some feathery contrast. Perfect for smaller spaces or layering with decor.
Light: Medium Water: Keep lightly moist Why I Love It: Small-space friendly and looks curated
7. Golden Pothos
Classic for a reason. Easy to propagate, fast-growing, and thrives even if you forget about it. Mine is sitting on a plant stand and trails down naturally, which adds a little life to the corner without taking up table space.
Light: Low to bright Water: Weekly Why I Love It: Grows fast, super forgiving
Final Tip: Rotate Your Plants
Once a month, I rotate mine a quarter turn so they grow evenly toward the light. A small shift makes a big difference.
If you’re curious about a few outdoor wins too, here’s what’s thriving (or at least trying) on my balcony:
Spiderwort My Spiderwort has been thriving in a pot — contained, thankfully. Left to its own devices, it would spread quickly, but the pot keeps it in check. It’s low maintenance, blooms with bright purple flowers, and handles the Texas heat without much fuss. If it ever dies back, just trim the dead leaves, keep watering, and it tends to bounce back without complaint.
Olive Tree The olive tree has settled into its spot like it was always meant to be there. It thrives in full sun, prefers to dry out between waterings, and has quietly turned my balcony into a miniature Mediterranean retreat. There are even a few olives growing — modest, but promising. Feel free to place your olive oil orders now, though it might be a limited release.
What’s not thriving:
Basil Basil and I have a complicated relationship. I’ve tried growing it twice — it did not end well. But if you’re feeling optimistic, I’ve heard basil loves full sun (around 6 hours a day) and needs watering when the top inch of soil is dry. Pinch off the flowers when they appear to encourage fuller growth. Maybe third time’s the charm.
If you’ve been thinking about adding a few plants to your space, this is your sign. Start with one and see how it goes. Worst case, your ZZ plant throws a fit and turns yellow for attention. Best case, you turn into that person who casually says “my pothos is getting out of control” like it’s a problem.
Let me know in the comments which plant you’d bring home first or if your snake plant is currently ghosting you like mine did.