Petite Houseplants for Any Home

These selections stay small and contained, allowing you more space to grow what you want

Admitting you are addicted to collecting houseplants is the first step . The 2d step ? Finding more space for young plants ! Plants that stay small are the perfect solution for indoor gardeners with limited infinite . You may be in an flat or small home base and struggle to force large , leafy specimen into crowded windowsill . Or if your home plate has limited natural light , windowsill space might already be in short supply . Perhaps you want to bring a bit of nature into a little office space or a corner of your desk . As your distance bubble over with larger selections that you had no estimation would get so big , tiny plant can feed your works dependence without cramping your style .

Imagine being capable to grow hundredsof petite plant specimens even if you only have a small act of space to spare . All across the world of houseplant , there are 1000 of small species to discover . Here are a few of myfavorites for beginners and experient plant parent likewise .

How small is small?

The terms “ miniature , ” “ micromini , ” or “ tiny ” are used in the houseplant world to describe speciesor cultivars of plants that naturally appease smaller than 6 inches marvellous , but my favorites normally do n’t exceed 3 in . For some plants , the designation of “ tiny ” or “ miniskirt ” may be comparative to the standard size of the parent or related to species and varieties .

Thimble cactus

Name : Mammillaria vetulasubsp.gracilis

Zones:9–11

Most cactus specie are just too big or too bristly to be desirable for small indoor spaces . This is not the case with the adorable thimble cactus . Thanks to its tiny size — plant life persist under 4 inches improbable and less than 2 inches wide — thimble cactus fits nicely on a minor , bright windowsill or tuck under small grow lights . The fine , matted spines , which radiate in little , starlike normal , are touchable and seldom bite . During cool month , plants create tiny , snowy , bell - forge flowers . Like most cacti , thimble cactus needs a circle of illumination — tantamount to full - sun or partial - sun conditions in a south- or west - confront windowpane . you could also develop it with other small succulents on a shelf with grow lights . Water sparingly , let the grunge to dry totally between lacrimation ( plant can stay dry for elongated periods ) , and make certain it ’s plant in a poriferous container . Handle it with care ! Thimble cactus is fragile , and the ramification offshoot are well knocked off the plant .

Vietnamese violet

Name : Deinostigma tamiana

Zones:10–11

A cheery , thickset botch perfect for a small windowsill or office desk , Vietnamese reddish blue grow 3 inches grandiloquent , or 6 in tall when in bloom . If you have struggled with African violets in the past tense , you will probably get along better with this more - forgiving species . The thick plants have modest , fuzzy , oval - shaped leaves that emerge in clusters of small rosettes . vestal bloodless , tubular flowers with striking purple chevron appear in copiousness year - round , bearing plentiful seed . Medium , indirect luminosity is best to keep plants in flower , so choose a shining , E - facing window , or use a subsidiary grow light as you would for African reddish blue . Artificial office lighting is also ideal . Like many gesneriad , these plants apprize consistent moisture but take serious root - geographical zone drainage and can draw near dry soil between waterings . The ideal container is porous and 3 inches in diameter .

‘Brownii’ Kraus’s spikemoss

Name : Selaginella kraussianavar.brownii

Zones:6–11

If you love moss , then you are bound to adore ‘ Brownii ’ Kraus ’s spikemoss . Species ofSelaginellalook like a cross between a moss and a fern , but they are neither . This miscellanea is leisurely to produce and particularly petite , produce only to about 1 inch tall and up to a few in encompassing . Its container should be up to 3 inches wide and nonporous . works have a luxuriant , moundlike growth habit and cheery , chartreuse foliage . This spikemoss is happy growing in low - light conditions , such as a north - facing windowpane , but may grow more vigorously in an Orient - facing window or under a pocket-sized grow light . It necessitate invariant moisture and gamy humidity with good theme aeration . Do not let it dry out out . The promising , feathery leafage brighten up any glass jolt , bubble bowl , or terrarium planting .

Creeping button fern

Name : Pyrrosia nummularifolia

Zones:11–12

fern can present a conflict for many custodian of indoor plant . They typically take gamey humidness than our homes offer . While I urge that most tiny fern coinage be develop under shabu , cringe push button fern is an exclusion that is utterly happy growing in the loose windowsill ; no terrarium or misting is need . If you do require to grow this fern under field glass , creeping button fern can be planted like a shot into a terrarium or bubble bowl if condition are not soggy , although it does take consistent wet . The small , fuzzy farewell are bear along slender , creeping rhizomes that will trail or wax . For this reason , an item-by-item plant can reach up to 10 inches long , although it will only be 2 to 3 inches marvelous . Plants flourish in average brightness level in an east - facing window but can support low brightness . While fawn push button fern prize consistent ground moisture , as do most fern , this knotty , tiny species allow semi - dry soil between waterings . Plant it in a nonporous container .

Micromini African violet

Name : Streptocarpussect.saintpaulia

Growing a simple 2 to 3 inches grandiloquent and wide , these tiny gems lighten up up even the smallest of indoor spaces . There are three prescribed size categories of African violet : standard , semi - miniature , and miniature . The lovely micromini cultivars , which are an unofficial trade designation of illumination , are hybrids from the parent speciesStreptocarpus afroviolaandS.shumensis . African violets flourish in low to intermediate lightness levels , with best blooming in medium light or under grow ignitor . If plants do not flower , they require more light . Never overpot a micromini African violet , as spare wet can cause summit rot . The ripe container for these very small specimens is 2 inches wide-eyed and nonporous . body of water industrial plant consistently , but let grunge dry slightly between lacrimation . African violet naturally thrive when proportional humidity is in the 70 % to 80 % compass , so you may grow microminis under glass or plant directly in well - enfeeble terrariums or house of cards bowls .

A big impact in a small space

Most tiny plants need tiny wad , but each species is different . Below are some ideas for containing and expose your small works .

Leslie F. Halleck is a horticulturist and writer of several book , includingPlant Parenting : Easy Ways to Make More Houseplants , Vegetables , and FlowersandTiny Plants : Discover the Joys of grow and gather Itty - Bitty Houseplants .

okay Gardening recommend Products

The Regenerative Landscaper : Design and Build Landscapes That Repair the Environment

Fine horticulture receives a commission for items purchased through link on this website , include Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising plan .

Berry & Bird Rabbiting Spade , Trenching Shovel

ARS telescope Long Reach Pruner

Get our in style tips , how - to articles , and instructional videos sent to your inbox .

Signing you up …

Petite Houseplants for Any Home

Photo: courtesy of Leslie Halleck

Nine Tips for Propagating Houseplants Through Cuttings

Learn 5 Ways to Propagate Houseplants Through Cuttings

Can All Houseplants Go Outside in Summer?

Houseplant Myths

Join okay horticulture for a free engaging live webinar have Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned flora pathologist as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamentals technical manager …

When I spotted a finical sand clam cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few months ago , I knew I was in trouble . With a delightful coloring pattern …

When we only prioritize works we want over plants our landscape needs , each season is fulfil with a never - ending inclination of task : pruning , pinching , lacrimation , treating , amending , and fertilizing , with …

Thimble cactus

Photo: courtesy of Leslie Halleck

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you enter the backyard of garden room decorator Jeff Epping — not because you ’re probable to trip on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a pair …