There are so many benefits to having houseplants, such as cleaner air, better aromas and they are pretty to look at (with a few exceptions). But many homes aren't really spacious enough to accommodate big potted houseplants, and the rooms we most want houseplants in are often the smallest like the bathroom, for example. It is for that exact reason that we have compiled the best small indoor plants list to help you find a sensational houseplant that fits your living space.
Small Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
The ever-gracious Peace Lily has always been a houseplant favourite and typically they can grow quite large (up to 4 feet). But don't worry, because there are small varieties that can still give you the joys of owning a Peace Lily but not encroach on your space. Small Peace Lily houseplants grow up to a foot tall.
Small Ivy Plant (Hedera)
Ivy is one of the most versatile plants on this list and also one of the most useful to have about the home. First, it can be pruned back whenever it starts to get too messy and second, it has amazing pollutant reduction qualities too. The small Ivy Plant isn't really small by design, but with some light management, you can keep it under control.
Small Spider Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum)
Like the Peace Lily and the Ivy, the Spider Plant does have a tendency to grow to larger proportions when left to its own devices. Keeping it in a smaller pot and light pruning will counter this unwanted growth though and Spider Plants are known as great windowsill-top plants.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera always seem so make whatever houseplant list we create, and it is definitely going to be on this list. When it comes to tiny indoor plants, Aloe Vera is a winner (alongside other succulents) because they don't tend to grow very large and do just fine in a small pot. What's more, the oils from the leaves are known to be incredibly soothing – so what's not to love?
Chinese Money Plant (Pilea Peperomioides)
Considered one of the luckiest houseplants, the Chinese Money plant is a compact and nice looking houseplant that grows well in small window sill pots. With the distinctive green flat coin-shaped leaves, you might find the Chinese Money plant under other names like the Pancake plant or our favourite name, the UFO plant. There is nothing alien about these small house plants though, they can make you feel very much at home.
Snake Plant (Dracaena Trifasciata)
We have already had a Spider plant, and now onto another unwelcome sounding plant, the Snake plant. This unusual looking plant is one of the best small plants for bathroom and toilet settings because it filters the air and removes harmful toxins. It is also naturally a small plant variety making it the perfect adorable addition to your bathroom.
Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena Sanderiana)
Lucky number seven on our list is the Lucky Bamboo, which technically isn't a plant, it is grass. But don't let its classification confuse you, it is a stunning addition to any home, and it doesn't grow very large. And, when it does get a bit too big for comfort, simply trim the shoots.
Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes Phyllostachya)
Chances are that you have seen Polka Dot plants in other people's homes before, as these colourful houseplants are among the bestselling houseplant variety in the UK. They are very much underrated though as not many know their name, instead being picked up at garden centres because they're pretty. They can grow to a respectable size but trimming and pruning a Polka Dot plant keeps it easily manageable.
Air Plants (Tillandsia)
We are finishing our list with two tiny indoor plants that are both unusual in their own ways. Air Plants are incredible little plants that don't need soil to survive. Instead they can be grown in open glass containers and all they need is air to survive. This makes them very easy to look after and a great and unique talking point for house guests.
Lithops (Lithops)
Lithops are sometimes called 'living stones' because they resemble pebbles and stones. This can make for a very confusing little pot if you incorporate a few stones with their soil. You will soon see that it is not easy to discern which is the plant and which is the rock. They also look great in bathroom settings as they tend to blend in with bathroom decors.
How to Keep Small House Plants Small
There are three simple tips to ensure that you keep your small house plants – small. If you master these, you should have no problems whatsoever with keeping your tiny house plants exactly as you intended them.
- Small Pots – One of the best ways to ensure a plant stays small is to keep it in a small pot. You will notice that many of your houseplants need re-potting in order to grow bigger, the simple solution is not to repot a plant that you don't want to grow more.
- If your plant begins to spread or grow larger regardless of the pot, pruning is a very effective method of limiting growth, but bear in mind that pruning will ultimately stimulate new growth, so prune only when it is necessary.
- The last tip is to buy from reputable sites and garden centres like Gardeners Dream. This is because they will ensure that the variety they are supplying is the one that you will get. You don't want to buy a small Ivy and be rewarded with a fast and large growing English Ivy for example and these things do happen in less reputable marketplaces (mainly because they don't care enough to check).
With all that in mind, you should have no problem finding the best small indoor plants for your home.
