Top 17 'Gravity-Defying' Indoor Plants to Maintain in a Renter's First Tiny Apartment - Goh Ling Yong
So, you’ve finally done it. You’ve signed the lease, wrangled the moving boxes, and are now the proud occupant of your very first apartment. It’s a glorious, liberating feeling! And then… you look around. The space, while all yours, is a little… tiny. Cozy. Compact. Every square inch of floor space is precious real estate, already earmarked for a sofa, a bed, or that one chair you just had to have.
How do you transform this blank (and small) canvas into a lush, vibrant home without adding to the clutter on the floor? You look up. The answer to creating a green sanctuary in a tiny apartment isn't about spreading out; it's about growing up. We're talking about 'gravity-defying' plants—gorgeous trailers, vines, and hangers that cascade from shelves, suspend from ceilings, and climb your walls, turning vertical space into a living masterpiece.
Here at the Goh Ling Yong blog, we believe that great design and a love for nature can coexist beautifully, even in the smallest of rentals. These plants don’t just add a splash of color; they breathe life into your home, purify the air, and boost your mood. Forget the floor space dilemma. Here are 17 incredible indoor plants perfect for your first tiny, renter-friendly apartment.
1. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
The Unkillable Classic
If you’re a notorious plant-killer, the Pothos is your redemption. This is the ultimate beginner’s plant, famous for its resilience and willingness to thrive on neglect. Its heart-shaped leaves, which can be solid green, variegated with white, or even a vibrant neon yellow, grow on long, trailing vines that can easily reach 10 feet or more indoors. This makes it a perfect candidate for the top of a bookshelf, a kitchen cabinet, or a hanging basket.
Pothos is incredibly forgiving when it comes to light. While it prefers bright, indirect sunlight, it will tolerate low-light conditions like a champ (though variegation might fade a bit). It’s also not fussy about watering. Just let the top inch or two of soil dry out between waterings. Its vines will tell you when they’re thirsty with a slight droop, and they’ll perk right back up an hour after you water them. It’s practically a plant that communicates with you!
- Pro Tip: To create a fuller, bushier plant, simply trim back some of the longer vines every few months. You can place these cuttings in a glass of water, and they'll sprout roots in a few weeks, giving you brand new plants for free!
2. Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)
The Sweetheart of Vines
Often mistaken for Pothos, the Heartleaf Philodendron is its slightly more delicate-looking cousin. Its leaves are thinner, softer, and more distinctly heart-shaped, giving it a romantic, whimsical feel. The vines are slender and elegant, perfect for draping gracefully over the edge of a floating shelf or for training around a window frame using small, removable hooks.
Like the Pothos, this philodendron is exceptionally easy to care for and adaptable to various light conditions, from low to bright indirect light. It’s a fast grower, so you’ll get that satisfying jungle vibe in no time. It prefers its soil to be kept lightly moist but is forgiving if you forget a watering here and there. Its deep green, matte leaves provide a beautiful contrast to lighter-colored walls.
- Pro Tip: For a touch of luxury, look for the 'Micans' variety, which has velvety, iridescent leaves that can shift from deep green to a reddish-bronze in the light.
3. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
The Self-Propagating Champion
The Spider Plant is a retro classic that has made a major comeback, and for good reason. Its arching, ribbon-like leaves create a fountain of green that looks absolutely stunning in a hanging planter. It’s one of the best air-purifying plants you can get, known for filtering common household toxins.
What truly makes the Spider Plant "gravity-defying" are the "spiderettes" or "pups" it sends out on long stems. These are tiny baby spider plants that dangle from the mother plant, creating a beautiful multi-layered effect. Once these pups develop little roots, you can snip them off and plant them in their own pots to expand your collection or share with friends. It’s the plant that keeps on giving! It thrives in bright, indirect light and likes its soil to dry out a bit between waterings.
4. String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus)
The Living Jewelry
This is a plant that will stop guests in their tracks. The String of Pearls is a unique succulent with long, thread-like stems adorned with small, spherical leaves that look exactly like a string of green peas or pearls. It creates a stunning, waterfall-like cascade that is perfect for a high shelf or a minimalist hanging pot where its unique form can be the star.
As a succulent, its care is a bit different. The number one rule is to avoid overwatering. Its delicate roots are prone to rot, so you must let the soil dry out completely before watering again. Give it plenty of bright, indirect light (a few hours of direct morning sun is great, but avoid harsh afternoon sun). It’s a bit more of a diva than a Pothos, but its jaw-dropping beauty is well worth the learning curve.
5. String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii)
The Dainty Draper
If the String of Pearls is jewelry, the String of Hearts is lace. This delicate, trailing vine features tiny, heart-shaped leaves marbled with silver on thin, purplish stems. It’s an incredibly romantic and graceful plant that can create a curtain of foliage over a window or trail down several feet from a hanging basket.
Despite its delicate appearance, the String of Hearts is surprisingly tough. It’s a semi-succulent, so like the String of Pearls, it prefers to be on the drier side. Water it thoroughly when the soil is dry and the little leaves feel a bit soft. It loves bright, indirect light, which will bring out the best coloring in its leaves. It’s a slow but steady grower, making it a perfect long-term companion for your apartment.
6. Wandering Dude (Tradescantia zebrina)
The Rockstar of Color
Tired of all the green? The Wandering Dude is here to crash the party with its vibrant, striped leaves of purple, silver, and green. This plant is a ridiculously fast grower, and its trailing stems will quickly create a lush, colorful display. It’s perfect for adding a bold pop of color to a neutral-toned room.
This plant is almost weed-like in its tenacity. It thrives in bright, indirect light, which keeps its colors vibrant and prevents it from getting "leggy" (when the stems get long and sparse). Keep the soil moderately moist, and pinch back the stems regularly. This encourages the plant to branch out, resulting in a much fuller and more attractive shape. Each cutting you pinch off can be easily rooted in water or soil.
7. Satin Pothos (Scindapsus pictus)
The Velvet Touch
While not a true Pothos, the Satin Pothos shares its easy-care nature and vining habit. What sets it apart are its stunning leaves. They are thick, velvety to the touch, and dark green with splashes of silvery-gray that shimmer in the light. The 'Argyraeus' variety has smaller leaves with silver edges, while the 'Exotica' has larger leaves with big patches of silver.
The Satin Pothos is a beautiful, elegant trailer that adds a touch of sophistication. It’s perfect for a hanging basket in your living room or trailing from a pot on your desk. It enjoys bright, indirect light but will also do just fine in medium-light spots. A key tip is to let the soil dry out a bit before watering; its leaves will curl slightly inward when it's thirsty, giving you a clear signal.
8. English Ivy (Hedera helix)
The Timeless Climber
English Ivy is the quintessential vining plant, evoking images of old-world charm. Its classic lobed leaves can be trained to climb just about anything. In a renter’s apartment, you can use small, damage-free command hooks to guide its vines up a wall, around a doorway, or across a mantlepiece, creating a living piece of art without a single nail.
It prefers cooler temperatures and bright, indirect light. It's important to keep an eye on watering; it doesn't like to dry out completely but also hates sitting in soggy soil. Good air circulation is key to keeping it healthy and pest-free (spider mites can sometimes be an issue). With a little guidance, ivy can transform a boring wall into a stunning green feature.
9. Arrowhead Vine (Syngonium podophyllum)
The Shape-Shifter
The Arrowhead Vine is a fascinating and easy-going plant. When it's young, it grows in a bushy, upright clump with distinct arrowhead-shaped leaves. As it matures, it begins to send out long, climbing vines, making it a versatile plant that you can either keep pruned for a compact shape or let trail freely from a hanging basket.
This plant comes in a huge range of colors, from shades of green to creamy white, pink, and deep burgundy. It’s a low-light tolerant plant, making it a great option for corners that are a bit further from a window. It appreciates humidity, so it’s a fantastic choice for adding a touch of green to your bathroom.
10. Hoya Carnosa (Wax Plant)
The Fragrant Surprise
The Hoya is a plant for the patient gardener. This slow-growing vine has thick, waxy leaves that almost look artificial. Its trailing stems can be left to hang or trained onto a small trellis. The real reward comes when a mature Hoya blooms. It produces tight clusters of star-shaped, porcelain-like flowers that are incredibly beautiful and often have a sweet, intoxicating fragrance.
Hoyas are semi-succulent, so they store water in their leaves. This means you should let them dry out thoroughly between waterings. They love to be "root-bound," so don't be in a rush to repot them. Give them a spot with very bright, indirect light to encourage them to flower. A happy Hoya will be a friend for life.
11. Burro's Tail (Sedum morganianum)
The Delicate Dreadlock
Another show-stopping succulent, the Burro's Tail (or Donkey's Tail) has long, pendulous stems covered in plump, overlapping, bead-like leaves. The effect is a thick, woven braid of pale green that looks incredible spilling out of a hanging planter.
The key to a happy Burro's Tail is a "less is more" approach. It needs plenty of direct morning sun or very bright, indirect light all day. It is extremely drought-tolerant and should be watered sparingly. The one major quirk is that its little leaves are very fragile and will fall off at the slightest touch. Find a good spot for it and then leave it alone to do its thing!
12. Swiss Cheese Vine (Monstera adansonii)
The Trendy Hole-Puncher
If you love the look of the iconic Monstera Deliciosa but don’t have the floor space, the Monstera Adansonii is your perfect match. This vining relative features the same type of "fenestrated" (split or holey) leaves, earning it the nickname Swiss Cheese Vine. It's a fast-growing climber that brings an instant tropical, jungly feel to any room.
This plant loves to climb. You can let its vines trail, but it will be happiest (and produce larger leaves) if you give it a small trellis or moss pole to grab onto. It thrives in bright, indirect light and loves humidity. A regular misting or a spot near a humidifier will make it very happy.
13. Philodendron Micans
The Velvet Dream
We mentioned this one briefly, but it deserves its own spot on the list. The Philodendron Micans is a true stunner. It has heart-shaped leaves like its common cousin, but they are covered in a fine, velvety fuzz that gives them an iridescent sheen. Depending on the light, the leaves can look like deep green, rich bronze, or shimmering purple.
Caring for a Micans is just as easy as caring for a regular Heartleaf Philodendron. It's happy in a range of light conditions (though its color is best in bright, indirect light) and is forgiving with water. It's an easy way to add a touch of drama and texture to your plant collection, looking especially beautiful where its velvety leaves can catch the light.
14. Fishbone Cactus (Epiphyllum anguliger)
The Funky Zig-Zag
Looking for something truly weird and wonderful? The Fishbone Cactus is it. Its stems are flat and deeply lobed, creating a funky zig-zag or ric-rac pattern. This is not a desert cactus; it’s an epiphytic jungle cactus, meaning it naturally grows on trees in the rainforest. This makes it a perfect hanging plant.
Because it's a jungle plant, its care is a bit different from a typical cactus. It prefers bright, indirect light over harsh, direct sun. It also likes more regular watering than its desert cousins—let the top inch of soil dry out, then water thoroughly. If you’re lucky, it may even produce large, fragrant, night-blooming flowers.
15. String of Dolphins (Senecio peregrinus)
The Playful Pod
If you thought String of Pearls was cool, get ready for the String of Dolphins. This whimsical succulent hybrid has leaves that are shaped exactly like tiny, leaping dolphins. It’s a fun, quirky, and delightful plant that is sure to be a conversation starter.
Its care is very similar to other "string of things" plants. It needs lots of bright, indirect light and a very light hand with the watering can. Use a well-draining succulent soil mix and let it dry out completely between waterings. Hang it in a window where its playful dolphin shapes can be fully appreciated.
16. Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata)
The Indoor Sunshine
Who says flowering vines are only for the outdoors? The Black-Eyed Susan Vine is typically grown as an annual in garden beds, but it makes for a surprisingly cheerful indoor hanging plant, provided you have the right spot. Its heart-shaped leaves are lovely, but the real stars are its bright, trumpet-shaped flowers—usually yellow or orange with a dark center—that bloom profusely.
The catch? This one needs sun. A lot of it. A south-facing or very bright west-facing window is a must. It’s also a thirsty plant and will need consistent watering to support its fast growth and flowering. Give it a small trellis in its pot or let its flowering vines trail from a basket for a constant dose of indoor sunshine.
17. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
The Lush Plume
No list of hanging plants would be complete without the classic Boston Fern. Its long, feathery fronds create a lush, full, and vibrant cloud of green. It’s the perfect plant for filling an empty corner with texture and life, and it looks incredible in a macrame hanger. It's also another air-purifying powerhouse.
The Boston Fern is arguably the most high-maintenance plant on this list, but its beauty is worth the effort. The secret to a happy fern is humidity and moisture. It needs consistently moist (but not waterlogged) soil and high humidity. This makes it the absolute perfect plant for a bright bathroom with a shower. If it’s elsewhere, you’ll need to mist it daily or place it near a humidifier.
Your Vertical Oasis Awaits
Living in a small apartment doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your dream of having a home filled with plants. By thinking vertically, you can unlock a whole new dimension of gardening. As we often discuss here on the Goh Ling Yong blog, good living is about making the most of the space you have, and these "gravity-defying" plants are the perfect way to do just that.
Start with one or two that catch your eye—perhaps an unkillable Pothos or a quirky String of Dolphins. Before you know it, you’ll have transformed your tiny rental into a lush, green, and personalized sanctuary that truly feels like home.
Now it's your turn! Which of these hanging or climbing plants is your favorite? Do you have another go-to for small spaces? Share your thoughts and photos in the comments below
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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