30 Best Indoor Plants For Small Pots

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If you’re looking for indoor plants that are small yet stunningly beautiful, I’ve got the list for you. I have every single plant on this list and can vouch that they work in small spaces.

Each plant has information on light and water requirements as well as care level (easy, intermediate, difficult).

Here’s a list of 30 best indoor plants for small pots.

1. Sedum Minor

The beautiful Sedum Minor has stunning colors that get even brighter in the sun. This plant typically stays pretty small and compact in a pot and makes a statement. Mine is under T5 Barrina grow lights and does well there.

Light: Fun sun to bright indirect light

Water: Water thoroughly once soil is dry

Care level: Easy

2. Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe is a tropical succulent that has beautiful blooms year-round in nature. In your home, you’ll find this plant typically blooms in late winter to early spring. It’s February as I’m writing this and my Kalanchoe is actively blooming.

Light: Full sun to bright indirect light

Water: Let dry in between waterings. Water thoroughly once it’s ready for water.

Care level: Easy

3. Oxalis

Oxalis AKA shamrock plant is a unique plant known for the leaves opening up during the day and closing at night. Many people think their Oxalis plant is dying in the winter but the plant is actually going dormant. These are resilient plants that will almost always come back from their dormancy.

Light: Full sun to bright indirect light

Water: Let soil dry out about 50% and then give a thorough watering. These do not like to dry out completely.

Care level: Intermediate

4. Polka Dot Plant

The Polka Dot Plant is a high humidity plant known for its colorful foliage. This plant should be placed with your other high humidity plants or in a terrarium. I have my plant in a terrarium and it’s thriving.

Fun fact. The Polka Dot Plant is one of the easiest plants to grow from seed so if you’re looking into growing your own houseplants, this is the plant to start with.

Light: Bright indirect light

Water: Never let this plant dry out. Likes to stay moist.

Care level: Intermediate

5. Dracena

The Dracena is an easy going plant that won’t give you many problems. I have mine in a room that gets east sun exposure (which is not a lot of sun) and it’s doing great.

Light: Bright indirect light to medium light

Water: Let your plant dry out between waterings. Give a good soaking when it’s time for water.

Care level: Easy

6. Ficus Tineke

Ficus Tineke is a plant that is either incredibly easily for the indoor gardener or tremendously difficult. The trickiest part of this plant is watering.

Ficus Tineke do not like to be overwatered or underwatered and if they are, you’ll notice leaves dropping.  I find this plant does enjoy a little bit more humidity so I have it placed with my other high humidity plants getting southwest sun exposure.

Light: Bright indirect light

Water: Water when half the soil is dry.

Care level: Beginner to difficult (depending on who you ask)

7. Orchid

Orchids are one of my easiest plants that bloom for me every winter. This is a common plant you’ll find at the grocery store or receive as a gift.

This plant stays small and compact and the blooms are incredible. I put my orchids in a northeast facing window so it gets a little bit of morning sun but that’s it.

Light: Bright indirect to medium light

Water: A few tablespoons of water each watering

Care level: Easy to difficult (depending on who you ask)

8. Echeveria

You can find Echeveria almost anywhere for under $5. They make great houseplants if you have a south facing window with good sunlight coming through.

There are a wide variety of Echeveria and you could fill your house with this genus alone and have hundreds of plants. Echeveria stay small and compact but can grow quite large depending on how long you’ve had it.

Light: Full sun

Water: Let dry out and water thoroughly when it’s time for water.

Care level: Intermediate

9. Ficus Triangularis

Ficus Triangularis is a plant that takes some learning to get the plant thriving. When you first bring this plant home, you may notice leaves dropping as the plant is shocked and quite sensitive to changes.

However, once you get the care down for the Ficus Triangularis, you’ll have a statement plant that is stunning to look at.

Light: Bright indirect sunlight

Water: Water thoroughly once the soil is dry

Care level: Intermediate to difficult

10. Satin Pothos

Satin Pothos is a beautiful easygoing plant that will thrive in just about any home.

This plant makes for a great hanging houseplant that will trail beautifully. You can also put this plant in leca like I do and it’ll thrive.

Light: Bright indirect to medium light

Water: Water when 50% of the plants soil is dry

Care level: Easy

11. Jade Plant

Jade Plant is in the succulent family and store a lot of its water in the leaves. If the leaves start to look shriveled or puckered, this means the plant is ready for water.

I put my Jade Plant under a grow light and it’s doing wonderfully. I even have my plant in this fun takeout box planter that my friend 3D printed for me.

Light: Full sun

Water: Let about half the soil dry out before giving a thorough watering

Care level: Intermediate

12. Peperomia

Peperomia is a plant that is quite easy for most people but difficult for me. You’ll notice this plant stays pretty much and compact and now that I’m thinking about it, I’ve never seen a large version of this plant.

Light: Bright indirect sunlight

Water: Water when the plant is dry 2 inches deep

Care level: Intermediate

13. Peperomia Hope

Peperomia Hope is an easygoing plant that thrives on bright indirect sunlight. This plant does not like to be overwatered so be careful when watering. I have my Hope in a room that gets southwest facing sun exposure.

Light: Bright indirect sunlight

Water: Water when the soil is dry 2 inches deep.

Care level: Easy

14. English Ivy

English Ivy grow like a weed in my house and make for fun plants if you’re someone who likes to see plants actively growing.

My plant friends have a hard time growing English Ivy but I find it’s one of my easiest plants. Make sure to put your ivy in bright indirect light if you want to see your plant grow quickly. I keep the soil moist and even place a pebble tray under the Ivy.

Light: Bright indirect light to medium light

Water: Keep moist but not waterlogged.

Care level: Easy to difficult

15. Sanseveria

If you’re looking for the easiest plant on this list, this is it. Sanseveria also known as snake plants are easy plants that you can forget to water and will be very forgiving.

I have about 5 snake plants all over my house and they’ve never given me any problems. You can buy Sanseveria in very small pots (like pictured below) or buy snake plants in large 10 inch pots. I have these plants in planters ranging from small to large.

Light: Bright indirect to medium and even dark conditions

Water: Whenever you remember and it will survive

Care level: Easy

16. Begonia Rex

Begonia Rex are stunning. The foliage has an iridescent sheen to it that makes it stand out from any other plant. The foliage is also quite spiky looking and the stems have hair-like trichomes.

Trichomes serve a purpose of acting as a defense against pests and herbivores. My Begonia Rex is sitting with my other high humidity plants in a southwestern facing window.

Light: Bright indirect sun to medium light

Water: Keep moist but not waterlogged.

Care level: Intermediate to difficult

17. Haworthia

Haworthia are incredibly easy plants that are quite forgiving if you forget a watering. This plant stays pretty small and compact. You can propagate this plant easily by taking one of the pups and placing it into soil.

Pictured below, you’ll see a bunch of mini Haworthia’s which are known as pups. You can leave these in the planter or make more plants by separating these into other pots.

Light: Medium light, never full sun

Water: Allow soil to dry out between waterings

Care level: Easy

18. String of Hearts

String of Hearts is a beautiful semi-succulent trailing plant that makes for the perfect houseplant to hang from your ceiling.

This plant is typically in a small planter (pictured below) and you won’t have to repot the plant again (and trust me, you won’t want to since this is a sensitive plant).

Light: Bright indirect light

Water: Water once soil dries out

Care level: Intermediate

19. Cactus

Cactus are incredibly easy houseplants that grow quite slowly and make for great plants if you live in a small space. Before getting a cactus, you want to make sure you have a sunny spot you can place your plant.

Cactus need very little water and can even go without water for the entire winter season.

Light: Full sun

Water: Let dry out and give a thorough soaking when it’s time to water. You can even opt to not water this plant at all during the winter months.

Care level: Easy

20. Begonia Maculata

Begonia Maculata are great beginner plants for people who want to get into evergreen perennials. This plant looks intimidating at first, but is quite easy especially for the beginner indoor gardener.

Light: Bright indirect sunlight

Water: Keep moist but never waterlogged

Care level: Easy to intermediate

21. Philodendron Brasil

Philodendron Brasil are one of my favorite houseplants due to it’s stunning foliage and easy care. You can place this plant almost anywhere in your home and it will thrive.

This plant is incredibly easy to propagate, so you can make more of these plants or give your clippings to friends.

Light: Bright indirect light to partial shade

Water: Let it mostly dry out and then give a good watering when it’s ready for water

Care level: Easy

22. Aglaonema “Siam”

Aglaonema Siam also known as Chinese Evergreen are some of the easiest plants. I love the red perimeter on the foliage and how you can almost see through the leaves on this plant.

I have my Aglaonema Siam in an east facing window about 6 feet away and it’s quite happy there.

Light: Bright indirect light to partial shade

Water: Keep the soil evenly moist, but even if you forget to keep the soil moist, I find this plant to be quite forgiving.

Care level: Easy

23. Boobie Cactus

Boobie Cactus are quite unique obviously because of what they resemble, boobs. These cacti are incredibly easy to take care of and grow slowly just like most cacti.

This plant is a great conversation starter and will make people look twice just to make sure they did indeed see what they think they saw.

Light: Full sun

Water: Once soil is dry, give a good watering

Care level: Easy

24. Nanouk

Tradescantia Nanouk’s are one of my favorite houseplants because of it’s unique foliage and fast growth. An important thing to remember with Nanouk’s is to never get the leaves wet or else you’ll see burnt crispy parts on your leaves.

This plant loves full sun so don’t be shy, you can place it in a south facing window getting direct sunlight and it’ll be quite happy.

Light: Full sun

Water: Water when the soil’s top inch is dry

Care level: Intermediate

25. Syngonium

Syngonium’s are some of the easiest houseplants to care for that come in a wide variety of colors. You can find green, white, variegated, and many other types of Syngoniums for a low price almost anywhere.

When I first got into houseplants, I didn’t like Syngoniums at all but now I can’t stop collecting them.

Light: Medium light

Water: Keep moist but never waterlogged

Care level: Easy

26. Song of India

Song of India is a broadleaf evergreen that grows up to 20 feet in the wild, but don’t worry, your plant will stay quite small in your house. I love the foliage on this plant and how it also resembles a star when you’re looking directly at the plant.

Light: Bright indirect sunlight

Water: Water when first inch of soil is dry

Care level: Easy

28. Hoya Carnosa Krimson

Hoya Carnosa Krimson are easy houseplants that can either climb up a pole or trail down a planter. I have my plant in a southwest facing window hanging from the ceiling and it’s thriving.

I make sure the top of the plant is getting enough sunlight and I only water when I can easily squeeze the leaves into a taco shape.

Light: Bright indirect light

Water: When you can easily form the leaves into a taco shape, it’s time for a thorough watering

Care level: Easy

hoya carnosa krimson queen

29. Madagascar Palm

Madagascar Palm can get up to 24 feet tall in the wild but stay quite small and compact in a house. I have my plant under grow lights and it’s happy.

This plant has thick stems that make it quite intimidating, but my husband wanted the plant so we got it.

Light: Full sun to bright indirect light

Water: Water this plant when the soil is almost dry

Care level: Easy

30. Philodendron Micans

Last but not least, the Philodendron Mican is one of the most beautiful Philodendrons (in my opinion!) because of its velvety leaves. These plants grow quite quickly and make for great hanging or climbing plants.

Light: Bright indirect light to partial shade

Water: Water when 50% of the soil is dry

Care level: Easy

Key takeaways

You can find many houseplants that will fit into small pots. This list only contains 30 houseplants but go to your local houseplant store and you’ll find many more options.

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