<p>I used to have an English ivy in my room, but I ended up having to plant it in a window box at home. Are there any plants that would be particularly well suited for a dorm room?</p>
<p>Ponytail, ZZ plant, Happy bamboo (in water), Crown of Thorns, Sanseveria Cylindrica (needs a window spot and can get big). I’ve had these in an office for over a year [ponytail and Happy bamboo 3 years] with a west window and they have all thrived.</p>
<p>You might experiment with varigated Algerian Ivy.</p>
<p>Philodendron grows in low light. Heart-shaped vining shiny green leaves. Cut it back to make it bushier, or let it be and see how long it gets.</p>
<p>Spider plants are also low-maintenance.</p>
<p>Bamboo sticks. Don’t need sun. Don’t need anything but enough water to keep their roots covered. And they last for ever.</p>
<p>My husband had a crown of thorns when he was in college 35 years ago. That plant is still with us today.</p>
<p>good dorm plants ?</p>
<p>Any variety as long as they are plastic.</p>
<p>Swedish Ivy. I’ve got a calla lily that came from my father-in-laws funeral that has sat in a dark corner of my dining room for the last two years. Not surprisingly it hasn’t bloomed again, but it is the plant that will not die! I water it when it starts to droop.</p>
<p>cactus…</p>
<p>How about the ones made of silk…don’t need water, sun or care…just a dusting off every so often.</p>
<p>Jade plants are good–they need water around once a week ideally, but can go for months without it, and give you ample warning before they die.</p>
<p>Our Costco has beautiful orchids for about $15. They last a few months in my house, and I only occasionally water them.</p>
<p>I always seemed to kill jade plants, but had great success with philodendron and spider plants. In our day we’d hang the spider plant pot from a macrame hanger and the plant would put out “babies.” Very attractive.</p>
<p>Spider plant (or anything in that nature), anything really greeny with a splattering of flowers, fern, mini roses, etc. You need something that doesn’t need full sunlight and doesn’t need watering daily. </p>
<p>Tip #1: buy some of those plant fertlizing sticks (my mom found them at home depot or lowes i know, but they might have them at grocery stores). It will help give the plant a fighting chance for the once in awhile forgetfulness of watering it (speaking of which, I need to water mine).</p>
<p>Tip #2: don’t put the plant next to an open window if it gets cold. The plant will die, but the roots live, so your kid will have to cry and beg for you to help the plant recover and has to endure weeks of waiting. Same for the A/C</p>
<p>Tip #3: cactuses are bad news bears. Why? If roommate knocks it over in the middle of the night and steps on it, they won’t be inclined to throw it at your S/D</p>
<p>Tip #4: don’t water the plant with beer.</p>
<p>Tip #5: don’t leave the poor thing at school over breaks longer than a week.</p>
<p>aloe plants (plus useful)! also, rosemary if you happen to do any cooking. pretty low maintenance.</p>
<p>A jade plant is great</p>
<p>Thanks for all the great suggestions! I’ve already started looking into them.</p>
<p>Opie and Thumper- LOL. </p>
<p>withinamile- I have some rosemary in a plot at home. It’s definitely one of my favorite plants but unfortunately needs more sun than I can get in my room/window.</p>
<p>One tip on buying plants - I’ve always had better luck buying plants from supermarkets or places like Home Depot than from a flower shop. If the plant can survive the former, it’s more likely to tolerate its new home.</p>
<p>I took cuttings from my mother’s philodendron and rooted them before I left for college in 1971 and I still have the plant in my office today. They can thrive with practically no light.</p>
<p>“Tip #4: don’t water the plant with beer.”</p>
<p>:D LOL</p>