9 student-proof plants you won't be able to kill

By Anna Dunphy, First year, English

It can be tough looking after plants at uni. Forgotten watering, lack of light, and the inevitable abandonment of said plants over the holidays all provide barriers to the thriving foliage you may desire. Personally, after the swift death of my Student union plant sale fern last year, I’ve been sticking to plastic Ikea succulents- but with all these easy to maintain plants out there, I’m going to have to reconsider.

Cacti and Succulents

They’re an obvious choice, but they’re a classic for a reason. These plants manage to survive in the driest corners of the desert, so they should manage to cope with a few forgotten waterings. They thrive in warm, sunny conditions, so are good on a windowsill, and try to water them every 1-2 weeks.

Money tree

In Taiwanese legend these charming trees are considered a sign of good luck and prosperity- so maybe it'll even help you get a first on that next essay. They like direct sunlight, so will do well placed next to a window, and need watering every 1-2 weeks.

Chinese Evergreen Plant

These plants can thrive in dim and dingy conditions, so they make a great choice for those who have gotten stuck with the basement room in their uni house. Water about once a week, when the soil is dry, and keep in indirect light.

Snake Plant

These plants are another easy choice. They require watering every 2-4 weeks, and do best placed in indirect light. They can also improve air quality; they work as purifiers, removing toxins from the air, and produce oxygen throughout the day and night.

Peace Lilies

These plants are another good choice for improving air quality, as they absorb pollutants, increase humidity, and release oxygen. They are easy to care for- just avoid overwatering them or leaving them in direct sunlight.

Spider Plant

These look great dangling over the tops of wardrobes or bookshelves, or sitting in macrame hangers on hooks. They’re compact, and again have air purifying properties. just provide bright, indirect sunlight, and water roughly once a week.

Another fun option is to try growing fruit and vegetables; some varieties can be surprisingly easy to grow indoors.

Leafy greens

Lettuce, romaine, spinach, kale, and chard are all fairly easy to grow in a window box, and provide lots of much-needed vitamins in a salad. All you need is a container with a depth of around 15cm, some good soil, and constant light. You can grow them from seed, or just get some pre-potted salad greens from a plant nursery.

Strawberries

You may think you need a greenhouse for strawberries, but they will still do well on a windowsill- in a greenhouse they will tend to fruit in early spring, whereas on a windowsill they may take until late April. They don’t require too much light, and a few strawberry plants can be placed close together on a windowsill to save space.

Peppers

Peppers are probably one of the easiest vegetables to grow indoors. You can keep the seeds from a shop-bought pepper, or buy a pre-potted one from a nursery. Just put them in a sunny spot in your house and water regularly to prevent the soil drying out.