You may have noticed that a lot of offices, restaurants, and even retail shops in Sydney have something green in a pot, an indoor plants sitting somewhere. Whether it’s a group of small succulents by the window or a pothos cascading from a hanging basket, indoor plants are quickly becoming a popular addition to interior decorations.
For many people living in Sydney, indoor plants are more than a trend that they want to jump into. These plants have become a lifestyle choice that brings them joy and improves their well-being.
But what are the good indoor plants that can thrive in Sydney apartments?
1. Snake Plants
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Known for their colour variations and tall leaves, snake plants can be the eye-catching succulent that can add character to your Sydney apartment. No matter what style of home you have, they can complement your unit’s interior design. They are also among the best plants that you can care for indoors since they can survive even in environments with limited sunlight.
Soil Requirements for Snake Plants
Since snake plants are susceptible to root rot, make sure that you plant them in well-draining soil. In general, you can ensure proper drainage when you opt for cactus or succulent soil that contains sand.
Watering Requirements for Snake Plants
While snake plants are prone to root rot, they still need adequate water to survive. So, when watering them, flood the plant until the fluid flows through the drainage holes. However, make sure that the water is thoroughly dry before placing the pot back over its dip tray. Also, you should check the plant after a few hours to see if the dip tray has collected any excess water.
Light Requirements for Snake Plants
Indirect sunlight is the ideal condition for a snake plant, but they can still survive under full sunlight or low light. Since they’re quite adaptable to any light condition, they are among the best indoor plants you can have in Sydney. However, to ensure that they thrive, let them get direct sunlight in the morning for a few hours, then ensure that they have indirect light through the rest of the day.
2. Peace Lily
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Spathiphyllum, or more widely known as peace lily, is almost always included in lists of good and hardy indoor plants. Besides, studies have shown that peace lilies can purify air, effectively removing total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) by 74%. So, aside from being low-maintenance, it’s also a functional plant that can potentially give you cleaner air in your Sydney home. With its dark green, glossy leaves and showy, white flowers, a pot of peace lily can easily brighten your interiors.
Soil Requirements for Peace Lily
To ensure that your plant will thrive, you can mimic the composition of the soil where it naturally grows, specifically in tropical rainforests. As such, you need adequate organic matter along with loose potting mix when planting peace lilies. Also, remember to opt for a well-draining soil, as these plants do not like overly damp conditions.
Watering Requirements for Peace Lily
Peace lilies will survive periods of drought better than being waterlogged. However, the watering frequency will depend on the size of your pot and how quickly the soil drains. To determine if the plant needs watering, you can touch the top of the soil. If you think it has dried out about an inch down, then it’s time to give it water. Bottom watering works best for peace lilies because if you water the leaves, they may develop black spots.
Light Requirements for Peace Lily
Because the native habitat of peace lilies has plenty of shade, make sure that your plant gets around seven hours of indirect sunlight. When caring for it indoors, it will require a bit more filtered light. Ideally, you should place your pot of peace lily by a window.
3. ZZ Plant
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While the ZZ plant is native to Eastern Africa, it can tolerate a wide range of conditions. Also known as Zanzibar gem or Zamioculcas Zamiifolia, this herbaceous perennial has shiny, smooth leaves with colours that can range from emerald green to bright lime. In Feng Shui, they are referred to as “Fortune Tree” and are believed to bring positive energies of wealth into a home. What’s more, they’re good indoor plants because of how well they can survive under low light conditions.
Soil Requirements for ZZ Plant
Make sure to choose well-draining soil mixed with some horticultural charcoal, orchid bark chips, or perlite. A truly low-maintenance plant, ZZ plants only need a bit of fertilising at the beginning of the growing season to ensure optimal growth and healthy leaves.
Watering Requirements for ZZ Plant
In between waterings, you should let your plant’s soil dry out entirely. Once it’s the right time, water your ZZ plant deeply. In most cases, this perennial only needs watering every few weeks. However,
Light Requirements for ZZ Plant
The ZZ plant can survive with minimal natural light, so you don’t have to move it around throughout the day, making it an ideal starter plant for newbies. On the other hand, if you want them to be in their best health and appearance, choose a spot where they can get indirect, bright light. While they can barely survive without any natural light, inadequate amounts of it may cause the plant to become leggy.
4. Rubber Plant
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The rubber plant or rubber fig is a hardy plant with shiny leaves of burgundy and dark green. What’s great about it is that, depending on the size of your pot, you can either let it grow as a small plant or an indoor tree. However, note that in bigger pots, rubber plants can grow up to around ten feet tall. So, make sure your home has enough ceiling height if you plan on cultivating yours as an indoor tree.
Soil Requirements for Rubber Plant
Opt for the usual well-draining soil designed for common houseplants. Additionally, the soil should hold enough moisture, so choose a mix that contains coconut coir or peat moss. To ensure enough drainage, you can also add a few handfuls of orchid bark to the mix.
Watering Requirements for Rubber Plant
As mentioned, rubber plants require consistent moisture. However, the soil should not be overwatered so that it becomes soggy. On the flip side, the plant cannot tolerate dry spells. Therefore, make sure to have a set schedule for watering your rubber plant. In most cases, it will survive as long as the soil is moist to the touch.
Light Requirements for Rubber Plant
Rubber plants need around six to eight hours of indirect sunlight every day. While they can tolerate the soft morning light, they should be kept away from direct afternoon light. Otherwise, the sun may burn their leaves. On the other hand, if they do not get adequate light, rubber plants become leggy, causing them to lose leaves.
5. Pothos
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If you want an indoor plant that can survive with minimal care, pothos would be one of the best options for you. It’s widely called the ‘devil’s ivy’ because of how incredibly hard it is to kill, and you can expect it to stay green even with minimal natural light. Whether you grow it in a glass vase or a pot in a hanging basket, this fast-growing vine can survive in almost any location in your home in Sydney. You’ll also love how various cultivars of the plant can let you choose from lovely hues of white and green, light green and yellow, and greyish-green.
Soil Requirements for Pothos
An entry-level indoor plant, pothos can survive on any regular potting soil with enough drainage. If you want the best conditions for optimal growth, opt for slightly acidic or neutral soil, ideally with pH levels ranging from 6.1 to 6.8.
Watering Requirements for Pothos
Poke your fingers into the soil, and if it feels dry about two inches down, then it’s time to water your pothos. If you’ve established the ideal light conditions for the plant, in general, you can water it once every week or two. In colder months, you can do this even less frequently.
Light Requirements for Pothos
While pothos can survive even under fluorescent light, it will thrive with bright, indirect light. However, if you don’t want the leaves of your plant to be all green, make sure that it gets enough sunlight exposure. Remember, variegated plants like pothos lose their leaf pattern when they’re under too much shade.
6. Bird’s Nest Fern
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Like peace lilies, bird’s nest ferns can also remove air pollutants, making them a good indoor plant for your home in Sydney. If cultivated outdoors, their hardy and glossy leaves can grow quickly. In contrast, when planted in a pot indoors, bird’s nest ferns can grow more slowly. Due to their wood element, they also symbolise vitality and growth in Feng Shui. Moreover, they are believed to welcome new opportunities for the people living in your home.
Soil Requirements for Bird’s Nest Fern
In their natural habitat, bird’s nest ferns are epiphytes that grow in the crooks of trees filled with decayed bark. So, when choosing the soil for this plant, make sure that it’s packed with organic matter, such as coco coir, peat moss, or compost. At the same time, you need to ensure adequate drainage, so mix the organic matter with pine bark fines or perlite.
Watering Requirements for Bird’s Nest Fern
Bird’s nest ferns don’t tolerate bone-dry or overly moist soil, which means you must water them only when the top inch of the soil is dry to the touch. When watering the plant, don’t focus on the centre because this might encourage mould growth. Avoid getting water on the fronds, and instead, keep it on the soil.
Light Requirements for Bird’s Nest Fern
When placing your bird’s nest fern in your home, choose a spot that gets partial shade or filtered sunlight. In the morning, it won’t hurt the plant to get direct sunlight. However, don’t keep it there throughout the day because its leaves may burn under too much direct sun.
7. Spider Plant
Image by Susan Wilkinson
Chlorophytum comosum, or the spider plant, is one of the easiest indoor plants to grow in Sydney. If you don’t have gardening experience and don’t know where to begin, this plant can be a good starting point for you. They can tolerate neglect, can thrive under almost any condition, and are quite easy to propagate. With their variegated leaves with stripes of yellow and white, they look great as an accent to any interior design.
Soil Requirements for Spider Plant
While spider plants can grow in various types of soil, they prefer loamy, loose soil with enough drainage. Additionally, they will thrive in soil with neutral pH but will still survive in slightly alkaline conditions.
Watering Requirements for Spider Plant
Like bird’s nest ferns, spider plants also prefer constantly moist but not soggy soil. When watering them, consider using distilled water or rainwater, as they don’t tolerate fluoride or chlorine well. If you happen to be busy, don’t worry too much about killing the plant because its fleshy tubers can effectively retain water.
Light Requirements for Spider Plant
As an indoor plant, Chlorophytum comosum would thrive getting indirect sun from your window or by your patio door. While snake plants won’t die under heavy shade, their leaves won’t look as healthy. Also, don’t place them under direct sunlight because doing so may burn their leaves.
8. Aloe Vera
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Aside from being an aesthetically pleasing indoor plant, aloe vera is also a succulent that can bring several medicinal and cosmetic benefits. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can relieve sunburns and other skin conditions like psoriasis. What’s more, its hydrating qualities can moisturise the scalp, creating ideal conditions for hair growth. When ingested, aloe vera can also lower blood sugar by enabling the body’s cells to respond better to insulin. So, aside from adding character to your home in Sydney, this succulent can also bring practical uses for your family.
Soil Requirements for Aloe Vera
Opt for well-draining soil to ensure that your aloe vera won’t retain too much water, which can cause root rot. Ideally, you should use a special succulent mix, but you can also combine equal parts potting soil and sand.
Watering Requirements for Aloe Vera
Aloe vera plants can tolerate dry spells between waterings, making them the ideal succulent for gardeners who tend to neglect their plants when they’re busy. Despite that, you should water the plant heavily once every two weeks or when the soil is dry to the touch. If the leaves start to become brown or limp, it’s a sign that you’re overwatering it.
Light Requirements for Aloe Vera
Since aloe vera loves the sun, you should place it by your window. Even though you can keep this plant indoors, you should try to move it outdoors during the summer months. However, do it gradually, and don’t expose it to bright sunlight right away to avoid overexposing it.
Where to Buy Indoor Plants in Sydney
One of the great things about the indoor plants in our list is that they’re quite easy to find around Sydney. There are plenty of nurseries and garden markets that you can visit to get pots of snake plants, peace lilies, aloe vera, and more.
Some of the places you can visit to purchase indoor plants include:
Newton Garden Market
Address: 538 King St, Newtown NSW 2042
Phone: (02) 9516 4044
While Newton Garden Market is a relatively small nursery, its plant collection is comprehensive, and its staff is quite friendly. Here, you can find pots of aloe vera, ZZ plants, and pothos, among many other indoor plants. If you’re not sure about which plant to get, the knowledgeable staff can guide you through the options that would be ideal for your gardening skills and commitment level.
My Plants and Garden Centre
Address: 112E Burton St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Phone: (02) 9361 4786
Right across from the National Art School, you’ll find the quaint yet fully stocked My Plants and Garden Centre. Once you step into this shop, you’ll feel transported into a lush jungle filled with well-loved indoor plants, including snake plants, pothos, bird’s nest ferns, and more. You’ll also appreciate the friendly service that the owner provides, as well as the collection of aesthetically pleasing pots that can add character to your home in Sydney.
Garden Life
Address: 158 Princes Hwy, St Peter’s NSW 2044
Phone: (02) 9517 3633
If you want to choose from a more comprehensive plant selection, Garden Life in St. Peters is worth a visit. This homeware store/nursery hybrid offers a wide range of outdoor and indoor plants. So, whether you want to care for pothos, rubber plants, or different types of ferns, you’re sure to find what you need here. Plus, it features exquisite designer tables and a collection of plant pots—from colour-washed Turkish pots to artisan terracotta pots that you usually see on Architectural Digest.
Plant Daddy
Address: 90 Lennox St, Newtown NSW 2042, Australia
Phone: (04) 0594 5886
While Plant Daddy is a cosy shop in Newton, it’s packed with everyone’s favourite indoor and outdoor plants. You can swing by this store when you want to buy bird’s nest fern, pothos, and other plants that can thrive in Sydney apartments. Aside from its lovely fronds, this store is also worth visiting for its plant accessories and handmade pots created by local artists. As soon as you step into Plant Daddy, you’ll also be greeted by friendly local shop owners who will guide you through the options that will align with your gardening preferences.
Get Your Lovely Blooms Delivered to Your Home
It’s not surprising that many people become interested in having indoor plants in their Sydney apartments. After all, having them around can bring several benefits, from purifying the air to elevating the aesthetic appeal of a home.
However, not everyone has the time to research the appropriate soil, watering schedule, and light conditions for specific plants. If you want an easier and more convenient way to bring nature into your home, your best bet is to order Flowers Across Sydney’s pet-friendly flowers.
If you have limited space in your apartment and you have pets around, chances are, they’ll be able to reach your indoor plants. Unfortunately, snake plants, ZZ plants, and other common indoor plants are toxic to cats and dogs.
Browse through our collection of pet-safe flowers today and find the beautiful blooms that can brighten your apartment.
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